Older Forms of Names
In many cases the original form of a name has become lost or obsolete. In some instances, however, the alphabetical list still shows the original form of the name and the one now more commonly used, with indications of the various stages through which, in course of time, the name has passed into its present more usual form.
The name “Whittaker” appears to have come from White-acre, with which form it has been found to be used interchangeably. Thus—
Whiteacre.
Whiteaker
Whitegar.
Whittegar.
Whittacre.
Whitaker.
Whittaker.
Again, “Lammy” is traceable to the French “L’Ami,” both forms being still in use. Thus—
L’Ami.
Lamie.
Lammie.
Lammy.
Another instance is the name Loughran, from the Irish O’Luchairen—
O’Luchairen.
Lucairen.
O’Loughraine.
Lochrane.
Loughren.
Loughran.
The Registrar of Cappoquin District (Lismore Union) reports:—
“De Laundres or De Londres, an old Norman name, is found in this district in the forms of ‘Landers’ and ‘Glanders’”.
The French Huguenot name “Blanc,” and its modern form “Blong,” both appear in the Register Books of Cloneygowan District (Mountmellick Union). These names also occur in Rathangan District (Edenderry Union), the Registrar of which remarks —“The French spelling, ‘Blanc,’ is disliked owing to the literal pronunciation ‘blank.’”
The name “Nestor” has been observed in the Records almost exclusively in the counties of Galway, Limerick, and Clare. In reply to a query regarding the origin or transformation of this name the Superintendent Registrar of Rathkeale Union states:—
“A.D. 1396. Iriel O’Loughlen was killed by Mac Girr-an-Adhastair (now Nestor), one of his own tribe.—(See History of Co. Clare, by James Frost). Adhastair signifies a halter. There are two families named ‘Nestor’ living in the Rathkeale Dispensary District, Townland of Kilquain, and other families of that name reside in the Manor.”
It may be added that this name has also been found in the Indexes in the form “Nester.”