Drach

Rev Patrick Woulfe

1923

DRACH—VIII or XII—Drak, Drake; 'son of Drake' (old English draca, Latin draco, meaning 'the dragon,' probably of heraldic origin; or it may be from 'le drake,' i.e., the dragon, though it never takes the French article in Irish, as it does in English, records). The Drakes came to Ireland about the time of the Anglo-Norman invasion and settled in Louth and Meath. 'Herbertus Draco' occurs in the Dublin Roll of Names A.D. 1216, and 'Jordanus Drake' in the list of Free Citizens of Dublin, A.D. 1225-1250. Drake of Drakeston was one of the gentlemen of Co. Louth at the end of the 16th century, as was Drake of Drakerath at the same period in Co. Meath. The name is now very rare.

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