The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

IRISH NAMING

IN IRELAND PEOPLE DID NOT MOVE FROM TOWN TO TOWN, THEREFORE
WAS MUCH INTERMARRYING OF RELATIVES. VERY FEW FIRST NAMES WERE
USED AND ALMOST EVERYONE IN THE TOWN HAD THE SAME LAST NAMES
SO PEOPLE WERE REFERRED TO BY A CHAIN OF THEIR ANCESTORS AND A
USE OF NICKNAMES. THEY WOULD SAY THE PERSON'S FIRST NAME, THEN
THEIR FATHER'S, AND THEIR GRANDFATHER'S AND SOMETIMES EVEN
GREAT-GRANDFATHER'S.

Submitter comment: FOR EXAMPLE, THE COLLECTOR'S NAME IS KATHY, JACK, JACK, SEAN OGO.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; IRELAND

Date learned: 11-18-1970