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Erin

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For other uses, see Erin (disambiguation).
"Erin's Isle" redirects here. For other uses, see Erin's Isle (disambiguation).
Erin
A topographic map of Ireland, after which Erin is named
Pronunciation/ˈɛrɪn/
GenderMainly Female (with some Male)
Origin
Word/nameHiberno-English derivative of Irish “Éirinn”
MeaningIreland (West), green water,
Region of originGaelic & Celtic
Other names
Related namesEhrynn, Erinn, Eryn, Erynn, Iorn
Popularitysee popular names

Erin is a Hiberno-English derivative of the Irish word "Éirinn". "Éirinn" is the dative case of the Irish word for Ireland, "Éire", genitive "Éireann", the dative being used in prepositional phrases such as "go hÉirinn" "to Ireland", "in Éirinn" "in Ireland", "ó Éirinn" "from Ireland". The dative has replaced the nominative in a few regional Irish dialects (particularly Galway-Connemara and Waterford).[1] Poets and nineteenth-century Irish nationalists used Erin in English as a romantic name for Ireland.[2] Often, "Erin's Isle" was used. In this context, along with Hibernia, Erin is the name given to the female personification of Ireland, but the name was rarely used as a given name, probably because no saints, queens, or literary figures were ever called Erin.[3]

According to Irish mythology and folklore, the name was originally given to the island by the Milesians after the goddess Ériu.

Erin go bragh ("Éire go brách" in standard orthography, dative "in Éirinn go brách" "in Ireland forever"), a slogan dating from the 1798 revolution, is often translated as "Ireland forever". The etymology of the word as it drifted throughout the Gaelic region gave rise to its use by the early Scots to both mean Ireland and "west" — as Ireland lies to the west of Scotland.[4]

Usage as a given or family name

As a given name, Erin is used for both sexes, although, given its origins, it is principally used as a feminine forename. It first became a popular given name in the United States.[3] Its US popularity for males peaked in 1974 with 321 boys registered with the name.[5] Erin is also a name for Ireland in Welsh, and is one of the 20 most popular girls' names in Wales.[6]

As a family name, Erin has been used as one of the many spellings of the name of the Scottish clan "Irwin" — which was involved in the Scottish Plantations of Ireland.[7] However, that name was originally derived from the place of the same name near Dumfries, and means "green water", from Brittonic ir afon.[8][9]

People

Females

Males

Fiction

References

  1. ^ Behind the Name: Meaning, Origin and History of the Name Erin
  2. ^ "Irish Melodies". google.com.
  3. ^ a b Osborn, Susan (1999). What's in a Name? (illustrated ed.). Simon and Schuster. p. 250. ISBN 978-0671025557. Retrieved 2013-08-06.
  4. ^ The Book of Irvings (1907) by John Beaufin Irving
  5. ^ "US Popularity for "Erin" by Year". Parents.com. Archived from the original on 2016-03-05.
  6. ^ Welsh names for children Archived 2008-07-31 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ "Clan Irwin Association". Archived from the original on 2007-06-20. Retrieved 2007-05-22.
  8. ^ Scottish Surname Meanings & History Archived 2007-05-27 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ Behind the Name: Search Results
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