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Help[Facts] Meaning of Erin?
I know that my name, Erin, is another name for Ireland but I think I've also heard it means peace. Is this correct? Also, does my name have any other meanings? Thanks to anyone who knows.
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Erin,
You know what's interesting - I just met a little girl this year who is named "Ireland." Somehow I think she might be writing into this site someday too. I wonder - does her name mean Erin, then?
You know what's interesting - I just met a little girl this year who is named "Ireland." Somehow I think she might be writing into this site someday too. I wonder - does her name mean Erin, then?
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Hi Erin,
Here's a quote from "Brewer's Dictionary of Names - People & Places & Things":
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Ireland:
The western island and independent republic of the British Isles has a name that means "EIRE land", the first word here being the Irish name for the country. It may itself mean "western land" from a root word related to Gaelic 'iar' "west", although some sources see it as a blend of Gaelic 'i' "island" and 'iarunn' "iron". The Latin name of Ireland, 'Hibernia', evolved as a corruption of 'Iverna', itself representing Old Celtic 'Iveriu'. This gave both the poetic name of Ireland, 'Erin', and the name for the land in other Celtic languages, such as Welsh 'Iwerddon', Breton 'Iwerzhon' and Cornish 'Ywerdhon'.
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In an Online Etymology Dictionary I found another theory:
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Irish:
c.1205, Irisce, from stem of O.E. Iras "inhabitant of Ireland," from O.N. irar, ult. from O.Ir. Eriu "Erin." Meaning "temper, passion" is 1834, Amer.Eng. (first attested in writings of Davy Crockett), from the legendary pugnacity of Irish people. Irish-American is from 1832; Irish coffee is from 1950. Wild Irish (1399) originally were those not under English rule; Black Irish in ref. to those of Mediterranean appearance is from 1888.
http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=erin&searchmode=none
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The meaning "peace" you've read about is probably a confusion of Erin and Eireen, which is an Irish variant spelling for Irene (see link).
/ Satu
http://www.nordicnames.de/
Here's a quote from "Brewer's Dictionary of Names - People & Places & Things":
-----
Ireland:
The western island and independent republic of the British Isles has a name that means "EIRE land", the first word here being the Irish name for the country. It may itself mean "western land" from a root word related to Gaelic 'iar' "west", although some sources see it as a blend of Gaelic 'i' "island" and 'iarunn' "iron". The Latin name of Ireland, 'Hibernia', evolved as a corruption of 'Iverna', itself representing Old Celtic 'Iveriu'. This gave both the poetic name of Ireland, 'Erin', and the name for the land in other Celtic languages, such as Welsh 'Iwerddon', Breton 'Iwerzhon' and Cornish 'Ywerdhon'.
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In an Online Etymology Dictionary I found another theory:
-----
Irish:
c.1205, Irisce, from stem of O.E. Iras "inhabitant of Ireland," from O.N. irar, ult. from O.Ir. Eriu "Erin." Meaning "temper, passion" is 1834, Amer.Eng. (first attested in writings of Davy Crockett), from the legendary pugnacity of Irish people. Irish-American is from 1832; Irish coffee is from 1950. Wild Irish (1399) originally were those not under English rule; Black Irish in ref. to those of Mediterranean appearance is from 1888.
http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=erin&searchmode=none
-----
The meaning "peace" you've read about is probably a confusion of Erin and Eireen, which is an Irish variant spelling for Irene (see link).
/ Satu
http://www.nordicnames.de/
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I've read that it comes from the ancient name for Ireland meaning peace. I believe this name for Ireland was from the Celtic language. The other meaning for Erin meaning western Island or Ireland is Gaelic. I'm not saying that this is correct for sure but it's what I read.
I've bought different things with my name and it's meaning on it and sometimes it says Erin means peace and other times Ireland. : ) Who knows. I wish I knew someone who speaks Gaelic or Celtic.
I've bought different things with my name and it's meaning on it and sometimes it says Erin means peace and other times Ireland. : ) Who knows. I wish I knew someone who speaks Gaelic or Celtic.
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Gaelic and Celtic are not separate languages as such. Rather, the Gaelic languages are a sub-family of the Celtic language family. So it is unlikely that a name would mean one thing in Gaelic and something else in 'Celtic'.
Erin is a poetic name for Ireland, from the name of an ancient Irish goddess, Eriu. Have a look at these two links:
www.answers.com/erin
www.answers.com/eriu
I think the 'peace' meaning is probably something fabricated by "baby name" books and sites to give the name a more interesting meaning than 'Ireland', particularly if the false meaning dates back to the time when the Irish were not well-thought-of in English-origin society.
♦ Chrisell ♦
All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us. - J.R.R. Tolkien.
Erin is a poetic name for Ireland, from the name of an ancient Irish goddess, Eriu. Have a look at these two links:
www.answers.com/erin
www.answers.com/eriu
I think the 'peace' meaning is probably something fabricated by "baby name" books and sites to give the name a more interesting meaning than 'Ireland', particularly if the false meaning dates back to the time when the Irish were not well-thought-of in English-origin society.
All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us. - J.R.R. Tolkien.
1
Thanks. It makes more sense now. I've always heard that older generations in Ireland tend to think it's funny that Americans name their children Erin. I had a friend who visited about 5 years ago and they all paused when she told them her name and then laughed a little all in good fun. Well, I like that it means Ireland and now I know it ONLY means Ireland. Thanks and sorry for the confusion.
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No need to say sorry - I wouldn't hang out on this site if I didn't enjoy researching these things! Glad I could help.
:-)
♦ Chrisell ♦
All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us. - J.R.R. Tolkien.
:-)
All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us. - J.R.R. Tolkien.
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