Rory

For other uses, see Rory (disambiguation).
Rory
Pronunciation (Row-ry)
Gender male
female (US)
Origin
Word/name Gaelic
Meaning red-king
Region of origin Ireland, Scotland
Other names
Related names from Ruairi (Ruaridh, Ruaidhrí, Ruairí, Ruairidh, Ruaraidh)
Look up Rory in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Rory (Irish: Ruairí; Scottish Gaelic: Ruairidh[1] ) is a Goidelic personal name in anglicised form, common to the Irish, Highland Scots and their diasporas.[2] The meaning of the name is "red king," from ruadh (ie - red-coloured hair or complexion, foxes, etc.) and rígh (ie - king).

History

An early use of the name in antiquity is in reference to Rudraige mac Sithrigi, a High King of Ireland who eventually spawned the Ulaid (indeed this tribe are sometimes known as Clanna Rudhraighe). Throughout the Middle Ages the name was in use by various kings such as Ruaidrí mac Fáeláin, Ruaidrí na Saide Buide and Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair, the last High King of Ireland. As well as this the famous King of Laois, Ruairí Óg Ó Mórdha and his nephew Ruairí Ó Mórdha who was a leader in the Irish Rebellion of 1641, held the name.

Since the 1960s in the United States, the name has occasionally been given to females, notably to Rory Kennedy (b. 1968), daughter of Robert F. Kennedy.

Variations

The standard Gaelic pronunciation is /'ruərʲi:/, and in Munster Irish /rəi'rʲi:/. In English, it is typically pronounced as Raw-ry (/rɔːri/) or Roo-ry (/ru:ri/). In Classical Gaelic, the name was written Ruaidhrigh, and in Old Gaelic Ruaidrí /ruaðʲr͈ʲiː/ (Proto Celtic *roudo-riks). There are numerous other recorded variations of the name such as Ruaidrí, Ruaidhri, Ruairdhri, Rhuairidh, Ruaridh, Rhuaridh, Ruarídh, Ruari, Roighrí, Rauridh or Raighrí. Historically, it has also been anglicised by replacement with the Germanic cognate Roderick, of similar meaning (red leader) and in some cases the etymologically unrelated Roger and Ray. Its equivalent in the Welsh language is Rhodri, also meaning red king.

Old Irish Modern Irish Hiberno-English Scottish Gaelic Scottish English
Ruaidhrí Ruairí Rory Ruairidh Rory

List of people

Ruaidrí

Ruaidhrí

Ruairí

Ruairidh

Rory

Male

Female

Fictional characters

Male characters
Female characters

References

  1. ↑ Martin-Doyle, Katie (1999). Treasury of Baby Names. Cambridge, UK: Worth Press. p. 220. ISBN 978-1-903025-11-6. Anglicised form of the Irish Gaelic names Ruaidhri, Ruari, and the Scottish Gaelic Ruairidh and Ruaraidh
  2. ↑ "Learn about the family history of your surname". Ancestry.com. Archived from the original on April 5, 2010. Retrieved 7 April 2010. which cited A Dictionary of First Names. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-280050-7. for the given name "Rory".

See also

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