Tubridy

Tubridy (Gaelic: "Ó Tiobraide", original forms include Latin: "Tipraiti" and "Tipraite" ) is an Irish surname in Anglicised form, found most prominently in County Clare, Ireland. The name means "descendant of Tiobraide", with the Gaelic language word "tiobraid" meaning "a well". [cite book | last = Woulfe| first = Patrick| title =Irish Names and Surnames| publisher = Genealogical Publishing Company | url =http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=GBmV706lfVYC&pg=PA652&lpg=PA652&dq=tubridy+county+clare+surname&source=web&ots=uTi72SimmA&sig=vCskXyVriUBhbHirB8adhhhap-s&hl=en| isbn = 0806303816] The name is described as "unusual and interesting",cite news|url=http://www.surnamedb.com/surname.aspx?name=Tubridy|publisher=SurnameDB.com|title=Tubridy surname meaning|date=16 May 2008] it is not very common unlike many surnames of Irish origin, also because of its somewhat obscure origins and how the name has developed over time between different languages.

History

Annals of the Four Masters

Recorded reference for the name can be found in the "Annals of the Four Masters", in relation to Tipraiti Tireach who was a legendary King of Ulster, living out his life between 136 and 187 AD according to the Annals. [cite news|url=http://www.magoo.com/hugh/ulsterkings.html|publisher=Magoo.com|title=Kings of Ulster|date=16 May 2008] Tipraiti Tirech himself came from a long line of nobles, his father was Mal mac Rochride one of the High Kings of Ireland; the Annals describes them as part of the Milesian race with a lineage that traces back directly to Míl Espáine, who's son tradition holds, came to Ireland from Hispania in the Iberian Peninsula as part of the "Ulster Cycle". [cite news|url=http://boards.ancestry.com/surnames.tubridy/78/mb.ashx|publisher=Ancestry.com|title=Tubridy - Tiobraide -a little history lesson|date=16 May 2008] The Annals also describes Tipraiti Tireach as the founder of Dál nAraidi. [cite news|url=http://www.magoo.com/hugh/dalaraide.html|publisher=Magoo.com|title=Kings and Lords of Dal Araide|date=16 May 2008]

Origins and development in Ireland

Genelogical theories abound as to the origins of the surname. In relation to the word "tiobraide" some geneologists have speculated that the surname could be topographical in origin, relating to a person who lived by a well, possibily a holy well and probably charged others to use it.cite news|url=http://www.surnamedb.com/surname.aspx?name=Tubridy|publisher=SurnameDB.com|title=Tubridy surname meaning|date=16 May 2008] There are numerous sacred wells in Ireland, dating back to both pagan and early Christian periods, an example is "Tubrid Well" at Millstreet relating to Saint Ita who is nicknamed the "Brigid of Munster". [cite news|url=http://archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer/2003/07/24/story432163989.asp|publisher=Irish Examiner|title=Dispute closes famous holy well|date=16 May 2008] [cite news|url=http://www.millstreet.ie/history/tubrid.htm|publisher=Millstreet.ie|title=Tubrid Well|date=16 May 2008]

Just before the 800s, the name appeared in the form of Tipraiti mac Taidg who was the King of Connacht from the years 782 until 786, suggesting a royal lineage or descendency behind the modern day name Tubridy.cite news|url=http://www.surnamedb.com/surname.aspx?name=Tubridy|publisher=SurnameDB.com|title=Tubridy surname meaning|date=16 May 2008] [cite book | last =Moody| first = T W| title =A New History of Ireland| publisher = Oxford University Press | url =http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=BYu-tZi0HxsC&pg=PA32&lpg=PA32&dq=%22Tipraite+mac+Taidg%22&source=web&ots=VEQ1lJt1N1&sig=Nn2XLPspIFlzBrwGQ2Wa94XzoBE&hl=en| isbn = 0198217447] The name is present in the Annals of Ulster in relation to men holding a religious office within the Catholic Church. Examples of its useage within these Annals are in relation to men such as "Oengusa filii Tipraiti", an abbot and author of a Latin hymn "Martine te deprecor" in honour of St Martin of Tours during 697,cite book | last = Murphy| first = Gerard| title =Early Irish Metrics| publisher =Royal Irish Academy| url =http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=JGBiAAAAMAAJ&q=Tipraiti,+martin&dq=Tipraiti,+martin&lr=&pgis=1] others include "Tipraiti nepos Baithenaig" and "Tipraiti Ban" also abbots. [cite news|url=http://medievalscotland.org/kmo/AnnalsIndex/Masculine/Tipraite.shtml|publisher=MedievalScotland.org|title=Index of Names in Irish Annals: Tipraite|date=16 May 2008]

The name then began to develop from its original Latin language form, through the same root, into Tipraite. [cite news|url=http://www.namenerds.com/irish/trad.html|publisher=NameNerds.com|title=Traditional Irish Names in Gaelic|date=16 May 2008] [cite news|url=http://www.cassidyclan.org/surname_cassidy.htm|publisher=CassidyClan.org|title=Surname|date=16 May 2008] Its development next took it through "O' Tipraite" and "Ua Tibraide" then as evident in the Great Book of Lecan and the Book of Ballymote from the 1300s.cite news|url=http://www.surnamedb.com/surname.aspx?name=Tubridy|publisher=SurnameDB.com|title=Tubridy surname meaning|date=16 May 2008] The name is recorded in the Justiciary Rolls of County Carlow of 1311 in the form of a person named Fiachra O' Tybryth, this was during the reign of king Edward II of England, Lord of Ireland with the introduction of personal tax for citizens.cite news|url=http://www.surnamedb.com/surname.aspx?name=Tubridy|publisher=SurnameDB.com|title=Tubridy surname meaning|date=16 May 2008] During the 16th century with lingustic developments the more modern spellings of Tubridd, Tubritt, Tubbred, and Tibrud are in clearer evidence.cite news|url=http://www.surnamedb.com/surname.aspx?name=Tubridy|publisher=SurnameDB.com|title=Tubridy surname meaning|date=16 May 2008]

Wider distribution

Since the 1800s, likely due to The Great Hunger, the name Tubridy spread out from County Clare into the New World as well as across the Irish Sea to Great Britain.cite news|url=http://www.surnamedb.com/surname.aspx?name=Tubridy|publisher=SurnameDB.com|title=Tubridy surname meaning|date=16 May 2008] The Tubridys were one of numerous Western Ireland families linked to a much larger myth developed in the New World, in relation to the Spanish Armada's sinking off the coast of County Clare in 1588, known as the Black Irish myth (a reference to black hair colour in some caucasian Irish people).cite news|url=http://tubridy.net/Family/name.htm|publisher=Tubridy.net|title=Name|date=16 May 2008] In the myth specifically related to the Tubridys the tale says, a Spaniard who surived the sinking was swept ashore the West Coast of Ireland, finding refuge with a woman surnamed Ridy, hidding in the well near her house. As the man could not speak either English or Irish, he was named "Tubridy" with tub meaning "water".cite news|url=http://tubridy.net/Family/name.htm|publisher=Tubridy.net|title=Name|date=16 May 2008] Although such an etymology is impossible due to the names much older existence, the name does have a historic link to the Iberians in Ireland concept via Tipraiti Tireach. Also modern genetic tests show a strong connection between Irish people and the Basques, with the gene patterns passed down through the male line of the two described as "strikingly similar". [cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/1256894.stm|publisher=BBC.co.uk|title=Genes link Celts to Basques|date=16 May 2008]

Notable people

*Tipraiti Tireach, King of Ulster, son of Mal
*Oengus mac Tipraiti, abbot of Cluain Fota Báetáin, author of a hymn in honour of St Martin of Tours
*Tipraiti mac Taidg, King of Connacht
*Michael Tubridy, musician
*Ryan Tubridy, broadcaster.
*Aine Tubridy, publisher

References