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Roots Archive

Island Man

Q. What do Bob Marley and U2 have in Common? A. Chris Blackwell The founder…

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How Name Changing Hid a Heritage

Barry Manilow. Yes, I know, most think of him as a Jewish fellow from Brooklyn…

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Meg Ryan’s Irish Heritage

She’s going back to her acting roots, so I took a dive into her ancestral…

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Hannah Waddingham
NewsletterRoots

Manx, Music, Military, Moxie, and a Bit Irish

By Megan Smolenyak
IA Newsletter May 27, 2023
May 23, 20239 min read
Roots detective Megan Smolenyak researches Ted Lasso star Hannah Waddingham’s roots What can’t Hannah Waddingham do? I’m late to the party discovering her talents in her portrayal of team owner, […]
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Roots: The “Mul” Names
In This Issue 2000June / July 2000Roots

Roots: The “Mul” Names

By James G. Ryan, Contributor
June / July 2000
Mar 22, 20235 min read
A large range of Irish names begin with the prefix “Mul.” Examples include Mulcahy, Mulvihill, Mullally, and Mullan. These names have no familiar connections, but like the names beginning with […]
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The Undisgraced Ryans
RootsWinter 2022 Issue

The Undisgraced Ryans

By Olivia O’MahonyDec 8, 20228 min read
Given its status as one of the ten most numerous surnames in Ireland, the name Ryan is recognizable to most people as a telltale indicator of green in the veins. […]
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The Finnegan Clan
ArchiveJanuary February 2021 IssueRoots

The Finnegan Clan

By Maeve Molloy and Mary Gallagher

December/ January 2021
May 28, 20217 min read
Finnegan is an Irish surname coming from the Gaelic Ó Fionnagáin, meaning “son of fair-haired.” James Joyce immortalized the name for all time in his 1939 novel Finnegans Wake. But literary […]
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Roots: That’s Not an Irish Name!
ArchiveDecember January 2020 IssueIssueRoots

Roots: That’s Not an Irish Name!

By James D. Ryan, Contributor
December / January 2020
Dec 1, 20195 min read
Names such as Kelly, Murphy, O’Brien, and Ryan are distinctively Irish and are widely known to be. However, there are many other names that are Irish – but far less […]
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Roots: Murphy, O’Murchu, and O’Murphy
ArchiveOctober November 2019 IssueRoots

Roots: Murphy, O’Murchu, and O’Murphy

By Gregory Chestler, Contributor
October / November 2019
Oct 1, 201911 min read
The Irish surname Murphy is a modern form of the ancient Irish name O’Murchadha, which means “descendant of sea warrior,” from the Gaelic muir, meaning “sea,” and cath, meaning “battle.” […]
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