Much like Donald and Douglas, Desmond has moved beyond its
Gaelic routes to become a homely familiar.
Origin: |
Desmond originates as the name of a medieval Irish kingdom. Originally that area of the southern coast of Ireland made up part of the ancient Kingdom of Munster, but by 1118 the kingdom had fractured into three notable factions: Desmond, Thomond and Ormond. The original form of Desmond was Deas-Mhumhain, a name which literally translates as "South Munster." Thormond was Tuadh-Mhumhain, meaning "North Munster" and Ormond was Oir-Mhumhain, meaning "East Munster." |
Usage: |
Desmumhnach, meaning "man of Desmond," is a name listed in a late medieval Irish text as the ancester of a notable Cork clan. They took their surname from him: Ó Deasmhumhnaigh, which translates as 'descendant of the man from Desmond'. Both this surname and the place-name were anglicised as Desmond and now survive in the modern surname. The modern (irregular) Irish form of the name is Deasún. There are no early examples of this form in Ireland, which suggests that it is a later translation of the anglicised Desmond. The first Baron of Desmond was John FitzThomas FitzGerald who received the title in 1259. He himself was of Cambro-Norman descent, and was the grandson of Maurice FitzGerald, a key supporter of the Norman invasion of Ireland. The 4th Baron Desmond, another Maurice FitzGerald, was created Earl of Desmond around 1329 and the family flourished prominently. Famously, Gerald FitzGerald, 15th Earl of Desmond, rebelled against the Elizabethan government of the province in the Desmond Rebellions of 1569-1573 and 1579-1583. The title is currently maintained by the Earls of Denbigh. Alexander Feilding, 12th Earl of Denbigh and 11th Earl of Desmond (b. 1970) is the current holder of the title. The place and the surname inevitably led to Desmond being used as a baptismal name. From the 17th century there are examples of Desmond used in Ireland as a first name, and it crossed the channel into the British Isles with steadily growing popularity. The 1841 UK census records 9 Desmonds, 4 of whom were either born in Ireland or born to Irish parents. By the 1861 UK census the number had risen to 26; it was 22 in 1871; 46 in 1881, and 76 in 1891. Interestingly, the clear association with the FitzGeralds of Desmond can be seen by the number of Desmonds with either FitzGerald as a surname or middle name. A notable increase can be seen on the 1901 UK census when 235 Desmonds were recorded; 77% of whom were under the age of ten, and by 1911, the England and Wales census records 637 Desmonds. Desmond continued to rise steadily, finally hitting the top 100 in England and Wales in 1924 at #70 and was #88 in 1934. However, Desmond's time in the limelight was relatively brief, and by 1944 it was out of the top 100 and did not return thereafter. In 1996 the name ranked #1765 with 6 births. From that point on it it had a birth count between 6 and 14 until 2009 when it ranked #1133 with 22 births. In 2011 the name ranked #2039 with 10 births. Desmond ranked once in Scotland in 2010 with only one birth. |
Famous Bearers: |
Contemporary: * Desmond Llewelyn (1914—1999), Welsh actor, famous for playing "Q" in the James Bond films. Literature and Other Media: * Desmond (1792), a novel by Charlotte Turner in which the hero was named Lionel Desmond. |
Variants: |
Deasún (Modern Irish) |
Pronunciation: |
DEZ-mənd [key] |
Possible Diminutives: |
Demi, Des, Desi, Donny |
Sibling Names: |
Gloria Nancy Pamela Judith Hazel Vivienne |
Name Lists: |
Resurrected Retro Clunky Celtic Celtic Surnames Gilbert & Sullivan Names |
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Thanks to Fran for requesting Desmond as this week's NotW.