Felan
Encyclopedia
The family surname Felan is an anglicized variety of an ancient Irish
name, Ó Faoláin, which is the name of an important Irish sept
which was prominent in a southeast area of Ireland known historically as "The Decies", which today is part of the modern county of Waterford
.
word "faol" meaning a wolf, "faoláin" being of the diminutive
form, meaning little wolf.
, County Waterford
now stands. In the 12th century, during the domination by the Normans
, the Deise tribe appears to have been lost, during the Norman process of assimilation in the identity of their leaders - Felan, Ó Faoláin, Phelan or Whelan
. There are still very respectable families of the O'Felans (some of whom have changed the name to Felan and Phelan) in the counties of Waterford, Tipperary
, Kilkenny
, and Queen's County.
Legend has it that the original Faoláin from whom the surname is derived, was nineteenth in descent from a younger brother of Conn of the Hundred Battles
, who reigned as High King of Ireland
for thirty five years until his death in 157 A.D. Numerous members of the Ó Faoláin sept have been rulers of the Decies throughout history, and as such O'Faoláin sept is one of the original ancient septs of Ireland. In fact, Ó Faoláin was the first chief to fall resisting the Norman Invasion in 1169, as is documented in the historical text the Annals of the Four Masters
:
By the beginning of the thirteenth century, most of the traditional Ó Faoláin lands and titles were lost in the wake of the invasion. However, branches of the sept survived the Norman invasions and were settled in Waterford and in the southwest part of Kilkenny County, mainly in the barony of Iverk.
The earliest anglicized forms of the Ó Faoláin name were Felan, Phelan, Filan, with many other similar variants, including Whelan and Fallon in Ireland's Waterford and Kilkenny Counties. Felan is the most prevalent form in modern times, and it is one of the most popular names in Irish people as a whole.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
name, Ó Faoláin, which is the name of an important Irish sept
Sept (social)
A sept is an English word for a division of a family, especially a division of a clan. The word might have its origin from Latin saeptum "enclosure, fold", or it can be an alteration of sect.The term is found in both Ireland and Scotland...
which was prominent in a southeast area of Ireland known historically as "The Decies", which today is part of the modern county of Waterford
Waterford
Waterford is a city in the South-East Region of Ireland. It is the oldest city in the country and fifth largest by population. Waterford City Council is the local government authority for the city and its immediate hinterland...
.
Etymology
The word Faoláin is derived from the gaelicGoidelic languages
The Goidelic languages or Gaelic languages are one of the two branches of the Insular Celtic languages, the other consisting of the Brythonic languages. Goidelic languages historically formed a dialect continuum stretching from the south of Ireland through the Isle of Man to the north of Scotland...
word "faol" meaning a wolf, "faoláin" being of the diminutive
Diminutive
In language structure, a diminutive, or diminutive form , is a formation of a word used to convey a slight degree of the root meaning, smallness of the object or quality named, encapsulation, intimacy, or endearment...
form, meaning little wolf.
History
It is recorded that about 300 A.D., a tribe called the Deise settled on the site where DungarvanDungarvan
Dungarvan is a town and harbour on the south coast of Ireland in the province of Munster. Dungarvan is the county town and administrative centre of County Waterford. The town's Irish name means "Garbhan's fort", referring to Saint Garbhan who founded a church there in the seventh century...
, County Waterford
County Waterford
*Abbeyside, Affane, Aglish, Annestown, An Rinn, Ardmore*Ballinacourty, Ballinameela, Ballinamult, Ballinroad, Ballybeg, Ballybricken, Ballyduff Lower, Ballyduff Upper, Ballydurn, Ballygunner, Ballylaneen, Ballymacarbry, Ballymacart, Ballynaneashagh, Ballysaggart, Ballytruckle, Bilberry, Bunmahon,...
now stands. In the 12th century, during the domination by the Normans
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
, the Deise tribe appears to have been lost, during the Norman process of assimilation in the identity of their leaders - Felan, Ó Faoláin, Phelan or Whelan
Whelan
The family surname Whelan is an anglicisation of the Irish surname, Ó Faoláin. The surname originates from the Middle Irish 'Úa Faeláin' the name of the 10th to 11th century ruling dynasty of the Déisi, a population group inhabiting the area of the modern county of Waterford and south county...
. There are still very respectable families of the O'Felans (some of whom have changed the name to Felan and Phelan) in the counties of Waterford, Tipperary
Tipperary
Tipperary is a town and a civil parish in South Tipperary in Ireland. Its population was 4,415 at the 2006 census. It is also an ecclesiastical parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly, and is in the historical barony of Clanwilliam....
, Kilkenny
Kilkenny
Kilkenny is a city and is the county town of the eponymous County Kilkenny in Ireland. It is situated on both banks of the River Nore in the province of Leinster, in the south-east of Ireland...
, and Queen's County.
Legend has it that the original Faoláin from whom the surname is derived, was nineteenth in descent from a younger brother of Conn of the Hundred Battles
Conn of the Hundred Battles
Conn Cétchathach , son of Fedlimid Rechtmar, was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a High King of Ireland, and the ancestor of the Connachta, and, through his descendant Niall Noígiallach, the Uí Néill dynasties, which dominated Ireland in the early middle ages, and...
, who reigned as High King of Ireland
High King of Ireland
The High Kings of Ireland were sometimes historical and sometimes legendary figures who had, or who are claimed to have had, lordship over the whole of Ireland. Medieval and early modern Irish literature portrays an almost unbroken sequence of High Kings, ruling from Tara over a hierarchy of...
for thirty five years until his death in 157 A.D. Numerous members of the Ó Faoláin sept have been rulers of the Decies throughout history, and as such O'Faoláin sept is one of the original ancient septs of Ireland. In fact, Ó Faoláin was the first chief to fall resisting the Norman Invasion in 1169, as is documented in the historical text the Annals of the Four Masters
Annals of the Four Masters
The Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland or the Annals of the Four Masters are a chronicle of medieval Irish history...
:
"The Age of Christ, 1170.
M1170.11
Robert Fitz Stephen and Richard, son of Gilbert, i.e. Earl Strongbow, came from EnglandEnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
into Ireland with a numerous force, and many knights and archers, in the army of Mac Murchadha, to contest LeinsterLeinsterLeinster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the east of Ireland. It comprises the ancient Kingdoms of Mide, Osraige and Leinster. Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the historic fifths of Leinster and Mide gradually merged, mainly due to the impact of the Pale, which straddled...
for him, and to disturb the Irish of IrelandIrelandIreland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
in general; and Mac Murchadha gave his daughter to the Earl Strongbow for coming into his army. They took Loch Garman, and entered Port-Lairge by force; and they took Gillemaire, the officer of the fortress, and Ua Faelain, lord of the Deisi, and his son, and they killed seven hundred persons there."
By the beginning of the thirteenth century, most of the traditional Ó Faoláin lands and titles were lost in the wake of the invasion. However, branches of the sept survived the Norman invasions and were settled in Waterford and in the southwest part of Kilkenny County, mainly in the barony of Iverk.
The earliest anglicized forms of the Ó Faoláin name were Felan, Phelan, Filan, with many other similar variants, including Whelan and Fallon in Ireland's Waterford and Kilkenny Counties. Felan is the most prevalent form in modern times, and it is one of the most popular names in Irish people as a whole.