Sorley (given name)
Encyclopedia
Sorley is a masculine given name
in the English language
.
and Scottish Gaelic Somhairle. This Gaelic name is ultimately derived from the Old Norse
Sumarliðr. The Gaelic name is sometimes derived from the English Somerled, which is in turn ultimately derived from the same Old Norse name.
The Old Norse name likely originated as a byname, meaning "summer traveller" or "summer follower", in reference to men who took to raiding during the summer months, as opposed to full-time raiders. It is a kenning
for Viking
. An early occurrence of the term—sumarliða—is recorded within the Anglo Saxon Chronicle, under the year 871. Another early occurrence of the term is Classi Somarlidiorum, meaning "fleet of the sumarliðar", which is recorded within the 12th century Chronicle of the Kings of Alba
, in a record documenting an attack on Buchan
in the mid 10th century. The most notable Norse
bearer of (a form of) the name is Somerled
, an 11th century Earl of Orkney
. Another prominent bearer of the name is Somerled
, a mid 12th century Lord of Argyll
.
The Scottish Gaelic Somhairle is sometimes Anglicised as Samuel, although the names are etymologically unrelated.
Somhairle
Sorley
Sumarlidi
Given name
A given name, in Western contexts often referred to as a first name, is a personal name that specifies and differentiates between members of a group of individuals, especially in a family, all of whose members usually share the same family name...
in the English language
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
.
Etymology
Sorley is an Anglicised form of the IrishIrish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
and Scottish Gaelic Somhairle. This Gaelic name is ultimately derived from the Old Norse
Old Norse
Old Norse is a North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age, until about 1300....
Sumarliðr. The Gaelic name is sometimes derived from the English Somerled, which is in turn ultimately derived from the same Old Norse name.
The Old Norse name likely originated as a byname, meaning "summer traveller" or "summer follower", in reference to men who took to raiding during the summer months, as opposed to full-time raiders. It is a kenning
Kenning
A kenning is a type of literary trope, specifically circumlocution, in the form of a compound that employs figurative language in place of a more concrete single-word noun. Kennings are strongly associated with Old Norse and later Icelandic and Anglo-Saxon poetry...
for Viking
Viking
The term Viking is customarily used to refer to the Norse explorers, warriors, merchants, and pirates who raided, traded, explored and settled in wide areas of Europe, Asia and the North Atlantic islands from the late 8th to the mid-11th century.These Norsemen used their famed longships to...
. An early occurrence of the term—sumarliða—is recorded within the Anglo Saxon Chronicle, under the year 871. Another early occurrence of the term is Classi Somarlidiorum, meaning "fleet of the sumarliðar", which is recorded within the 12th century Chronicle of the Kings of Alba
Chronicle of the Kings of Alba
The Chronicle of the Kings of Alba, or Scottish Chronicle, is a short written chronicle of the Kings of Alba, covering the period from the time of Kenneth MacAlpin until the reign of Kenneth II . W.F...
, in a record documenting an attack on Buchan
Buchan
Buchan is one of the six committee areas and administrative areas of Aberdeenshire Council, Scotland. These areas were created by the council in 1996, when the Aberdeenshire unitary council area was created under the Local Government etc Act 1994...
in the mid 10th century. The most notable Norse
Norsemen
Norsemen is used to refer to the group of people as a whole who spoke what is now called the Old Norse language belonging to the North Germanic branch of Indo-European languages, especially Norwegian, Icelandic, Faroese, Swedish and Danish in their earlier forms.The meaning of Norseman was "people...
bearer of (a form of) the name is Somerled
Sumarlidi Sigurdsson
Sumarlidi Sigurdsson was jointly Earl of Orkney with his brothers Brusi and Einar Wry-Mouth following the death of their father, Sigurd Hlodvisson at the battle of Clontarf.Sumarlidi is reported to have died in his bed...
, an 11th century Earl of Orkney
Earl of Orkney
The Earl of Orkney was originally a Norse jarl ruling Orkney, Shetland and parts of Caithness and Sutherland. The Earls were periodically subject to the kings of Norway for the Northern Isles, and later also to the kings of Alba for those parts of their territory in mainland Scotland . The Earl's...
. Another prominent bearer of the name is Somerled
Somerled
Somerled was a military and political leader of the Scottish Isles in the 12th century who was known in Gaelic as rí Innse Gall . His father was Gillebride...
, a mid 12th century Lord of Argyll
Lord of Argyll
The sovereign or feudal lordship of Argyle was the holding of the senior branch of descendants of king Somhairle, this branch becoming soon known as Clan MacDougallConstruction of the Lordship of Argyll-Lorne essentially started with Donnchad mac Dubgaill....
.
The Scottish Gaelic Somhairle is sometimes Anglicised as Samuel, although the names are etymologically unrelated.
List of persons with the given name
Somerled- SomerledSomerledSomerled was a military and political leader of the Scottish Isles in the 12th century who was known in Gaelic as rí Innse Gall . His father was Gillebride...
(died 1164), Lord of Argyll, King of the Hebrides and Kintyre
Somhairle
- Somhairle Mac DomhnailSomhairle Mac DomhnailSomhairle Mac Domhnaill , called by English speakers Sorley McDonnell, was a renowned soldier for the Gaelic cause in Ireland and Scotland during the Thirty Years War and the patron who commissioned two 17th century manuscript collections of poems, Duanaire Finn and The Book of O'Connor Donn.-Early...
, 17th century Irish soldier
Sorley
- Sorley Boy MacDonnellSorley Boy MacDonnellSomhairle Buidhe Mac Domhnaill , Scoto-Irish prince or flaith and chief, was the son of Alexander MacDonnell, lord of Islay and Kintyre , and Catherine, daughter of the Lord of Ardnamurchan...
, (died 1590), Scottish/Irish chieftain - Sorley MacLeanSorley MacLeanSorley MacLean was one of the most significant Scottish poets of the 20th century.-Early life:He was born at Osgaig on the island of Raasay on 26 October 1911, where Scottish Gaelic was the first language. He attended the University of Edinburgh and was an avid shinty player playing for the...
, (1911–1996), a Scottish poet
Sumarlidi
- Sumarlidi SigurdssonSumarlidi SigurdssonSumarlidi Sigurdsson was jointly Earl of Orkney with his brothers Brusi and Einar Wry-Mouth following the death of their father, Sigurd Hlodvisson at the battle of Clontarf.Sumarlidi is reported to have died in his bed...
, 11th century Earl of Orkney