The way in which British surnames have developed is very complicated.
   Before the Normans arrived the use of surnames wasn't really known. Many English surnames were originally connected with a person's job - Charles Baker, Margaret Thatcher; someone size - Jack Long, Mary Little; or a family relationship - Robin Williamson (Robin, son of William), Peter Richardson. The most common Welsh surnames were all originally Christian names in some form: Dylan Thomas, Roger Davies (a from of David), Geoffrey Jones (from John), David Williams, etc. Many other names come from the tradition of calling a child 'son of" his father using the Welsh word ap (or ab). This "p" can be found at the beginning of many common Welsh names, such as Gary Pritchard, which is the name as the English Richardson. Other examples are Prees, price, parry and Pugh.

   Welshmen living in England are often called by the nickname 'Taffy'. This may come from the River Taff, which runs through the capital Cardiff, or all Irish people spoke Gaelic, and this language is still English also. Evidence of Gaelic is still found in place-names, for example 'bally' - town, 'slieve' - mountain, 'lough' - lake, 'inis' - island, 'drum' - mountain top, 'glen' - valley.

   The influence of Irish Gaelic is also found in the names of people.
Here are some typical Gaelic first names:
Sean - name as John;
Seamus - same as James;
Liam - same as William;
Seanna - same as Joanna.

   Paddy (short for Patrick) and Micky (short for Michael) are not Gaelic names but they found so often in Irland that two names are sometimes used jokingly to mean 'an Irishman'. Many Irish surnames begin with:
O'…meaning 'from the family of';
Fitz…meaning 'son of';
Mac…meaning 'son of';
Kil…meaning 'son of';
Gil… meaning 'son of'.

   Here are some examples:
O'Brein , O'Neil,
Fitzwilliam, Fitzgerald,
MacMahon, MacHugh,
Kilmartin, Glimurray

Have a Little Fun!

   A young teacher just beginning his career asks advice of an older member of the faculty, "What have you learned in your years of experience?"
   "I've learned one thing - often you will find while you are giving a lesson in class that there is one young upstart who always disagrees with you. Tell me, would you stop him or try to make him shut up right then and there?"
   "I suppose I would."
   "Well, don't. He's probably the only one who is listening to you."

Kurz und bundig

   Der beruhmte schottische Chirurg John Aberneti, der im 18. Jh. lebte, zeichnete sich dadurch aus, da? er sehr lakonisch war. Einer Patientin, die sich ebenso kurz ausdruckte, gelang es, sein Wohlgefallen zu finden.
   Einmal kam zu ihm eine Frau, deren Hand entzundet und geschwollen war. Folgendes Gesprach fand zwischen ihnen statt:
   "Verbrannt?"
   "Gefallen."
   "Kompresse!"
   Am nachsten Tage kam die Patientin wieder zum Artz:
   "Besser?"
   "Schlechter."
   "Noch eine Kompresse!"
   Nach zwei Tagen:
   "Besser?"
   "Gesund. Wieviel?"
   "Nichts!" rief der Artz aus. "Solch eine gescheite Patientin treffe ich zum ersten Mal."