Genealogy Terms for Gaelic Learners

An avid learner of Scottish Gaelic – Gàidhlig – I have put together the following list of words that may be useful for learners of the language which refer to Scottish family history, and which may help to express genealogical concepts, terms and events a bit better. 

I will keep adding to this as and when, so keep checking back!

Genealogy

teaghlach – family
eachdraidh teaghlaich – family history
sloinntearach – genealogy
sloinntear – genealogist
dualchas – heritageeachdraidh – history

craobh-ghinealach – genealogy tree
craobh-theaghlaich – family tree
leabhar-ginealach – the family history (as published)

sinnsear – ancestor
sinnsearan – ancestors
sliochd – descendant
sliochdan – descendants
sìol – descendants, progeny
gineadair – progenitor
ginealach – generation
clann – children

ainm – name
ciad ainm – first name
sloinne – surname

a’ rannsachadh – researching
rannsachadh – research
a’ sgrùdail – investigating
a’ sgrìobhadh – writing
a’ leughadh – reading
aithris – a report
oraid – a lecture
iris – a magazine
artagail – an article
leabhar – a book
leabhraichean – books  


Birth & Baptism

breith – birth
rugadh e ann an… – he was born in…
thoghadh i ann an… – she was raised in…
co-là breith – birthday
baisteadh – baptism
baiste – baptised
ban-ghoistidh – godmother
goistidh – godfather
sponsair – sponsor

Engagement, Marriage & Divorce

gealladh-pòsaidh – engagement
èigheachd – proclaiming
gairm or gairm-phòsaidh – banns, marriage proclamation
dh’èigheadh iad san eaglais – their banns were called in the church
chaidh an èigheach san eaglais – their banns were called in the church
banais – wedding
a’ pòsadh – marrying
mìos nam pòg – honeymoon (‘the month of kisses’!)
fianais or neach-fianais – witness
fianaisichean or luchd-fianais – witnesses
cuirm-bhainnse – wedding reception

adhaltras or adhaltranas – adultery
adhaltrach – adulterer
sgaradh-pòsaidh – divorce
briseadh-pòsaidh – divorce
dealachadh-pòsaidh – divorce    
dealaichte – divorced
a’ dealaich ri – divorcing
a’ sgaradh o chèile – separating
sgaradh – separation


Death & Burial

a’ bàsachadh – dying
corp – body
creubh – corpse  
losgadh-cuirp – cremation
tiodhlacadh – funeral
uaidh – grave
cladh – graveyard
tiomnachd – will, testament
dìleab – legacy, inheritance
oighreachd – estate
neach-cùraim tiomnaidh – executor (of a will)


Civil Registration

teisteanas breithe – birth certificate
teisteanas pòsaidh – marriage certificate
teisteanas bàis – death certificate
teisteans uchd-mhacadhd – adoption certificate

Religion

Pròstanach – Protestant
Clèireach – Presbyterian
Eaglais na h-Alba – Church of Scotland
Eaglais Easbaigeach na h-Alba – Scottish Episcopal Church
Caitligeach or Pàpanach – Catholic
Achd Fuatach nan Caitligeach – Catholic Emancipation Act
Eaglais Chaitligeach na h-Alba – Scottish Catholic Church
eaglais – church
seipeal or caibeal – chapel
ministear – minister
sagart – priest
èildear – church elder
lagh-eaglaise – church law
seisean – kirk session
clèir – presbytery
oighre – heritor (also means ‘heir’)


Censuses

cunntas-sluaigh – census
cunntasan-sluaigh – censuses
teaghlach – family, household
ceann-taigh – head of the family or household
muinntir an taigh – members of the household
àireamhaiche – enumerator


Archival Institutions

tasglann – archive
taigh-tasgaidh – museum
taisbeanadh – exhibition
leabharlann – library
comhairle – council

Clàran Nàiseanta na h-Alba – National Records of Scotland
Leabharlann Nàiseanta na h-Alba – National Library of Scotland
Àrainneachd Eachdraidheil Alba – Historic Environment Scotland


Family Members / Relationships

màthair – mother
athair – father
mac – son
mhic – sons
nighean – daughter
nigheannan – daughters

piuthar – sister
peathraichean – sisters
bràthair – brother
bràithrean – brothers
leth-leanabh – twin
leth-aonan co-ionann – identical twins
leas-mhàthair – stepmother
leas-athair – stepfather
leas-phiuthar – stepsister
leas-bhràthair – stepbrother
uchd-mhac – adopted son
uchd-nighean – adopted daughter
uchd-leanabh – adopted child
co-dhalta – foster sibling/foster brother
ban-dalta or nighean-dalta – foster daughter
dalta – foster son
uime or muime – foster mother
oid’ altraim – foster father
co-ogha – first cousin
co-oghaichean – first cousins
dà-ghlùn or iar-ogha sinn-seanar – second cousin
fionn-ogha sinn-sinn-seanair – third cousin

seanmhair – grandmother
sinn-seanmhair – great grandmother
sinn-sinn-seanmhair – great great grandmother
seanair – grandfather
sinn-seanair – great grandfather
sinn-sinn-seanair – great great grandfather
ogha – grandchild/grandson
iar-ogha – great grandchild/grandson
ion-ogha or gar-ogha – great great grandchild/grandson
ban-ogha or ian-bhan-ogha – great granddaughter
ban-fhionn-ogha – great great granddaughter

uncail – uncle
brathair m’ athair – paternal uncle / brother of my father
brathair mo mhàthair – maternal uncle / brother of my mother
antaidh – aunt
piuthar m’ athair – paternal aunt / sister of my father
piuthar mo mhàthair – maternal aunt / sister of my mother

bean – wife (also ‘woman’)
fear-taighe or duine – husband
cèile or caidreach – spouse

Clans

cinneadh – clan
cinnidhean – clans
ceann-cinnidh – clan chief
cinn-cinnidh – clan chiefs


Land Records

fiùdalachd – feudalism
ranntannan iomchair – title deeds
luachadh – valuation
cuairt luachaidh – valuation court
Oighreachdan Arfuntaichte – Forfeited Estates
oide – tutor, foster father
oideachadh – tutelage


Heraldry

gearradh arm – coat of arms
àrdarc – blazon, armorial bearings

For pronunciation of the above words, try looking the words up in the excellent dictionary at LearnGaelic (https://learngaelic.scot/dictionary/), which also has additional tools, such as a thesaurus.

Don’t forget the Scottish Gaelic Duolingo course is free to access at https://www.duolingo.com if you fancy learning some of the basics, whilst BBC Alba’s SpeakGaelic course is freely available at https://speakgaelic.scot to help push you along further!