Tadhg (, ), (pronunciations given for the name ''Tadgh'' separately from those for the slang/pejorative ''Teague''.) commonly misspelled "Taig" or "Teague", is an Irish and Scottish Gaelic masculine name that was very common when the

Goidelic languages The Goidelic or Gaelic languages ( ga, teangacha Gaelacha; gd, cànanan Goidhealach; gv, çhengaghyn Gaelgagh) form one of the two groups of Insular Celtic languages, the other being the Brittonic languages. Goidelic languages historically ...

predominated, to the extent that it is a

synecdoche Synecdoche ( ) is a type of metonymy: it is a figure of speech in which a term for a part of something is used to refer to the whole (''pars pro toto''), or vice versa (''totum pro parte''). The term comes from Greek . Examples in common Engl ...

for Irish-speaking man. The name signifies "poet" or "philosopher". This was also the name of many Gaelic Irish kings from the 10th to the 16th centuries, particularly in Connacht and Munster. Tadhg is most common in south-west Ireland, particularly in County Cork and

County Kerry County Kerry ( gle, Contae Chiarraí) is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and forms part of the province of Munster. It is named after the Ciarraige who lived in part of the present county. The population of the co ...

. The name has enjoyed a surge in popularity recently; in 2005 it was the 69th most common name for baby boys and in 2010 the 40th, according to the Central Statistics Office in Ireland.

Etymology

The commonly accepted meaning of Tadhg is "poet"Babies' Names, Oxford University Press, 1995, , entry for "Tadhg" or "storyteller". The ultimate derivation is from the Celtic , who were poets in early Celtic society. In any case, the name is widely attested in Gaulish and early British names. When the whole of Ireland was part of the United Kingdom, many Irish names and place-names were given English meanings. Due to similarity in sound, Tadhg is often listed as an Irish equivalent of the English-language names Thaddeus, Timothy (Tim) or sometimes Thomas, but these names are not actually related. The name is also spelled "Taḋg" in Gaelic type with an overdot over the ''d'' to indicate it is lenited; the "dh" serves a similar purpose in the modern spelling. Tadhg has been anglicized as "Taihg", "Tighe" and "Teague". Alternative spellings are "Tadgh" and "Tadhgh".

Synecdoche

Tadhg is also a

and was once so common as an Irish name that it became synonymous with the typical Irishman in the same way that ''

Paddy Paddy may refer to: People *Paddy (given name), a list of people with the given name or nickname *An List of ethnic slurs#P, ethnic slur for an Irishman Birds *Paddy (pigeon), a Second World War carrier pigeon *Snowy sheathbill or paddy, a bird ...

'' or '' Mick'' might be today. Hence, Irish phrases such as ' (lit: Tadhg of the market) or ' (lit: Tadhg of the street) are similar to the English language expression "

average Joe The terms average Joe, ordinary Joe, Joe Sixpack, Joe Lunchbucket, Joe Snuffy, Joe Blow, Joe Schmo (for males) and ordinary Jane, average Jane, and plain Jane (for females), are used primarily in North America to refer to a completely average p ...

" or "the man on the street" The

anglicisation Anglicisation is the process by which a place or person becomes influenced by English culture or British culture, or a process of cultural and/or linguistic change in which something non-English becomes English. It can also refer to the influen ...

'' Taig'' (and formerly ''Teague'') has been used in English since the seventeenth century to refer to Irishmen. The Irish-language name is used defiantly in a

Jacobite Jacobite means follower of Jacob or James. Jacobite may refer to: Religion * Jacobites, followers of Saint Jacob Baradaeus (died 578). Churches in the Jacobite tradition and sometimes called Jacobite include: ** Syriac Orthodox Church, sometimes ...

poem written in the 1690s: : Taig in the Troubles in Northern Ireland was used by Protestant

loyalist Loyalism, in the United Kingdom, its overseas territories and its former colonies, refers to the allegiance to the British crown or the United Kingdom. In North America, the most common usage of the term refers to loyalty to the British Cro ...

s to refer to Catholic nationalists.

People with the name

Traditional

* Tadg mac Nuadat, a

Druid A druid was a member of the high-ranking class in ancient Celtic cultures. Druids were religious leaders as well as legal authorities, adjudicators, lorekeepers, medical professionals and political advisors. Druids left no written accounts. Whi ...

in the Fenian Cycle, grandfather of Fionn mac Cumhail

Gaelic nobility

* Tadg mac Conchobair (died 900), king of Connacht * Tadg mac Cathail (died 956), king of Connacht * Tadg mac Conchobair (died 962), king of Ailech *

Tadhg mac Muircheartach Tadhg (, ), (pronunciations given for the name ''Tadgh'' separately from those for the slang/pejorative ''Teague''.) commonly misspelled "Taig" or "Teague", is an Irish and Scottish Gaelic masculine name that was very common when the Goidelic ...

(died 971),

king of Uí Díarmata King is the title given to a male monarch in a variety of contexts. The female equivalent is queen, which title is also given to the consort of a king. *In the context of prehistory, antiquity and contemporary indigenous peoples, the ...

Tadhg Mór Ua Cellaigh Tadhg Mór Ua Cellaigh, 36th King of Uí Maine and 1st Chief of the Name. Background Ua Cellaigh was the first King of Uí Maine to bear the surname Ua Cellaigh, derived from his grandfather, Ceallach mac Finnachta, who was in turn a sixth-gene ...

(died 1014),

king of Uí Maine King is the title given to a male monarch in a variety of contexts. The female equivalent is queen, which title is also given to the consort of a king. *In the context of prehistory, antiquity and contemporary indigenous peoples, the ...

Tadc mac Briain Tadc mac Briain (died 1023) was the son of Brian Boru and Echrad, daughter of Carlus mac Ailella of Uí Áeda Odba. Tadc had one son, Toirdelbach Ua Briain (Turlough O'Brien), with his wife Mór, daughter of Gilla Brigte Ua Maíl Muaid of Cenél ...

(died 1023), contender for king of Munster * Tadg in Eich Gil (died 1030), king of Connacht *

Tadhg mac Muirchertach Tadhg mac Muirchertach was one of the early kings of Moylurg, and the most obscure. Even the years of his reign are unknown. All that can be said with certainty is that he lived in the middle decades of the eleventh century and his father was Muir ...

(''fl.'' 11th century),

king of Moylurg The Kings of or Moylurg were a branch of the , and a kindred family to the Kings of Connacht. Their ancestor, , was a brother to , King of Connacht 967–973, ancestor of the O Connor family of Connacht. is said to have made a deal of some natu ...

Tadg mac Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair Tadg mac Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair (died 1097) was King of Connacht. Tadg was a senior son of Ruaidrí na Saide Buide, who was deposed in 1092 by Flaithbertaigh Ua Flaithbertaigh. The succession became confused, with O'Hynes of Aidhne been made kin ...

(died 1097), king of Connacht *

Tadhg mac Muireadach Mac Cárthaigh Tadhg (, ), (pronunciations given for the name ''Tadgh'' separately from those for the slang/pejorative ''Teague''.) commonly misspelled "Taig" or "Teague", is an Irish and Scottish Gaelic masculine name that was very common when the Goidelic ...

(died 1123), king of Desmond *

Tadhg Mor mac Maelruanaidh Tadhg Mor mac Maelruanaidh was a fifth king of Moylurg. Tadhg Mor is the first ruler of Moylurg for whom we have definite regnal dates. Compared to his father, grandfather, great-grandfather and great-great grandfather, he ''seems'' to have had ...

(died 1124), king of Moylurg *

Tadhg Ua Cellaigh Tadhg Ua Cellaigh, 39th King of Uí Maine and 6th Chief of the Name, abducted 1145. References in the Annals Tadhg and Uí Maine are mentioned infrequently in the annals, reflecting the kingdom's subordinate status within the kingdom of Connacht ...

(abducted 1145), king of Uí Maine *

Teige Ua Con Ceannainn Teige Ua Con Ceannainn (nó Tadhg; ) was an apparent King of Uí Díarmata. Overview The succession to the kingship of Ui Diarmata after the death of Aedh Ua Con Ceannainn in 1119, to the death of Cú Ceanain Ó Con Ceanainn in 1224, is unclear. ...

(''fl.'' 1152), king of Uí Díarmata *

Tadg Gláe macDiarmata Ó Briain Diarmait Ua Briain (1060 –1118) was an 11th-century Irish king who ruled Munster from 1114 to 1118. One of three sons of Toirdelbach Ua Briain, he was banished from Munster by his brother Muirchertach Ua Briain shortly after the death of their ...

(died 1154), claimed king of Desmond *

Tadhg Cael Uisce Ó Briain Tadhg Cael Uisce Ó Briain (born , died 1259) was the eldest son of Conchobhar na Siudane Ó Briain and Tánaiste of Thomond. Life He received the suffix "Cael Uisce" from the having attended the conference of Cael Uisce on behalf of his father ...

(died 1269), tanist of Thomond *

Tadhg mac Diarmata Tadhg (, ), (pronunciations given for the name ''Tadgh'' separately from those for the slang/pejorative ''Teague''.) commonly misspelled "Taig" or "Teague", is an Irish and Scottish Gaelic masculine name that was very common when the Goidelic l ...

(died 1281), king of Moylurg * Tadhg Ó Cellaigh (died 1316), king of Uí Maine *

Tadgh Óg Ó Cellaigh Tadhg Óg Ó Cellaigh (died 1340) was King of Uí Maine and Chief of the Name. References * ''The Tribes and customs of Hy-Many'', John O'Donovan, 1843 * ''The Surnames of Ireland'', Edward MacLysaght, Dublin, 1978. * ''The Anglo-Normans in ...

(died 1340), king of Uí Maine *

Tadgh na gcoar Ó Ruairc Tadhg (, ), (pronunciations given for the name ''Tadgh'' separately from those for the slang/pejorative ''Teague''.) commonly misspelled "Taig" or "Teague", is an Irish and Scottish Gaelic masculine name that was very common when the Goidelic ...

(died 1376),

king of West Breifne The Kingdom of West Breifne (Irish ''Breifne Ua Ruairc'') or Breifne O'Rourke was a historic kingdom of Ireland that existed from 1256 to 1605, located in the area that is now County Leitrim. It took its present boundaries in 1583 when West Breif ...

Tadgh Ruadh Ó Cellaigh Tadhg (, ), (pronunciations given for the name ''Tadgh'' separately from those for the slang/pejorative ''Teague''.) commonly misspelled "Taig" or "Teague", is an Irish and Scottish Gaelic masculine name that was very common when the Goidelic ...

(died 1410), king of Uí Maine *

Tadhg na Mainistreach Mac Carthaigh Mór Tadhg na Mainistreach Mac Carthaigh Mór reigned as King of Desmond from 1390/2 to his death in 1428.''Annals of Inisfallen'' 1428.1 He was the son of the previous king Domhnall Óg Mac Carthaigh Mór (r. 1359–1390/2). According to the ''Annals ...

(died 1428), king of Desmond * Tadhg Riabhach Ó Dubhda (died 1432), king of Ui Fiachrach Muaidhe *

Tadhg mac Tigernán Mór Ó Ruairc Tadhg (, ), (pronunciations given for the name ''Tadgh'' separately from those for the slang/pejorative ''Teague''.) commonly misspelled "Taig" or "Teague", is an Irish and Scottish Gaelic masculine name that was very common when the Goidelic ...

(died 1435), king of West Breifne *

Tadhg an Glemore Ó Briain Tadhg (, ), (pronunciations given for the name ''Tadgh'' separately from those for the slang/pejorative ''Teague''.) commonly misspelled "Taig" or "Teague", is an Irish and Scottish Gaelic masculine name that was very common when the Goidelic l ...

(died 1438), king of Thomond *

Tadhg an Chomhaid Ó Briain Tadhg an Chomhaid Ó Briain was King of Thomond from 1459 to his death in 1466. Reign He built the tower of Inchiquin Castle shortly before his father's death in 1459 and made it his new residence, being the first O'Brien since the expulsion of ...

(died 1466), king of Thomond *

Tadhg mac Diarmaid Ó Máille Tadhg mac Diarmaid Ó Máille (IPA: ˈt̪ˠəiˈmˠakˈdʲiəɾˠmˠədʲˈoːˈmˠaːlʲə), King of Umaill, died 1467. External links * http://www.ucc.ie/celt/published/T100005A/index.html References * ''The History of Mayo'', pp. ...

(died 1467),

king of Umaill The Kings of Umaill were rulers of Umaill, a kingdom or territory located in the west of what is now County Mayo, Ireland. Its earliest rulers were the semi-historical Tuath mhac nUmhoir. The Umaill, its early historical rulers, were renamed t ...

Tadhg Caech Ó Cellaigh Tadhg Caech Ó Cellaigh was a King of Ui Maine within Ireland, who retired in 1476. Upon the death of Aedh na gCailleach Ó Cellaigh in 1469, the Ui Maine elected two kings, ruling Iar Ui Maine (west) and Airthir Ui Maine (east) respectively. ...

(abdicated 1476), king of Uí Maine *

(died 1499), king of Moylurg *

Tadgh Liath Mac Carthaigh Mór Tadhg (, ), (pronunciations given for the name ''Tadgh'' separately from those for the slang/pejorative ''Teague''.) commonly misspelled "Taig" or "Teague", is an Irish and Scottish Gaelic masculine name that was very common when the Goidelic ...

(died 1503), king of Desmond *

Tadgh na Leamhna Mac Cárthaigh Tadhg (, ), (pronunciations given for the name ''Tadgh'' separately from those for the slang/pejorative ''Teague''.) commonly misspelled "Taig" or "Teague", is an Irish and Scottish Gaelic masculine name that was very common when the Goidelic ...

(died 1514), claimed king of Desmond *

Tadhg Ruadh mac Toirrdelbach Tadhg (, ), (pronunciations given for the name ''Tadgh'' separately from those for the slang/pejorative ''Teague''.) commonly misspelled "Taig" or "Teague", is an Irish and Scottish Gaelic masculine name that was very common when the Goidelic ...

(died 1553), king of Mide *

Tadhg mac Brian Ballach Ó Ruairc Tadhg (, ), (pronunciations given for the name ''Tadgh'' separately from those for the slang/pejorative ''Teague''.) commonly misspelled "Taig" or "Teague", is an Irish and Scottish Gaelic masculine name that was very common when the Goidelic ...

(died 1560), king of West Breifne *

(died 1585), king of Moylurg * Tadhg mac Briain na Murtha Ó Ruairc (died 1605), king of West Breifne

Recent

Tadhg Cooke Tadhg Cooke is an Irish musician, also known by his stage name "Tiger Cooke". Born in Dublin, Ireland and raised in Dunboyne, County Meath, he showed musical promise from an early age and began writing his own music in school. He obtained a ...

, Irish contemporary musician *

Tadhg Slater Tadhg (, ), (pronunciations given for the name ''Tadgh'' separately from those for the slang/pejorative ''Teague''.) commonly misspelled "Taig" or "Teague", is an Irish and Scottish Gaelic masculine name that was very common when the Goidelic l ...

, Abstract expressionist, MOMA, Boston and NYC. * Tadhg Ó Donnchadha (1874–1949), activist for the Gaelic League * Tadhg Furlong (born 1992), Irish rugby player * Tadhg Kennelly (born 1981), Gaelic and Australian Rules footballer *

Tadhg Dall Ó hÚigínn Tadhg (, ), (pronunciations given for the name ''Tadgh'' separately from those for the slang/pejorative ''Teague''.) commonly misspelled "Taig" or "Teague", is an Irish and Scottish Gaelic masculine name that was very common when the Goidelic l ...

(1550–1591), Irish poet murdered allegedly for writing a satirical poem which insulted a rival aristocratic family * Tadhg Purcell (born 1985), Irish soccer player * George MacDonald Fraser's 1977 novel '' Flashman's Lady'' features the comic character Daedalus Tighe, and

John B. Keane John Brendan Keane (21 July 1928 – 30 May 2002) was an Irish playwright, novelist and essayist from Listowel, County Kerry. Biography A son of a national school teacher, William B. Keane, and his wife Hannah (née Purtill), Keane was ...

's 1965 play '' The Field'', has a character named Tadhg McCabe.

References

External links

{{given name Irish-language masculine given names