The
Scottish Gaelic and
Irish Gaelic masculine given name Garaidh (Scottish Gaelic pronunciation:[ˈkaɾɪ]) is of uncertain derivation but as a name occurs frequently in
Middle and
Old Irish texts (in its Old Irish form Garaid), for example in the 13th century
Acallam na Senórach: Donn mac Aeda, mheic Garaid, meic Morna 'Donn son of Aodh, son of Garaidh, son of Morna'.
Garaidh is commonly rendered in English as
Gary.[1] It is also commonly (esp. in Scotland) spelled Garry. However, the name Gary is of Germanic origin (from gar meaning 'spear').[2]
Although visually similar, most occurrences of -gar(r)y in place-names are unrelated to the name. In place-names, -gar(r)y is usually derived from one of the following elements:
Old Norsegerði, originally meaning enclosure but later on land around a dwelling, pasture,[3] e.g. Geàrraidh na h-AibhneGarynahine[4]
a hydronymic element (usually a river name) e.g. Gleann Garadh/GharadhGlen Garry, Inbhir Gharadh/GarraidhInvergarry
References
^Patrick Hanks & Flavia Hodges, A Dictionary of First Names, Oxford University Press (1990)