Flaherty

Part of speech: noun, verb

Definitions

1. An Irish surname of Gaelic origin, borne by notable people such as the American documentary filmmaker Robert Flaherty
2. A family name of Gaelic Irish origin, carried by various people including the pioneering documentary director Robert Flaherty
3. Surname of Irish Gaelic descent, held by individuals such as the early documentary filmmaker Robert Flaherty

Etymology: The surname Flaherty is the anglicised form of an Irish personal name, Flaithbheartach, which means "bright ruler." The name joins two elements: "flaith," meaning prince or ruler, and a word rooted in the Proto-Celtic "berxtos," meaning bright or shining. That second element is a close relative of the Proto-Germanic "berhtaz," the source of English "bright," so the name and the English adjective share an ancient ancestor. The name was common among Irish families, and over time its spelling shifted with pronunciation and with the conventions of English-language record keeping. Forms such as Flaherty, Flahertie and Flahertie-style variants appear in Irish and emigrant records, and the modern spelling is the one most people now recognise. Because the name was a personal name before it was a family name, it reflects the aspiration of a bright, rule-giving leader rather than any single place or trade.