Surname Lemass - Meaning and Origin
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Lemass: What does the surname Lemass mean?
The last name Lemass is of Irish origin. It is an anglicized version of the Gaelic surname Mac Giolla Mhaoilmhoiche, which means ‘Son of the Devotee of Saint Maolmhoich’. This name was often given to families of the Ui Maine who were from the area of Galway in the west of Ireland.
The Lemass family are an old and important family in Galway, going back to the late thirteenth century. They were in possession of a significant portion of land along the Corrib River. The family has had a long history of service and leadership in the Irish community. Several of its members were prominent figures in politics, religion, and war.
The family name is popular throughout the world, representing a widespread heritage that is rich with tradition and history. The Lemass name carries a spirit of loyalty and heritage, representing a people who are proud of their ancestry, and willing to stand up for their beliefs. Today, there are many working in different fields, from engineering, healthcare, education, and government, continuing this legacy of service to their community.
Order DNA origin analysisLemass: Where does the name Lemass come from?
The last name Lemass is not overly common today, however it is still found in some countries across the world. It is especially found in Ireland, where it is commonly associated with Irish political leader Seán Lemass, the former Taoiseach (Prime Minister) of Ireland from 1959 to 1966. Descendants of Seán Lemass still live in Ireland today, and Lemass is still a relatively common surname throughout the country.
Lemass is also an existing family name in Scotland and was first documented there in 1296. This is much earlier than in Ireland and indicates it was likely derived from the Norman-Scottish name 'Le Mas' that was brought to Scotland with the Norman Conquest.
In the English speaking world, Lemass can be found mostly in the countries of Canada, the United States of America, Australia and New Zealand, where a significant number of Irish descendants have emigrated to in the past centuries. It is also found in Northern European countries such as Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden, but only in small numbers compared to other areas.
In other parts of the world, Lemass is also quite uncommon. It is not found in areas such as Africa, Asia or Latin America, where there are no known occurrences of the surname.
Overall, Lemass is not a extremely popular surname in today’s world, but it is still found in many countries across the world. Its roots date back to the 12th century and it has been preserved over time, mainly due to its connection with the famous Irish politician Seán Lemass.
Variations of the surname Lemass
The surname "Lemass" is derived from the Irish Gaelic given name 'Laighmheasa', meaning 'The Dispatch'. Variants of this surname include: LaMasse, Lamasse, LaMass, L'Massey, Lamassy, L'Masse, Lammas, LaMassa, LaMasa, LaMassey, Lasse, Lemas, Lemasse, Lemmass, Limas, Limasse, Limes, Lymas, Lymass and LaMaze.
Spellings of this surname also vary between countries and regions. Examples of these include L'Masse (Canada), Lamasse (Louisiana), LaMasa (Puerto Rico), LaMassey (Poland) and Lemmas (England). Similarly, alternate spellings, such as Lemasse, Lemass, L'Masse and Lymass, are found in North America, while Lemmas and Limas are found in England.
Additionally, various derivations of the surname Lemass have also formed, such as Limassol (Cyprus), Lemos (Portugal) and LeMoule (Guadeloupe).
The different spellings and derivations of Lemass suggest its presence in many countries across Europe, with many Lemass family members throughout Ireland, France, England, Scotland, Canada, the United States, Spain, Italy, Poland, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Greece, Portugal, the Caribbean and Cyprus.
Famous people with the name Lemass
- Sean Lemass: Former Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minister) and leader of the Fianna Fáil party. He served from 1959 to 1965 and is often credited as the “architect” of modern Ireland.
- Seán Lemass Jr.: Son of Sean Lemass and politician. He served in the Irish Parliament from 1977 to 1981 and was appointed to the Seanad in 1982.
- John Lemass: Canadian politician and former member of provincial parliament.
- Madeleine Lemass: French actress who appeared in acclaimed films such as “Indochine” and “Tous les matins du monde”.
- Gail Lemass: Canadian actress and poet who was part of the National Theatre School of Canada.
- Marisa Lemass: American singer and songwriter.
- Michael Lemass: Australian professional footballer who has played for clubs like the A-League’s Newcastle Jets.
- Bart Lemass: American film producer and executive whose projects include “Duets” starring Gwyneth Paltrow and “The Pledge” starring Jack Nicholson.
- Jack Lemass: Former head coach of the Minnesota Twins baseball team and member of the Baseball Hall of Fame.
- Patrick Lemass: Leader of the Provisional Irish Republican Army during his time with the organization.