Surname Synnott - Meaning and Origin
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Synnott: What does the surname Synnott mean?
Synnott is an Irish name derived from the Old Norse personal name Sigyn which was popular in Scandinavia during the Viking Age. This surname was brought to Ireland with the Viking invasions of the 8th–11th centuries and is found mainly in Cork and Dublin in the south and northern counties of Mayo and Galway.
The meaning of Synnott or Sigynn is difficult to determine precisely, but is thought to mean ‘victory’ or ‘sun’. It is also thought to be derived from the Old Norse words ‘sig’ for victory and ‘njott’ for necessity or duty. In Anglo-Saxon culture, victors were seen as those with a duty to protect and fight for their people.
The old Irish folk story of the Battle of Clontarf features a man of Viking descent by the name of Olaf Synnott who is said to have defeated the Irish army in the battle of 1014. This battle marked the end of a 400 year Viking rule over Ireland and was led by the High King of Ireland, Brian Boru.
Synnott is considered to be a ‘Gaelic’ surname as it predates the Norman invasion of 1172 and is a good example of how the medieval Vikings blended with the native Irish. It is also an example of Ireland's long connection to Europe and the wider Norse culture.
Today, Synnott is still a common surname in Ireland and is quite widely used around the world. It is a reminder of an exciting and turbulent period of Irish history when the Vikings played an important role in shaping the culture and identity of the Irish people.
Order DNA origin analysisSynnott: Where does the name Synnott come from?
The last name Synnott is usually seen as an Irish surname, although it is found in other countries. It originates from the Old Gaelic surname O’Seanachadha, which was anglicized to Synnott in the late 1600's.
Within Ireland, the Synnott name has remained concentrated in certain regions, particularly in the counties of Cork and Wexford. It is fairly common in County Wexford in South-East Ireland, where the surname is highly concentrated in the small towns of Ballymurn and Adamstown. In County Cork, it is mainly found in the towns of Clonakilty and Bandon.
Outside of Ireland, the Synnott name is present in Australia, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and elsewhere. It is quite common in the United States, particularly in the South-East; in fact, Synnott is classified as the 1020th most common surname in the country. It also appears with some frequency in the United Kingdom; estimates place it at the 1295th most common surname there.
The surname Synnott can also be found in smaller pockets in places such as Asia, South America, and Europe. As the popularity and prevalence of the Synnott name has slowly evolved over the past centuries, it remains an interesting and popular last name today.
Variations of the surname Synnott
The surname Synnott is most commonly found in Ireland and is of Irish origin. The variants, spellings and surnames of Synnott include Sinnot, Sinnott, Sinnat, Synnett, Synneth, Sinnath, Sinnet, and Synett.
The variant Sinnot may have further derived from the old Irish surname O'Synnuge, which originated from the Irish clan of the 'Race of Synnge', derived from the Irish Synnge, meaning 'Truth'.
The surname Sinnott may have developed from 'O Siadhail' or O'Siodail, the Gaelic meaning of which is 'peaceful'. The variant Sinnat may have developed from the names Seinnead or O Seindeadh act, meaning 'remembrance'.
Synnett, Synneth, Sinnath, and Synett are other variations of the surname and may have also derived from the same origins. The name Synnett is a rare variation of the surname and may have derived from 'O'Sionnaigh' meaning 'descendant of the fair one'.
The various spellings and surname variants of the same origin all evolved from the Irish surname Synnott and the names of their origins can trace back to a Gaelic origin. Whilst the exact history and origin is difficult to trace, it is likely that all original variants may have ultimately linked back to the Irish origin of the Synnott surname.
Famous people with the name Synnott
- Sean Synnott: former professional basketball player who played in the NBA for the Detroit Pistons and Miami Heat.
- Emma Synnott: Irish singer-songwriter and former member of the all-girl band Brunch.
- Mickey Synnott: former cricketer who played for Ireland and was part of their squad for the 1979 Cricket World Cup.
- Robert Synnott: American film and television actor, best known for his roles in Santa Barbara and The Young and the Restless.
- Brian Synnott: Canadian writer and children's entertainer, best known for his stage show Mr. Knick Knack's Circus Show.
- John Synnott: Australian actor who has appeared in numerous films and television shows, including Utopia, Home and Away and The City of Lies.
- Michael Synnott: Irish academic, lecturer at the School of Law at Dublin Institute of Technology, and author of several books on conflict resolution.
- Emily Synnott: British swimmer and winner of multiple gold medals at the Commonwealth Games.
- Liam Synnott: Irish chef and restaurateur, owner of the award-winning restaurant Sage, located in Dublin.
- Amanda Synnott: Canadian opera singer and founder of the Victoria Symphony Orchestra.