WAYNE Rooney could well
be wooed by Martin O'Neill into the green jersey
thanks to his ancient lineage as descendant of an
Irish chief.
The Manchester United and England striker's surname
was researched as part of the 'Origins of Words'
slot on popular Channel Four word game 'Countdown'.
Lexicographer Susie Dent described the historical
meaning of Rooney's ancient Irish name as "pretty
appropriate" to his winning ways on the football
pitch.
"Wayne Rooney - Irish descent as you would guess.
His surname is, as I said, pretty appropriate. It
comes from the Gaelic meaning 'the descendant of the
champion' and the champion in question would have
been the chief of the clan back in the day," said
the popular wordsmith.
She provided further food for thought for the new
Ireland manager with the ancestral origins of
Rooney's team-mate Michael Carrick.
"The midfielder Michael Carrick's kinsmen would have
had noble knightly status because 'carrick' (Irish:
carraig) comes from an ancient Gaelic word meaning
'rock', so they were 'steadfast fighters'," she
added.
The 'Countdown' stalwart also found a "very fitting"
old Gaelic meaning in the surname of former Man
United boss, Alex Ferguson.
"Ferguson is made up of 'fear' meaning man and 'gus'
which meant 'vigour or force' so he was the son of a
warrior and a very successful one," she said.
The forefathers of Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard were
also found to be good on the battlefield.
"(His) ancestors were 'brave spearmen'. 'Gerry'
meant spear while 'hard' meant 'valiant and
strong'."
Meanwhile, Chelsea ace Frank Lampard takes his name
from 'land of the bright' "a good motto when he next
plays for England”.
And the double-barrelled moniker of England and
Arsenal star Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was also
explored.
Ms Dent found that 'Oxlade' had its origins in 'the
island where cattle were kept' while the very early
Chamberlains "were in charge of their lords’ private
bedrooms". |
