Where does my surname come from?

Where does my surname come from? "FLAVIN"?

• My Mothers, Mother surname was Flavin - she kept the name of her Mother so Flavin is what I see myself as. Unfortunately my surname is not FLAVIN but I will be changing it by deed-pol to keep it going. Im not going to tell you where my grandmother comes from but I will say she moved to Wales in the late 30s early 40s I believe and worked as a nurse up untill she past away at the young age of 49 sadly. Id be really grateful and really appreciate if anyone can give me any insight on the FLAVIN surname and where it originates from. Thank you . Alan (Flavin:) well i will be soon ;)

• Answer:

  The surname of FLAVIN was derived from the Gaelic O'Flaithearmhain (a name meaning ruler). It belongs almost exclusively to west Waterford and east Cork, where the name is also spelt as Flahavan and Flavhan. The tradition of surnames in Ireland developed spontaneously, as the population increased and the former practice, first of single names and then of ephemeral patronymics or agnomina of the nickname type proved insufficiently definitive. At first the surname was formed by prefixing 'Mac' to the fathers Christian name or 'O 'to that of a grandfather or an even earlier ancestor. If you want more information just go to the links.