Fancy

Fancy
This very unusual surname recorded in the spellings of Fancy, Fansy, Fennessy, Phinnessy, and Finessy, is of medieval Irish origins. According to our research and to the famous book on Irish surnames by MacLysaght, the surname is mostly found in Counties Cork, Tipperary, and Waterford. The name spelling was originally O'Fionnghusa, or the descendant of the fair and vigourous one, from the Gaelic word "fionn" meaning fair haired or fair skinned, plus "gus" - active or vigourous. This translation is very interesting. The eastern part of Ireland, with its coastline, was in the 10th century, like the north of England a Viking kingdom. This suggests that the first holders of the surname were, being fair, themselves of Viking origin, since the original Celts were like the Ancient Welsh and the Bretons of Northern France, dark and swarthy. The suffix "gus" probably has a more "earthy" meaning and relates to either the original nameholders quickness of movement, or possibly his sexual prowess! The medieval period was one of robust humour. Pretension was frowned upon, and people were given nicknames, which developed into surnames with impunity. These, however personal, people accepted almost as a badge of status. Early examples of this surname taken from Irish church registers include Patrick Finnessy of Killarney, on July 10th 1810, Conor Fansy, also recorded as Fancy, at Leitrim, County Leitrim, on April 5th 1864, and Patrick Fennessey, a witness at Ardfinnon, County Tipperary, on February 21st 1867. The first example of a recording in these records maybe Elinor Phinessy who married David Phillips, at Castletownroche, County Cork, on October 3rd 1799.

Surnames reference. 2013.

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  • Fancy — Manfred Alois Segieth (1988) Fancy bei einem Disco Auftritt (1988) Fancy (* 7. Juli …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Fancy — Fan cy, a. 1. Adapted to please the fancy or taste, especially when of high quality or unusually appealing; ornamental; as, fancy goods; fancy clothes. [1913 Webster] 2. Extravagant; above real value. [1913 Webster] This anxiety never degenerated …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • fancy — [fan′sē] n. pl. fancies [ME fantsy, contr. < fantasie: see FANTASY] 1. imagination, now esp. light, playful, or whimsical imagination 2. illusion or delusion 3. a mental image 4. an arbitrary idea; notion; caprice; whim 5. an …   English World dictionary

  • Fancy — Fan cy (f[a^]n s[y^]), n.; pl. {Fancies}. [Contr. fr. fantasy, OF. fantasie, fantaisie, F. fantaisie, L. phantasia, fr. Gr. ???????? appearance, imagination, the power of perception and presentation in the mind, fr. ???????? to make visible, to… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • fancy — n 1 Caprice, freak, whim, whimsy, conceit, vagary, crotchet 2 imagination, fantasy Antonyms: experience 3 Fancy, fantasy, phantasy, phantasm, vision, dream, daydream, nightmare are comparable when they denote a vivid idea or image, or a series of …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • fancy — ► VERB (fancies, fancied) 1) Brit. informal feel a desire for. 2) Brit. informal find sexually attractive. 3) regard as a likely winner. 4) imagine. 5) used to express surprise: fancy that! …   English terms dictionary

  • fancy — [adj] extravagant, ornamental adorned, baroque, beautifying, chichi*, complicated, cushy, custom, decorated, decorative, deluxe, elaborate, elegant, embellished, fanciful, florid, frilly, froufrou*, garnished, gaudy, gingerbread*, intricate,… …   New thesaurus

  • Fancy — Fan cy, v. t. 1. To form a conception of; to portray in the mind; to imagine. [1913 Webster] He whom I fancy, but can ne er express. Dryden. [1913 Webster] 2. To have a fancy for; to like; to be pleased with, particularly on account of external… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Fancy —   [ fænsɪ; englisch, eigentlich »Fantasie«],    1) die, / s, Musik: Fantasy [ fæntəsɪ], die der Geschichte der musikalischen Fantasie zugehörige Hauptform der englischen Kammermusik von etwa 1575 bis 1680. Sie entwickelte sich aus dem… …   Universal-Lexikon

  • Fancy — (engl., spr. Fänßi), Phantasie, daher Fancy Artikel, Modewaaren, verzierte Schmucksachen. Fancy Fair (spr. Fänßisähr), Ausstellung u. Verkauf von weiblichen Handarbeiten zu milden Zwecken …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Fancy — Fan cy, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Fancied}, p. pr. & vb. n. {Fancying}.] 1. To figure to one s self; to believe or imagine something without proof. [1913 Webster] If our search has reached no farther than simile and metaphor, we rather fancy than know …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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