Ó hEidirsceoil

Ó hEidirsceoil, Gaelic-Irish surname, anglicised as Driscoll.

The surname derives from the forename Eidirsceol, who was alive in the early-to-mid 10th century. The word itself, eidirsceol, means "go-between" or "bearer of news".

The original Eidirsceol from whom descent is claimed is reputed to have lived in the mid 10th century.

The family are of Érainn, descent, specifically the Corcu Loígde population group. By the time the family began using the surname, the territory known as Corcu Loígde (roughly the same as the diocese of Ross) in south-west County Cork, was identified as their homeland, with the town of Baltimore been their seat. From the 12th century the Ó hEidirsceoil's were recorded as kings of Corcu Loígde.

Been driven so far south by the Gaelic Eóganachta and the Anglo-Normans, the family became expert sailors and pirates. According to John Grenham:

They are described by Donnchadh Ó Corráin as follows:

Though the landowners of the clan lost all of their possession during the 17th century, most of those bearing the name in Ireland are still to be found living in the old family homeland.

Forenames associated with the family included Finn and Con/Mac Con. From the late medieval era, they were anglicized as Florence and Cornelius.

U=Annals of Ulster. AI=Annals of Inisfallen.

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Wikipedia