Take two: I'm talking about ancestry
An dàrna turas: 'S ann mu dheidhinn sinnsearachd a tha mi a' bruidhinn
Let's have a look at this conversation again.
A Mhàiri, dè an sloinneadh a th' ort?
Màiri, what's your surname (/patronymic)?
An ann a' tarraing asam a tha thu, Fhionnlaigh? Tha deagh fhios agad dè th' ann!
Are you kidding me, Finlay? You know fine what it is!
'S ann mu dheidhinn sloinneadh sinnsearachd a tha mi a' bruidhinn. 'S e rud cudromach a th' ann—nar n–eachdraidh agus nar beatha.
I'm talking about your patronymic. It's an important thing—in our history and in our lives.
Tha mi cinnteach gun do dh'innis màthair Iain sin dhomh turas, ach bha tuilleadh 's a chòir ainmean ann. Co-dhiù, nach ann dha na fir a tha sin?
I'm sure that John's mother told me it once, but there were too many names. Anyway, isn't that just for men?
Chan ann. Smaoinich air Màiri Nighean Alasdair Ruaidh!
It isn't. Think about Mary, daughter of Red–haired Alasdair!
Cò i?
Who's she?
'S i, no b' i, bana–bhàrd ainmeil sa Ghàidhlig: Màiri NicLeòid!
She is, or she was, a famous Gaelic poet(ess): Mary MacLeod!
An i Màiri Mhòr, Màiri Mhòr nan Òran?
Is she Màiri Mhòr, Màiri Mhòr nan Òran [lit. Great Mary of the Songs]?
Chan i! Siud Màiri Nic a' Phearsain, uill 's e Dòmhnallach a bh' innte. No mar as fheàrr a dh'aithnichear i: Màiri nighean Iain Bhàin!
No! That's Mary MacPherson, well she was a MacDonald actually. Or as she's better known: Mary daughter of Fair–haired John!
Tha thu a' dèanamh glè mhath gu ruige seo, Fhionnlaigh. A bheil feadhainn eile agad?
You're doing very well so far, Finlay. Do you have any more?
Dè mu dheidhinn tè eile, Fionnghal nighean Raghnaill 'ic Aonghais Òig?
What about another one: Flora daughter of Ranald son of Young Angus?
Tha fios agam cò i! 'S i bana–ghaisgeach nan Seumasach ann am Bliadhna Theàrlaich: Fionnghal NicDhòmhnaill!
I know who she is! She's the Jacobite heroine of the '45 [lit. The Year of Charles], Flora MacDonald!
Nach robh ise càirdeach ri Alasdair mac Mhaighstir Alasdair?
Wasn't she related to Alexander son of Master Alexander [Reverend Alexander MacDonald]?