Carlow - Etymology

Etymology

The name Carlow is an anglicization of the Irish language name Ceatharlach. Historically, it was anglicized as Caherlagh, Caterlagh and Catherlagh, which are closer to the Irish spelling. According to logainm.ie, the first part of the name derives from the Old Irish word cethrae ("animals, cattle, herds, flocks"), which is related to ceathar ("four") and therefore signified "four-legged". The second part of the name is the ending -lach.

Some, such as Deirdre Flanagan, believe that the name should be Ceatharloch (meaning "quadruple lake"), since ceathar means "four" and loch means "lake".

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