RODDY Family History

This name, with variant spellings Rodie, Rhoddie, Roddy and Ruddy, has two distinct possible origins, the first being an Anglicization of the Olde Gaelic "O'Rodochain", written in modern Irish as O' Rodaigh. The Gaelic prefix "O" indicates "male descendant of ", plus the genitive form of the personal byname "Rodach", from "rod" meaning "strong". Two distinct septs of this name existed in Ireland, one belonged to Fenagh in County Leitrim where the family held church lands and maintained the resident priests for generations.