Quote Originally Posted by TatterDel View Post
Okay so I read the first six pages and couldn't wait to add a post (I'll continue reading in a minute).
I am a Brown who married a Smith... you don't need to go there.
One of the names (on my husband's tree) no one can seem to tell us about is Leatherwood. Some in my husband's family said it was Welsh. I have found it spelled Letherwood on family tree sites.
and you recently post:
"Gaelic Leathar meaning half. This would refer to a land measure."
So I was curious what you (or anyone) might know about Leatherwood.

cont.
And now I edit my post as I have read all the pages.
WOW! you are incredible and so is this thread!

I recently tried to find the origins of our town's name, as the locals can't seem to agree where it came from. One of it's founders was of Irish decent so I followed that rabbit trial only to find similar words & names in Ireland. The name... Tullahoma, TN.
LEATHERWOOD Hard to say, really. Probably topographical origin. If of Gaelic origin, it could be a sort of half-translation meaning half-woods(?) In Gaelic (Irish or Scottish) that would be Coille Leathair. (pronounced KAWl-yA LE-HER)

However, if it is of Welsh origin, this poses a problem: Welsh IS a Celtic language, and thus related to the Gaelic language family, but it is NOT mutually intelligible by any means. In fact, Welsh and Irish (Gaelic) have a similar relationship as English does to German. The Welsh words for 'half' and 'wood' are hanner and coed respectively.

TULLAHOMA That sounds a lot like a First Nations/Native American name. The apparent similarities you have found in Irish place names are probably those which begin with tulla, tullagh, or tullig. These are all derived from tulach, an Irish word for hill or mound. I suspect it is just a coincidence.

Hope all of this helps in any way!