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Hibernia (Latin:[(h)ɪˈbɛr.n̪i.a]) is theClassical Latin name forIreland, and today is used as a poetic name for the island. It is derived from the nativeCeltic name for the island and its people, but influenced by the Latinhībernus, as though it meant "wintry land".[1]
The nameHibernia orIbernia as a name for Ireland dates back to the 1st century BC, whenJulius Caesar used it in hisCommentarii de Bello Gallico. It then became the main Latin name for Ireland.[2] Roman geographersPomponius Mela andJuvenal, writing in the 1st century AD, call IrelandIuverna.[3] In his 2nd centuryGeographia (c. 150 AD), Greek geographerPtolemy called the islandIouernia orIwernia (Ἰουερνία;ou represented /w/).[4] In the 4th century,Claudian calls the islandHiverne.[5]
All of these names are believed to come from aQ-Celtic name *Īweriū, meaning "fertile land".[4] From this eventually arose theIrish namesÉriu andÉire.
The High KingBrian Boru (c. 941–1014) based his title on being emperor of theScoti,[6] which was in LatinImperatorScottorum, emperor of the Gaels. From 1172, theLordship of Ireland gave the King of England the additional titleDominus Hibernie (sic, forHiberniae; alsoDominus Hybernie), 'Lord of Ireland'. TheKingdom of Ireland created the titleRex Hiberniae, King of Ireland, for use in Latin texts.Gerardus Mercator called Ireland "Hybernia" on his world map of 1541.[7] In 1642, the motto of theIrish Confederates, a Catholic-landlord administration that ruled much of Ireland until 1650, wasPro Deo, Rege et Patria, Hibernia Unanimis,'For God, king and fatherland, Ireland united'.[citation needed]
By the classicising 18th century, the use of Hibernia had revived in some contexts, just as had the use ofCaledonia, one of the Latin terms forScotland, andBritannia for Britain. "Hibernia" was used on Irish coins in the 1700s, and on a 2016 2 euro coin. Companies such as theHibernian Insurance Company were established (later renamed the Hibernian Group). The name took on popularity with the success of theIrish Patriot Party. At a time whenPalladian classical architecture and design were being adopted in northern Europe, Hibernia was a useful word to describe Ireland with overtones of classical style and civility, including by the prosperousAnglo-Irish Ascendancy who were taught Latin at school. "Hibernian" was used as a term for people, and a general adjective. TheRoyal Exchange in Dublin was built during 1769–1779 with the carved inscription "SPQH" forSenatus Populusque Hibernicus,'the senate and people of Ireland'.[8] TheRoyal Hibernian Academy dates from 1823.
The 18th-century Spanish regiment composed of Irish exiles was known as theRegiment of Hibernia.
Hibernia is a word that is rarely used today with regard to Ireland, except in long-established names.[9] It is occasionally used for names of organisations and various other things; for instance:Hibernia National Bank,Hibernian Insurance Group,Ancient Order of Hibernians,The Hibernian magazine,Hibernia College,Hibernian Orchestra,Hibernian Football Club,HMS Hibernia, and modern derivatives, fromLatin likeRespublica Hibernica,'Irish Republic' andUniversitas Hiberniae Nationalis,'National University of Ireland'. In Canada, Hibernia lends its name to theHibernia oil field offNewfoundland, and to a large offshore oil platform, theHibernia Gravity Base Structure.
Another occurrence is infamilial Hibernian fever or TRAPS (tumour necrosis factor receptor-associated periodic syndrome), a periodic fever first described in 1982 in a family of Irish and Scottish descent, but found in all ethnic groups.[10]
The compound form 'Hiberno-' remains more common, as 'Hiberno-Norse', 'Hiberno-English', 'Hiberno-Scottish', 'Hibernophile', etc.
The Scottish football clubsHibernian FC and Dundee Hibernian (nowDundee Utd) have adopted the name.