While I actually think the name Errol is kinda neat (and it has already a nice "tolkenian" quality to it), my Latin sense is tingling here, as I don't think there is a derivation from "erro, -onis" (vagabond, wanderer) to Errol. From a linguistic point of view, it doesn't really make sense. I did a bit of searching, and most sources say it's either a variant of "Earl" (warrior, nobleman: from proto-Germanic "erlaz"), or a Scottish surname derived from a place (Errol). A few say it's from Latin, but while I'm not an expert in etymology, it doesn't sound true. Sorry to be pedantic, but if you want a tattoo with that, better to be safe than sorry.
That's essentially what I've come up with as well, but then I repeatidly find sources like these: http://latindictionary.wikidot.com/verb:errare Which seem to be how the Scottish town got it's name in the first place. Variants like Earl seem to date later than that, possibly interaction with English and it being adopted for the title. But anything that makes it less annoying really.
Well, using the verb "erro, -as, avi, -atum, -are" as the source instead of the substantive "erro, -onis" makes it even more unlikely, because as you can see in the conjugation table you provided, the focal vowel of the stem is "a", not "o". In fact, the participle, the part that can be used as a name, is either "errans, -antis" (present) or "erratus, -i" (perfect). But in the end, it's up to you to decide. I think the elvish scrip is beautiful, and it would make a neat tattoo.
I know, it's been tough finding out anything definite about it which is even more irritating. Most people who have known me long enough or well enough to hear the 'apparent' meaning (wandering) have made it clear it suits me. So having a much clearer, more pleasant version of it has been the appeal. Sorry to be so long winded about all this, gives you an idea of what the last 20 years have been like for me though. Oh, and um: http://www.errolvillage.org.uk/
I know how you feel, I have a very long, unusual name. It means "the rock of the lord". Yeah, right. Paired with my uncommon, funny-sounding last name, it makes a grand total of one person with my full name on the entire planet. Hey, it's cool to be unique. Just not during grade school.
Same here, I doubt anyone else has the same combination, luckily. On the other hand, the usual tactic of making rhymes to mock it fell flat after "squirrel", really made them work for it.
That is a cool word. I am very fond of single word tattoos. There was a project some years back where people all over the world would sign up for a word from a poem or short story, can't remember what exactly.. and they would be assigned the word which they could get anywhere on their body in whatever font they chose, and then send in the photo. So it was the original piece, written on humanity all over the world.
Ain't that the truth. I go by my first and middle names (my mother wanted the names hyphenated, but this didn't happen on my birth certificate), and I can safely say that Mary Ann has to be one of the least creative, most boring names in English speaking countries. My maiden surname is very unusual, though, and contains a silent letter thanks to misspelling a few generations back. One syllable, six letters, and no one ever spells or pronounces it correctly the first time. tsq, I love that photo of your mother. She has such a kind, beautiful face. On the one hand I've thought about getting a tattoo over the past few years, but on the other hand I have the attention span of a gnat, and I'm worried about falling out of love with whatever design I choose. People who know me won't be surprised that any tattoo I get will most likely have a knitting theme. There are some really fun ones out there. I've seen a few different versions of this one: I like this one because this kind of multicoloured luxury yarn is my favourite kind with which to knit. I love the colours in this one, and that it includes quilting. No immediate plans to get a tattoo, but I'm exactly the right age for a middle-aged crisis, so you never know.
It's brilliant, isn't it? Another common saying among knitters is "I knit so I don't kill people". I'd love to get that in medieval script.
I could see you doing that This thread is dangerous, I'm starting to spin out of control with tattoo ideas. And I haven't gotten my first yet!
My one and only. This picture is from right after I got it about 5-6 years ago. It has faded significantly since then. I wish I had gotten it more stylized instead of the straight black, but oh well. I had no idea what I was doing at the time.