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definitions of the word faerie:

Faerie : from the Latin term for "fate" (fata), faeries (or fairies) are a "host of supernatural beings and spirits who occupy a limbo between earth and heaven" (Guiley). This is in recognition of the skill faeries had in predicting and even controlling human destiny. Faeries could be either good or evil creatures, and at various points in history have been confused with witches and demons

Fay or fey is the archaic term for faerie meaning bewitched or enchanted. This word derives from 'Fays' meaning Fates, and thought to be a broken form of Fatae. 'Fay-erie' was first a state of enchantment or glamour, and was only later used for the fays who wielded those powers of illusion. The state of enchantment is fayerie, which became fairy and faerie.

more basic terms:

Fair Folk is a welsh name, often used in litterature and in scandinavian myths.

Good Neighbours is a term from Scotland. It had its origin in a desire to give no unnecessary offense. The `folk' might be listening, and were pleased when people spoke well of them, and angry when spoken of slightingly. The same feeling made the Irish Celt call them `honest folk' (Daoine Coire) or `good people' (Daoine Matha).

The Green Children was a name used in medieval litterature and versions of it is often used in modern Fantasy litterature.This theme has many variations like Greenies, Greencoaties and others.

The Old People is a name that refers as Faerie lived on earthlong before Mankind.

The Silent People (the people of peace, the still folk, or silently-moving people) is a name that comes from the Irish and Scottish Gaelic, the sith people. The name sith refers to `peace' or silence of Airy motion, as contrasted with the stir and noise accompanying the movements and actions of men. The Fairies come and go with noiseless steps, and their thefts or abductions are done silently and unawares to men.

Elf (ves) means also faerie and derived from the word alfarfrom the Nordic and Teutonic languages which is associated with mountains and water. This clearly illustrates the close relationship between faeries and the earth.


the fae can also be catagorized as:

- Enchanters and enchantresses with supernatural powers. (morgan le fay)
- Certain monsters and demons having a connection with fairies and/or having some of the characteristics of fairies. (magick powers, for example)
- Nature fairies: The nature fairies are basically mermaids, water-spirits, tree-spirits and such.
- Faerie people (mainly the subject of this section) or the true Fairy, or Elfin race. The Fairies are like humans in several ways: they share with us occupations, basic structure, and pleasures. they are different from us, however, in the fact that they are usually, invisible, emit no noise, live underground of in hills, and are usually unsubstantial on our plane.

Other Nicknames

Fays - early form of the word
Fair Family/Fair Folk - Welsh nickname
Farisees/Pharisees - Suffolk nickname
Fary - Northumberland nickname
Fees - Upper Brittany nickname
Feriers/Ferishers - another Suffolk nickname
Frairies - Norfolk and Suffolk version
Good Neighbors - Scottish and Irish nickname
Good People - Irish reference to the Sidhe
The Green Children - faerie reference in medieval literature
Greencoaties - Lincolnshire Fen version
Greenies - Lancashire nickname
The Grey Neighbors - Shetland nickname for the Trows
Henkies - Orkney and Shetland nickname for Trows
Klippe - Forfarshire nickname
Li'l Fellas - Manx nickname
The Old People - Cornish nickname
People of Peace - Irish reference to the Sidhe
Pigsies/Piskies - Cornwall variations of Pixies
Sith/Si - Gaelic variations of Sidhe
Sleigh Beggey - Manx language version of Little Folk
The Small People of Cornwall - Cornwall variation
Still-Folk - Scottish Highland version
Themselves/They/Them that's in it - Manx replacements for "faerie"
Verry Volk - Gower (Wales) nickname
Wee Folk - Scottish and Irish nickname

Organization of faeries

Scotland

Fairies can also be divided into the Seelie court and the Unseelie court.

The Seelie court, or the blessed court, a group of rather beneficial spirits, is friendly towards humans. The Seelie Court are some of the more aristrocratic faeries, and are known as tropping, or heroic faeries. Scottish folklore presents them as a huge host of light and benevolence riding on the night air.

The Unseelie Court or Unblessed Court contains the most malicious, malevolent and evil of the faeries, and a number of monsters of horrible appearance and fearsome abilities as well. They comprise the Slaugh, or The Host, the band of the unsanctified dead who fly above the earth, stealing mortals and take great pleasure in harming humans. Some Scottish legends say they were all once members of the Seelie Court who fell from grace. The Court travels on the night winds from where their unnerving cackles and howls can be heard. They have no method of reproduction, so they enslave mortals whom they think would never be missed and carry them along to become one of them.

The Seelie Court and its counterpart, the Unseelie Court are often at war,and humans may get caught in the middle of such battles. They acquired the title "Court" because they also act as arbiters and judges in faery disputes.


Ireland

The great Tuatha de Danann of Ireland fled to Tir Nan Og (which is another world of their own. when the humans, or Milesians came, they decided to split the worlds asunder, according to legend. some fae decided to stay on our plane, however.) after their defeat by the Milesians, however those who remained in Ireland became the Daoine Sidhe. Side (Shee) is gaelic for 'people of the hills'. Orriginally it referred to the mounds in which faeries lived, though it has now come to refer to the inhabitants as well. Their king is Finvarra, who like all of his clan is a skilled warrior. He is also fond of chess playing and women. Despite the fact that his wife, Donagh, is one of the most beautiful women above or below the ground, he is known to abduct brides-to-be. Like the Seelie Court, the Daoine Sidhe, enjoy riding and are famous for their faerie steeds, which can carry a rider faster than the wind over land or water.

Another group of faeries in Ireland inhabit the Lough Lean. their ruler is O'Donoghue who rides forth from the lake every May Day on a war steed to ride into the surrounding mist.


Wales

Whales has perhaps more clans of faeries than any other area. In Glastonburry Tor, famous from Arturian legends, Gwyn ap Nudd rules over the Plant Annwn (roughly- family of hades). Long ago, on every New Year's Day, a door would appear in the side of a great rock next to a certain lake. Those who entered found that it lead to a passage that ended on the island in the middle of the lake. This island was a beatiful garden kept by the Gwrgedd Annwn, who would serve wonderful food to the travelers and treat them as honored guests. They warned the fortunate mortals that the doorway was a secret and that nothing could be taken from the garden. One mortal took a single flower from the garden and as soon as he touched the soil of earth, all of the other other travelers were expelled and the doorway was closed, never to reopen again.


Brittany

Brittany has several classes of Faeries, the most popular being the Korrigans who have been counted to be more than 10 000 in the past. Unfortunately, there seems to be little information on the faeries in Brittany.

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thanks! i'll add it in right now 3nodding

I learned a lot from this thread. I always had an interest in faeries.

What a coincedence. When I created a faery character two years ago for an rpg. I named her Fay Enroot.

I tned to dislike when people dislike fae folk, as I was a nymph in my last life, but I rather enjoyed your post. ^^ Very interesting and I learned some.

Any info on family clans who claim to have faery ancestors? Furthermore, how do we identify someone with faery blood? I would like to know more about these fantastic beings. smile

not sure i learnt something butyou did jog my memory a bit...where did you get the info?