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Home , Donnchadh, Donnelly (surname), Maguire

Some Armagh surnames by Gerry Oates

Surnames were first introduced in that many of the surnames extant in ciety8 The surname is also found in the early part of the 10th century and Co. Armagh at the present time may be in S.W. Donegal where the same process the earliest recorded surname is Ó Cléirigh derived from personal names of name formation took place9. (Ó Clery) from the year 9161 The system recorded in genealogies of the that Cumascach, (‘the confuser’), is another of nomenclature adopted by the Irish was populated the area between the 5th and personal name which occurs with regular to prefix Mac (son) to the genitive case of 12th centuries. As the same process was frequency from the 8th to the 11th centu- the father’s personal name, or Ó / Ua happening throughout Ireland, it is also ries. The Irish form Mac Cumascaigh, now (grandson) to that of the grandfather. true that similar surnames based on the Comiskey and MacComiskey, is recorded first The plural form Uí was often used to same personal names, but unrelated, ap- in the Clones area of North Monaghan denote a tribal group as in Uí Néill, the peared in different parts of the country at but later moved to South Monaghan in extended O’Neill clan2 different times. the 11th century10. From there they spread In the period prior to the Anglo-Norman into South Armagh and North Louth and invasion of the late 12th century the per- Haughey are still to be found in these areas today. sonal names in use in Ireland were almost The personal name Treinfher ‘strong man’ exclusively of Celtic origin. Even though One of the most common personal names is recorded for the year 100211. If we pre- Christianity had taken hold from the first in the Armagh septs is Eochaidh and its fix Mac it gives us the modern Irish form half of the 5th century the Irish were variants Eochu, Eochucán and Eochaiden, Mac Thréinfhir, better known without the slow to adopt biblical names or the Latin from the Old Irish ech ‘horse’. If we prefix prefix as Trainor and sometimes Traynor. and Greek names of the early Christian Ó to Eochaidh we have Ó hEochaidh which In some cases the Mac has been retained saints. The few Norse names that had has been anglicized to Haughey, a surname and we find it anglicized as Mac Creanor; been introduced by the Vikings and their still numerous in the vicinity of Armagh corrupt forms of the anglicized version followers had but little influence on the city where there is also a townland without the Mac prefix,Reanor/Raynor also overwhelming Celtic character of Irish Ballyaghy (Baile Uí Eochaidh, ‘Haughey’s exist. The surname Trainor is still largely personal names3. The practice of prefix- homestead’) close to the ancient site of associated with Armagh as well as parts ing Mac and Ó / Ua to the patronymic Navan Fort. Another townland named of Monaghan and Louth. necessitated the use of large numbers after them is Cavanballaghy mentioned in of names and Professor O’Brien in his The Text of Inquisition of 1609 regarding research on Old Irish Personal Names the plantation of confiscated lands: collected more than 12,000 individual And that the of Munteraghie (Muintir Uí Donngal, meaning ‘of princely valour’12 is names4. Eochaidh – Haughey) and their ancestors, time recorded for the year 791 in the Uí Bresail out of mind, have been likewise seized of and in Airthir sept13. Donngal became one of the Co. Armagh Septs the town and lands of Cavanballaghie (Cabhán more popular personal names in medieval Bhaile Uí Eochaidh) with appurtances, in the Ireland; it becomes the surname Ó Donng- Most Irish surnames are still to be found said territory of Clanawle (Glenaul) …7 haile in modern Irish, better known today in large numbers in the parts of the This surname has been historically associ- as Donnelly. Woulfe claims they were country where they originated5. With ated with the ancient territory of Oriel descended from one Donnghal, fourth in this in mind I intend to take a brief which includes the counties of Monaghan descent from Domhnall, King of Aileach look at the ‘Pedigrees of Co. Armagh and much of Armagh and has a number and brother of Glúndubh, the ances- Septs’ by J. B. Arthurs which lists the of variant forms in Hoy, Hoey, Haffey and tor of the O’Neills and that their original tribal divisions that populated the lands Hackett. When Mac is prefixed to the home was on the Donegal/Tyrone border around Armagh between the 4th and 12th personal form it becomes Mac Eachaidh near Lifford.14 Later, the Donnellys became centuries as described in the Annals (viz. (Mac Caughey) and in some cases Mac a Cenél Eoghain sept which covered Book Of Leinster, Book of Lecan, Book becomes Mag on account of the initial much of North and West Armagh where of Ballymote, Annals of )6. While vowel of Eochaidh/Eachaidh and gives us they are still numerous today, particu- some of the information contained in the anglicized form Mac Gahey. larly adjacent to the Blackwater where it the Annals may be pseudo-history and (h), ‘horse-rider’, was used widely separates the modern counties of Tyrone unreliable, the personal names recorded as a personal name throughout Ireland and Armagh. Their stronghold, Baile Uí were those that were prevalent at the and, together with Eochu, was the second Dhonnghaile (), was close to time, so it is not unreasonable to suppose most popular male name in early Irish so- the seat of O’Neill power. Donnellys were

14 History Armagh - Summer 2006 History Armagh - Summer 2006 15 a noted bardic family, but their chief was , and there are still considerable from the ancient personal name Cu Maige hereditary marshall of O’Neill’s forces numbers bearing the name, particularly (‘hound of the plain’)27 and it occurs in the and it is particularly as soldiers that they in the north-east of the county adjacent Uí Niallán sept and again in 745 among are remembered.15 to their ancestral patrimony. the Uí Cruinn28. Mac Fhearchair is the Irish A very interesting personal name is re- version of the Carragher, from the personal corded twice Dub Emna ‘the black-haired name Fearchar (‘friendly’) which also turns one from Eamhain (Navan)’. When Ó O’Toole and Toal up among the Uí Cruinn. In English it is prefixed it becomes Ó Duibheamhna appears with and without Mac and is in the modern form and Mac Lysaght Tuathal (‘ruler of the people’) was the sometimes confused with the Scottish claims they were chiefs of Uí Breasail name of many Irish kings and heroes; a name Farquhar. Iarthair, a territory west of Armagh. It certain Tuathal Máelgarb was a 6th century is generally anglicized as Devenney and is king of the Uí Néill and Tuathal mac Augaine often confused with a Donegal family of who died in 958 was king of Leinster22. Viking names the same name (Ó Duibheannaigh in Irish). This personal name became the surname There are a number of variations found Ó Tuathail, anglicized O’Toole, and is very An interesting personal name in the throughout Ireland – O’Duvany, O’Devany, common in Co. Wicklow where they were Clann Shínaig sept is Sitriuc29, which is a O’Dovany16 – but all are pronounced with clann chieftains for many centuries. The Gaelicized version of the Old Norse the emphasis on the second syllable, personal name also occurs regularly in name Sigtryggr (‘true victory’)30. It wasn’t except in Armagh where the stress falls the Armagh genealogies, but locally the usual, of course, for to adopt on the first syllable [div’ni]. surname usually takes the form Toal and foreign names, nevertheless a number of is still common throughout the county. Scandinavian names did find their way Yet another version of the same personal into Irish society with the intermarriage McConville name is Tohill which is found frequently in of Gael and Viking. In Irish this became Derry and Antrim. Mac Shitric31 and in English, McKitterick. Conmáel, later Conmhaol ‘wolf warrior’, was When Ó prefixes the personal name In this name is usually written a fairly uncommon early name which oc- Anluan (‘great warrior’) it becomes Ó hAn- McKetterick. Mac Lysaght claims it is not curs among the Airgialla (Oriel) people17. nluain in modern Irish which produces uncommon in the old territory of Oriel This name became Mac Conmhaoil, the O’Hanlon in English. Prior to the Planta- (Monaghan) and neighbouring counties modern McConville, the name of an tion of Ulster in the early 17th century and also that Hanson is a synonym for it Oriel sept found largely in Cos. Armagh, O’Hanlons were kings of Airthir (Orior), in Co. Armagh32. Down and Louth at present18. Drumcon- territories situated on the eastern bound- Another Viking personal name that was well (Druim Conmháil, ‘ridge of Conmáel) is ary of the modern county and the seat adopted by the Irish, Scots and Welsh is the name of a townland about two miles of their power was at Loughgilly23. The Ivaar. In Old Irish this was Ímar (later, south of Armagh where an ogham stone personal name Anluan first appears in the Íomhar) and a St. Ímar Úa hAedagáin was the was discovered bearing 5-6th century in- Uí Nialláin sept towards the ends of the 8th teacher of St. Malachy in Armagh33. The scriptions which Warner posits includes century and is described as the ‘royal sept Armagh genealogies record the death of the name Cunamaglos (O.Ir. Conmáel)19. Uí Anluain24 an Ímar in 1161 Another personal name which occurs Another name Murphy is the most common of the Uí Meith frequently among the Armagh septs is among the Macha sept34. Cernach (‘victorious, triumphant’) and the descendants surname in Ireland. With Mac pre- name Clann Chearnaigh (‘the offspring of of the Uí fixed this name Cernach’) refers to an area in the middle Nialláin is Ardgal (‘valourous as a bear’). became Mac Íomhair, anglicized MacK- of the present-day county20. The current The modern surname Mac Ardghail (Mac eever, and is still common throughout the anglicized form of this name is Kearney (or Ardle) is derived from this form and the northern part of the county. Mac Lysaght Carney), which is not uncommon in and name is widely found in Armagh and suggests that some MacKeevers may be Mac around Armagh; the variant McKearney is the neighbouring counties of Monaghan Éimhir, from the forename Éimhear (Heber), also found. and Louth. Both Mac Lysaght and Bell a favourite with the Mac Mahon clan of The death of a member of the Uí Niallán maintain they are a branch of the Mac Monaghan35. sept named Cernach is recorded for the Mahon clan of Oriel, first noted as Sliocht Murphy is the most common surname in year 784. This Cernach’s grandfather, Ardghail Mhóir Mhic Mathúna (‘the race of Ireland and in Co. Armagh it is the single Eichnech (‘force’) was king of the Airthir Ardghal Mór Mac Mahon’)25. most numerous name36. It is derived from (Orior) area in the east of the county and Mac Cooey and (Mac) Carragher are two the Old Irish personal name it is from this Eichnech (later Eignech) that surnames which are peculiar to South (‘sea warrior’), one of the most popular the clan Ó hÉignigh are descended21. This Armagh. The Irish version of the early Irish names for men5 and as such is the family name we now know as former is Mac Cumhaighe26 and stems the surname Ó Murchadha developed in

16 History Armagh - Summer 2006 History Armagh - Summer 2006 17 several parts of the country at different Endnotes times. In Ulster it was prefixed with Mac to produce two forms Mac Murchadh and 1 Mac Murchaidh; the clan originally owned Woulfe, Patrick, 1923, Sloinnte Gaedheal is Gall, xv 2 Ó Murchadha, , 1999The Formation of Gaelic Surnames in Ireland: Choosing the territory of Muintir Birn (Minterburn) Eponyms, in South Tyrone, but were dislodged by (Nomina, 22 29) the O’Neills and subsequently settled in the 3 Woulfe, Patrick, Op.cit., 7 mountainous region of South Armagh37. 4 O’Brien, M.A (ed. R Baumgarten), 1973, Old Irish Personal Names, (Celtica, X, 217) 5 The family names which appear in the MacLysaght, Edward, 1973, The Surnames of Ireland, xv 6 Arthurs, J.B., 1954, Early Septs & Territories of Co. Armagh, Bulletin of the Ulster Place- above article are not necessarily de- Name Society Vol. II 3, 54 scended from particular persons named 7 Glancy, Michael, 1954, The Church-lands of C. Armagh, Seanchas Ard Mhacha, Vol. I 86 in the genealogies of the Armagh septs. 8 Ó Corráin, Donnchadh/, Fidelma, 1990, Irish Names, 86-7 However, a considerable number of the 9 Bell, , 1988, The Book of Ulster Surnames, 91-2 10 personal names from which the surnames Mac Lysaght, Edward, More Irish Families,61 11 Arthurs, J.B, 1954, Op. cit., 48 derive were common in the area during 12 Ó Corráin, Donnchadh/Maguire, Fidelma, 1990, Op.cit., 76 th the period in question (4 C – 12thC) 13 Arthurs, J.B, 1954, Op. cit., 48 which suggests that the personal name 14 Woulfe, Patrick, 1923, Op. cit., 505 was quite likely adopted as a surname 15 Bell, Robert, 1988, Op. cit., 55 during or after the period when surnames 16 MacLysaght, Edward, 1996, Op. cit., 80 17 were being adopted. Furthermore, the Ó Corráin, Donnchadh/Maguire, Fidelma, 1990, Op. cit., 58 18 MacLysaght, Edward, 1973, Op. cit., 56 fact that many of these surnames are still 19 Warner, Richard, B, 1991, The Drumconwell Ogham & its Implications, Emania 8 41-51 found in large numbers in the county adds 20 Muhr, Kay, 2001, Territories, People & Place-Names in Co. Armagh, 301 (‘Armagh – History to the speculation that many still inhabit and their ancient patrimony. v Society’ ed. Hughes, A.J/Nolan ) 21 Muhr, Kay, 2001 Op. cit., 301 22 Ó Corráin, Donnchadh/Maguire, Fidelma, 1990, Op. cit., 173 23 Muhr, Kay, 2001, Op. cit., 300 24 Arthurs, J.B, 1954, Op. cit., 52 25 Bell, Robert, 1988, Op. cit., 130 26 MacLysaght, Edward, 1973, Op. cit., 57 27 Ó Corráin, Donnchadh/Maguire, Fidelma, 1990, Op. cit., 64 28 Arthurs, J.B, 1954, Op. cit., 52-3 29 Arthurs, J.B, 1954, Op. cit., 51 30 Hanks, P/Hodges, F/Mills, A.D/Room, A, 1998, The Oxford Names Companion, 418 31 MacLysaght, Edward, 1973, Op. cit., 185-6 32 MacLysaght, Edward, 1996, Op. cit., 140 33 Ó Corráin, Donnchadh/Maguire, Fidelma, 1990, Op. cit., 117 34 Arthurs, J.B, 1954, Op. cit., 55 35 MacLysaght, Edward, 1973, Op. cit., 173 36 Bell, Robert, 1988, Op. cit., 201 37 Bell, Robert, 1988, Op. cit., 201

Bibliography

1 Woulfe, Patrick – Sloinnte Gaedheal is Gall, Dublin, 1923 2 Mac Lysaght, Edward – The Surnames of Ireland, Dublin, 1973 3 Arthurs, J. B – Early Septs & Territories of Co. Armagh (Bulletin of the Ulster Place-Name Society, Vol II, 3), Belfast, 1954 4 Mac Lysaght, Edward – More Irish Families, Dublin, 1996 5 Ó Corráin, Donnchadh/Maguire Fidelma – Irish Names, Dublin, 1990 6 Muhr, Kay – Territories, People and Place-Names in Co. Armagh (Armagh – History and Society, ed. A J Hughes & W. Nolan, 2001) 7 Ó Murchadh, Diarmuid – The Formation of Gaelic Surnames in Ireland: Choosing the Eponyms (Nomina 22, 1999) 8 Warner, R.B. – The Drumconwell Ogham and its Implications (Emania 8, 1991) 9 Hanks, P., Hodges, F., Mills, A.D., Room, A – The Oxford Names Companion, Oxford, 1998 10 Bell, R – The Book of Ulster Surnames, Belfast, 1988 11 Glancy, M – The Church Lands of Armagh (Seanchas Ard Mhacha, Vol.1, 1954) 12 O’Brien, M.A. (ed. R. Baumgarten) – Old Irish Personal Names (Celtica X, 1973)

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