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APPENDIX

SOME IRISH SURNAMES

As explained in the note on Brehon Law (see section 12), all Irish surnames were originally patronymics; that is, names formed from the name of the father or grandfather. These names have the prefixes Mac, "son," and Hua, Ua, or O, as the word successively became, “grandIrish patro- son," identical with the Greek word viós, Huios, nymics. "son." During the purely Irish period, which ended about the time of Roderick O'Conor, nearly all Irish families traced their descent from the three sons of Milid, Heber, Eremon, and Ir; a few claimed descent from Ithe, the uncle of Milid. One may find an exact parallel in the English pedigrees, traced to-day from ancestors who "came over with William the Conqueror," or in Russian pedigrees of families "descended from Rurik," the Norse conqueror of Russia. We shall illustrate the subject by giving a number of names traced by tradition from these founders of the Irish race, showing their early Gaelic form and spelling, and adding the derivations which are given for a number of them, in "O'Hart's Irish Pedigrees." Some of these derivations are conjectural, while others are undoubtedly correct. Where practicable, we shall add the first occurrence of each name in the "Annals of the Four Masters"; but it must be remembered that the custom of using surnames does not seem to have become general before the time of the Danish raids, though all the pedigrees to which

these surnames belong go back to the dawn of Irish tradition. Their preservation is undoubtedly due to the institution of heraldry, it being the duty of the herald to enumerate the ancestors of his chief, with a list of their exploits. We can only give a few out of many Irish surnames, selecting those which are most famous, and those whose origin is most completely obscured by the modern spelling. It should be understood that these names were written down by Englishmen who could neither pronounce nor spell Gaelic; if an Englishman ignorant of French were to try to write down French surnames by ear, we should have a similar and equally unrecognizable result.

Surnames of families descended from Heber. CASEY (O'Cathasaigh, descendant of Cathasach); lords of Saithne, a subdivision of Magh Breagh, in Meath. "Annals of the Four Masters":"A. D. 1018: Oissene O'Cathasaigh, lord of Mughdhorna, lord of Saithne, slain." CLANCY (MacFlannchadha, son of Flannchadh, from flann, blood, indicating red); "A. D. 1241: Domnall MacFlannchadha, chief of Dartry, died."

COGHLAN (MacCoghlain, son of Coghlan, from cochal, a cowl or hood); "A. D. 1134: Aedh MacCoghlain, lord of Dealbhna-Eathra (Delvin, now part of the King's County),

died."

CULLEN (O'Cuillen, descendant of Coilean, from coilean, a young warrior); "A. D. 1109: Maelisa O'Cuillen, noble bishop of the North of Ireland, died."

HOGAN (O'h-Ogain, descendant of Ogan, from ogan, youth); “A. D. 1091: Ceannfaeladh O'h-Ogain, successor of Brenainn, died."

KEARNEY (O'Cearnaigh, descendant of Cearnach, from cearnach, victorious); "A. D. 1096: Eoghan O'Cearnaigh, airchineach of Doire, died."

KENNEDY (O'Ceinneidigh, descendant of Ceinneidigh); "A. D. 1180: Domnall O'Ceinneidigh, lord of Ormond, died." MACCARTHY (MacCarthaigh, son of Cartach, commander against the Danes in A. D. 1045). Lords of Desmond. MACENIRY (MacIneirghe, son of Ingeirci, from eirghe, a rising); "A. D. 1029: Cinnaed MacIneirghe, lord of Conallo (in Limerick), slain in battle."

MACMAHON (MacMathghamhna, son of Mathghamhain, who was son of Turlogh Mor, king of Ireland, who died a. D. 1086); lords of Corco-Baiscinn, in Clare.

MACNAMARA (MacConmara, son of Cumara, from cu, warrior, and mara, of the sea); “A. D. 1099: Domnall MacConmara, lord of Ui-Caisin, died." MORIARTY (O'Muircheartaigh, son of Muirceartach, from muir, sea, and ceart, just); "A. D. 1107: O'Muircheartaigh, lord of Eoghanacht of Loch Leine (Killarney), was expelled from his lordship by MacCarthy, king of Desmond." O'BRIEN (O'Briain, descendant of Brian (Boru), who was descended from Cormac Cas, second son of Olioll Olum, king of Munster, by his wife Sabh, daughter of Conn of the Hundred Battles; from brian, great strength). In modern times the O'Briens were marquises of Thomond, earls of Inchiquin, and barons of Burren; many of them were distinguished commanders of the Irish Brigade in France, as earls of Clare and counts of Thomond. O'CARROLL (O'Cearbhaill, descendant of Cearbhall, from cearbhall, slaughter); "A. D. 1043: O'Cearbhaill, lord of Fearnmhagh, slain."

O'CORCORAN (O'Corcrain, descendant of Corcran, from corcra, A. D. 1001: Cahalan O'Corcrain, abbot of Devenish,

red);

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died." O'DALY (O'Dalaigh, descendant of Dalach); "A. D., 1139: Cuchonnacht O'Dalaigh, chief ollav in poetry, died." O'DONOGHUE (O'Donchadha, descendant of Donchadh); "A. D. 1010: Flann, son of O'Donchadha, successor of St. Enda, of Ara (in Tipperary) died." Dunghal O'Donchadha, king of Cashel, fought at Clontarf, 1014.

O'DONOVAN (O'Donnobhain, descendant of Donnobhan, who was defeated and slain by Brian Boru in 976). Lords of Clancahill.

O'GARA (O'Gadhra, descendant of Gadhra); "A. D. 964: Tiachleach O'Gadhra was slain; he was lord of South Luighne," or Leyney, in Sligo.

O'GRADY (O'Gradhaighe, descendant of Gradach);

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A. D.

1151: Aneslis O'Gradhaighe slain " Lords of Cinel Dunghaile in Claire.

O'HARA (O'h-Eadhradh or

O'h-Eaghra, descendant of

Eaghra); Eaghra was son of Poprigh, lord of Luighne, or Leyney, who died in A. D. 926.

O'KEEFE (O'Caoimhe, descendant of Caimh); "A. D. 1063: Ceallach O'Caoimhe, anchorite, died." Lords of Gleannamhnach.

O'LEARY (O'Laoghaire, descendant of Laoghaire; from laer, sea, and righ, king, king of the sea).

Annudh

O'LONERGAN (O'Longargain, descendant of Longargain, from longair, a ship's crew); "A. D. 1099: O'Longargain, successor of Colum, died." O'MAHONY (O'Mathghamhna, descendant of Mathghamhain; perhaps from maghghabhuin, a bear, literally a calf of the plain); "A. D. 1113: Eochaidh O'Mathghamhna, king of Ulidia.” O'SULLIVAN (O'Suilleabhain, descendant of Suillebhan, from suilebhan, one-eyed); descended from Aodh Dubh, king of Munster. "A. D. 1253: Ailinn O'Suilleabhain, bishop of Lismore, died." Lords of Beara, now Berehaven, Cork.

PLUNKETT (O'Pluingceid, descendant of Pluingcead, from planc, strike, and cead, first). Descended from Doncadh, son of Brian Boru. Lords of Fingal.

PLUNKET (same origin), at present, lords of Louth, Fingal, and Dunsany.

QUINN (O'Cuinn, descendant of Conn, that is, Conn Mor, whose son Niall was slain at Clontarf, A. D. 1014; 66 A. D.

1095 Augustin O'Cuinn, chief brehon (judge) of Leinster, died."

Some families descended from Ithe.

BARRY (O'Baire, descendant of Barrach); "A. D. 1240: In this monastery Barrach Mor was also interred.” COFFEY (O'Cobhthaigh, descendant of Cobthach Fionn, from cobthach, victorious): “A. D. 1203: Ainmire O'Cobhthaigh, abbot of the church of Derry-Columkille.”

Some families descended from Ir.

CAHILL (O'Cathail, descendant of Cathal, from cathal, valor); "A. D. 1033: Aenghus O'Cathail, lord of Eoghanacht-Locha-Lein (in Kerry), killed.”

GUINNESS OF MACGUINNESS (MacAenghusa, son of Aenghus); "A. D. 956: Domnall MacAenghusa, lord of UiEathach (Iveagh, Down), died." Descended from Aengus, grandson of Tiobrad Tireach, king of Ulster, contemporary with Conn of the Hundred Battles.

HEALY (O'h-Ealighe, descendant of Eilighe); "A. D. 1342: Conor O'h-Eilighe, died." Lords of Baile-Ui-Eilighe, now Hollybrook, in Sligo.

LYNCH (O'Loingsigh, descendant of Longseach, father of one of the kings of Ulster, from longseach, mariner); "A. D. 1030: Conchobhar O'Loingsigh." Lords of DalAraidhe.

MOORE (O'Mordha, descendant of Mordha, from mordha, proud); "A. D. 1017: Cearnach O'Mordha, lord of Laeighis (Leix), killed."

O'FARRELL (O'Fearghail, descendant of Feargal, king of Conmacne, who was killed at Clontarf, 1014).

REYNOLDS (MacRaghnall, son of Ragnal); "A. D. 1237: Cathal MacRaghnall, chief of Muintir-Eolais."

SHANLY (O'Seanlaoich, descendant of Seanlaoch, from sean, old, and laoch, hero).

WARD (Mac an-Bhaird, son of the bard, that is, of Shane, son of Conor, bard of Ulster.

1356).

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