The Seventh and Concluding Article.
At the present day very few of the original Irish names remain without being translated into or assimilated with those borne by the English. Of this I shall next furnish instances, the truth and correctness of which cannot be controverted. Among the O’Conors of Connaught, the name Cathal, which is synonymous with the Welsh Cadell, and signifies warlike, was changed to Charles after the accession of Charles I. to the throne; for the Irish, who were attached to this monarch, went great lengths to assimilate several of their Christian names to Charles. Thus, while among the O’Conors of Connaught, Cathal was manufactured into Charles (with which, it will be readily granted, it has nothing in common, either in meaning or sound), among the O’Conors of Faly in Leinster, Cahir, which signifies warrior, was metamorphosed into the same: and at the same time the Mac Carthys of Desmond substituted it for their Cormac, and the O’Hagans and other northern families for their Turlogh. This was paying their court to the king with a vengeance!
In the families of Mac Carthy, O’Sullivan and O’Driscol, Finghin [Fineen], a name very general among them, and which signifies the fair offspring, has been anglicised to Florence. Among the same southern families the name Saerbrethach, which prevails among the Mac Carthys in particular, and which signifies the noble justice, is translated Justin. In the family of O’Donovan, as the writer has had every opportunity of knowing, the name Murrogh has been metamorphosed to Morgan; Dermod, to Jeremiah; Teige, to Timothy; Conor or Concovar, to Cornelius; Donogh, to Denis; and Donnell, to Daniel. In the family of O’Brien, the hereditary name of Turlogh has been changed to Terence; Mahon, to Matthew; Murtogh or Moriertagh, to Mortimer (but this very lately); and Lachtna and Laoiseach, to Lucius. Among the O’Gradys the name Aneslis is rendered Stanislaus and Standish. In the families of O’Donnell, O’Kane, and others, in the province of Ulster, Manus, a name borrowed by those families from the Danes, is now often rendered Manasses. In the families of Mac Mahon and Mac Kenna, in Ulster, the name Ardgal or Ardal, signifying of high prowess or valour, is always anglicised Arnold. In the family of O’Madden of Shilanamchy, in the south-east of the county of Galway, the hereditary name of Anmcha, which is translated Animosus by Colgan, is now always rendered Ambrose, to which, it will be readily granted, it does not bear the slightest analogy. Among the families of Doyle, Cavanagh, and others, in the province of Leinster, the name Maidoc, or Mogue, which they adopted from St Maidoc, or Aidan, the patron saint of the diocese of Fernes, is now always rendered Moses among the Roman Catholics, and Aidan among the Protestants! (any thing to make a difference.) Among the O’Neills in the province of Ulster, the name Felim, or Felimy, explained as meaning the ever good, is now made Felix; Con, signifying strength, is made Constantine; and Ferdoragh, meaning dark-visaged man, is rendered Ferdinand. Among the O’Conors of Connaught, the name Ruaidhri, or Rory, is anglicised Roderic, but among most other families it is rendered Roger. In the same family, Tomaltach is rendered Thomas; Aodh, Hugh; and Eoghan, Owen. In the families of Mac Donnell and others in Scotland, and in the north of Ireland, the name Aengus, or Angus, is always rendered Æneas. Among the O’Hanlys of Slieve Bawn, in the east of the county of Roscommon, the name Berach, which they have adopted from their patron saint, and which is translated by Colgan, directe ad scopum collimans, is now always and correctly enough rendered Barry. Throughout Ireland the old name of Brian is now rendered Bernard, and vulgarised to Barney, which is more properly an abbreviation of Barnaby than of Bernard. Among the O’Haras and O’Garas in the county of Sligo, the name Kian, which they have adopted from their great ancestor Kian, the son of Olioll Olum, king of Munster, is now rendered Kean; and I observe that the chief O’Hara has suffered himself to be called Charles King O’Hara in a book lately dedicated to him! In the family of Maguire, Cuconnaught is rendered Constantine, while in other families Cosnavy undergoes precisely the same change. In the family of O’Kane, the name Cooey written Cu-maighe in the original language, and signifying “dog of the plain,” is now rendered Quintin. In the family of O’Dowd, the ancient name of Dathi, which they have adopted from their great ancestor of that name, who was the last Pagan king of Ireland, is now rendered David, a name with which it is supposed to be synonymous. In the north and west of Ireland the names Duval-tach, Duv-da-lethe, and Duvdara, are all anglicised Dudley. In the family of Mac Sweeny, the very ancient name of Heremon is anglicised Irwin, but it is now almost obsolete as a Christian name. In the families of O’Hanlon, O’Haran, and O’Heany, in the province of Ulster, the name Eochy, signifying horseman, and which was latinized Eochodius, Achaius, Euthichius, and Equitius, is anglicised Auhy and Atty; but this name is also almost obsolete, the writer having never met more than one person who bore the name, in his travels through Ireland. Among the O’Mulconrys, now Conrys, the names Flann, Fithil, and Flaithri, have been anglicised Florence. In the family of O’Daly, the name Baothghalach, which was formerly latinized Boethius, is now always rendered Bowes; and in that of O’Clery, the name Lughaidh is anglicised Lewy and Lewis. Among the O’Reillys of Cavan, the hereditary name of Maelmora, which signifies majestic chief, is now invariably rendered Myles, and among the O’Kellys of Hy-Many, the name Fachtna is rendered Festus. In every part of Ireland, Maelseachlainn, or Melaghlin, which signifies servant of St Secundinus, has been changed to Malachy, to which it bears no analogy whatever, excepting some fancied resemblance in sound. In every part of Ireland the name of Gilla-patrick has been changed to Patrick; and, by the way, it is curious to observe, that common as the name Patrick has now become in Ireland, especially among the lower classes, it was never in use among the ancient Irish, for they never called their children by the name itself of the Irish apostle, deeming it more humble and more auspicious to call them his servants; and hence we find the ancient Irish calling their children, not Patrick, but Maelpatrick, or Gillapatrick; and these names they latinized Patricianus, not Patricius. The name of Patrick is now looked upon as the most vulgar in use among the Irish, which is a very strange and almost unaccountable prejudice, for Patricius was one of the most honourable names in all antiquity, as the reader will see if he will take the trouble to read the work on the antiquity of British Churches, by Ussher, pp. 841-1046, in which that learned primate gives the history and derivation of the name.
The names of women have been also very much metamorphosed, and many of the most curious of them entirely rejected. I have now before me a list of the names of women, drawn up from the authentic Irish annals, and from the History of Remarkable Women—a curious tract in the Book of Lecan, fol. 193; but as the limits allotted to me in this Journal will not allow me to furnish such a list, I must rest satisfied with giving such names as are still retained, with a selection from the most curious of those which have been rejected, adding their meanings as far as they are certain. The following are the ancient Irish names of women still retained, as the writer has determined by examining the provinces of Ulster, Connaught, Leinster, and the greater part of Munster:—
1. Ainé, now Hannah.
2. Brighid, now anglicised Bridget, from its resemblance to the name of the celebrated Swedish virgin of that name. Brighid is a woman’s name of pagan origin in Ireland; it has been explained fiery dart by the Irish glossographers, especially by Cormac, Archbishop of Cashel, who distinctly states in his glossary that it was the name of the Muse who was believed to preside over poetry in pagan times in Ireland. Brighid is now very common in Ireland as the name of a woman, in consequence of its being that of the most celebrated of the female saints of Ireland—the patroness of Kildare—who is well known all over Europe as the great patroness of Ireland.
3. Finola, though a beautiful name, has nearly become obsolete since the beginning of the eighteenth century, but some few still retain it in the abbreviated form of Nuala.
4. Graine, now Grace.
5. Lassarina, also, though in use not long since, has latterly became obsolete.
6. Meadhbh, pronounced Meave. This is still preserved and anglicised Maud, Mab, and Mabby; and the writer is acquainted with several old women of the Milesian race who still retain it. This was the name of a celebrated queen of Connaught, who flourished in the first century, and who is now known in the legends of the mountainous districts of Ireland as the queen of the fairies. From this country her spirit found way into Scotland, and thence into the north of England, where Shakspeare met with her, but in rather too diminutive a form for the shade of the Irish heroine.
7. Mor, pronounced More. The writer believes that there are a few women of this name still living in Ireland; but he is confident that there are but very few, though it was the name of many honourable ladies in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, and for a century later. In our own times, however, it has been almost invariably anglicised Mary, with which it is neither synonymous nor cognate.
8. Sadhbh, pronounced Soyv, is the name of several women of the old Irish races, and who are known to the writer. It is now almost invariably anglicised Sally, to which it bears no analogy.
9. Sorcha is still the name of several women in Ireland, especially in the province of Ulster; but the rising generation are beginning to object to it as being too Irish, and are determined on having it changed to Sarah or Sally. The writer is acquainted with families in whom this name is hereditary, and among whom the mother is always called Sorcha, and the daughter Sally; and though the latter knows that her own and her mother’s name are the same, still would she blush to hear her own name pronounced Sorcha. The name Sorcha signifies clear, bright, and might be well rendered Lucy or Lucinda; but we should like to see it preserved in its primitive form, which is not to be despised either for its sound or signification.
10. Una. This name is still in constant use among the women of Ireland, but when speaking English, they invariably anglicise it to Winifred or Winny.
The writer is not aware that any other name which was in use in the ancient Irish time is now retained, except the foregoing.
The names Catherine, Evlin, Eleanor, Isabella, Mary, Honora, Sheela (Celia), and many others now in use, and supposed to be of Irish origin, do not occur in the Account of Remarkable Women above referred to, and there is no reason to believe that they were ever in use in ancient Ireland.
The following is a list of curious names of women which occur in the authentic annals and in the History of Remarkable Women. It is highly probable that a few of them are of Danish origin:—
1. Aevin, i. e. Amoena; 2, Africa; 3, Albi and Albin; 4, Allin; 5, Alma, all good; 6, Alphin; 7, Athracta. This name has been restored by the Mac Dermott of Coolavin. 8, Barduv, blackhaired; 9, Bebail, woman of prosperity; 10, Bebin, melodious woman; 11, Blanaid, Florinda, from blath, a blossom; 12, Brigh, vigour; 13, Cacht, bondmaid; 14, Cailleach-De, i. e. female servant of God; 15, Cailleach-Kevin, the female servant of St Kevin; 16, Cailleach-Aengus, the female servant of St Aengus; 17, Caintigern, fair lady; 18, Keara, the ruddy; 19, Cochrand; 20, Covfla, i. e. Victoria; 21, Coca; 22, Corcar, the ruddy; 23, Crea; 24, Devnet; 25, Derval, the true request; 26, Derforgal, the true pledge, latinized Dervorgilla; 27, Dianiv and Diniv; 28, Dechter; 29, Derdrè, alarm; 30, Dorenn, the sullen; 31, Duv-Covfla, victoria nigra; 32, Duvessa, nigra nutrix; 33, Dunsa, the brown-haired; 34, Dunlah, lady of the fort; 35, Edwina; 36, Eithné; 37, Elbrigh; 38, Emeria; 39, Eri; 40, Essa, nutrix; 41, Euginia, female of Eogan; 42, Fedilmi, the over-good; 43, Finbil, the white blossom; 44, Findelv, fair countenance; 45, Finnavor, of the fair eye-lids; 46, Finni, the comely; 47, Finscoh, the fair flower; 48, Findah, the fair colour; 49, Flanna, the ruddy; 50, Gelgés, swan-white; 51, Gemlorg, gem-like; 52, Gnahat; 53, Gobnet, female of Gobban; 54, Gormlah, the blue lady; 55, Ida, the just; 56, Lann; 57, Lasser, a flame; 58, Lasserina, flame or blush of the wine; 59, Lerthan; 60, Lithan; 61, Luanmasi, beautiful as the moon; 62, Ligach, pearly, or like a precious stone; 63, Maelmaiden, servant of the morning; 64, Mongfin, of the fair hair; 65, Moncha, the same as Monica; 66, Murgel, the fair one of the sea; 67, Murrin, crinita, or of the long hair; 68, Neave, effulgence; 69, Orlah, or Orflah, the golden lady; 70, Ranalt, female of Randal; 71, Ronat, female of Ronan; 72, Saraid, the excellent; quere, the same as Sarah? 73, Selvlah, lady of possessions; 74, Shimah, the good tranquillity; 75, Sodelva, of the goodly aspect; 76, So-Domina, the good lady; 77, Temar, the conspicuous; 78, Talilah, quere Dalilah? 79, Tindi, the tender; 80, Tressi, strength; 81, Tualah, the noble lady; 82, Uailsi, the proud; 83, Uaisli, the gentle; 84, Uallach, the proud; 85, Uchdelva, of the fair breast; 86, Unchi, the contentious.
We have now seen the process by which the Irish people have assimilated their names and surnames to those of the English, and the reasons which have led them to do so. I would not so much regret their having done so, if I were not aware that some of the families who have thus anglicised their names wish to conceal their Irish origin, as if they were ashamed of their ancestors and country, and that another result of these changes must soon be, that statistical writers will be apt to infer from the small number of ancient Irish surnames retained in Ireland, that all the old Irish race were supplanted by the English.
I shall close these notices of the surnames of the Irish people by a remark which I should wish to be universally believed, namely—That no ancient Irish surname is perfect unless it has either O or Mac prefixed, excepting in those instances where the soubriquet or cognomen of the ancestor is used as the surname, as Cavanagh, &c., and, accordingly, that nine-tenths of the surnames at present borne by the Irish people are incorrect, as being mere mutilations of their original forms.
“Per Mac atque O, tu veros cognoscis Hibernos
His duobus demptis, nullus Hibernus adest:
By Mac and O
You’ll surely know
True Irishmen alway;
But if they lack
Both O and Mac,
No Irishmen are they.”
The truth of this well-known distich may now be questioned, though it was correct a few centuries since.
It is but natural to suppose that a conquered people should look upon themselves as inferior to their conquerors; and this rage for adopting English surnames which prevails at present, is, in the opinion of the writer, a clear proof of the prevalence of this feeling, that the Irish consider themselves inferior to the English. Spenser, while he advises that the Irish be compelled to reject their O’s and Macs, and to adopt English surnames, dissuades his own countrymen from adopting Irish ones, as some of them had done, in the following words, which the writer, being as Irish as Spenser was English, now adopts as his own:—“Is it possible that any should so farre growe out of frame, that they should in so short space, quite forget their countrey and their own names! that is a most dangerous lethargie, much worse than that of Messala Corvinus, who being a most learned man, thorough sickness forgat his own name.”—State of Ireland, Dub. ed. p. 107.
And again:—
“Could they ever conceive any such dislike of their own natural countreys as that they would be ashamed of their name, and byte at the dugge from which they sucked life?”—Ibid, p. 108.