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;