Articles > Names
Names and Naming Practices in the Red Book of Ormond (Ireland 14th Century)
Glossary of Elements in Bynames
by Tangwystyl verch Morgant Glasvryn
(Heather Rose Jones, contact@heatherrosejones.com)
© 1999 by Heather Rose Jones; all rights reserved.
Glossary of Elements in Bynames
Given Names
In O-patronyms
Modern form |
Forms found in the manuscript |
|
(h)Erewen | Oherewen 1; unidentified -- several hypothetical possibilities (e.g., *Arabhán) but none with any attestation. |
(h)Urmolthy? | Ohurmolthy 2; unidentified, perhaps ultimately some name with "maol". |
Ailleagán? | O Haclan 1; perhaps a metathesis of "ó hAilleagáin" (Woulfe p.553) otherwise unidentified. |
Aolán? | Ohulyn 1; identification uncertain. Woulfe p.557. |
Banán | O Banan 1; O'Brien lists this in the clan index. |
Beigín | O Bygyn 1; Woulfe p.436 |
Beirgin? | O Berge 1; Woulfe p.436, but uncertain. |
Brian? | Obryn 1, O Brin 1; Woulfe p.442, other possibilities like "Braon" |
Brógán | O Brogan 1; Woulfe p.444 has "O Brogan". |
Carthach | Okarok 1; identification uncertain, alternately, possibly related to "ó Carragáin" (Woulfe p.452). |
Cathán? | O Couhan 1; possibly "ó Catháin" (Woulfe p.454), possibly "ó Ceocháin" Woulfe (p.461) from a misanalysis of "mac Eocháin". |
Ceallach | O Kaylly 1; Woulfe p.330, 457. Also: McKaylly, |
Cearbhall | O Karwill 1; Woulfe p.458, 330. Also: McKarwill, McKarwyll. |
Coilín | O Kellan 1; Woulfe p.333, 470. Not a perfect fit, but close. Also: McKelan. |
Conall | Oconil 1; Woulfe p.474 |
Corcrán | OCorcran 1; Woulfe p.344, 480. Also: McCorkeran. |
Corraidhín | O Currine 1; Woulfe p.481. |
Dochradh | O Dogry 1; Woulfe p.498. |
Donnán | O Donan 4; Woulfe p.502. |
Donnchadh | O Donked 2; Woulfe p.505. Identification less certain for: O Donohid 1; Woulfe p.505. Also: Doneheved, Doncoun. See also: McGonauthy, McConauthey, Conauth[...]. |
Donnghal(ach) | O Donely 1; two possible origins, Woulfe p.505. |
Dubhagán | O Duffgan 1; Woulfe p.508. |
Dubhda | O Doude 1; Woulfe p.510 |
Dubhlaoch | O Duffly 1; Woulfe p.512. |
Fionnac-? | Offynnog 1; identification uncertain, but see various at Woulfe p.527f. |
Fógartach | Offogirth 1; Woulfe p.533, although this doesn't exactly match any of the forms. |
Giollagán | Ogillegan 1; Woulfe p.541. |
Giolla-Fionnáin? | O Gillinan 1; compare Woulfe p.374 (Mac Giolla Fhionnáin) or possibly from an unattested double diminutive "Gilínán"? See Woulfe p.540f. |
Keinguell? | O Keinguell 1; unidentified. |
Laithegán? | O Laythgan 1; O'Brien lists "Laithecán", another possibility is "Laidcenn". |
Maolán | Omolan 1, Enynimolan 1; Woulfe p.603. |
Ógán | O Hogan 1; Woulfe p.572. |
Resith | O Resith 1; unidentified. |
Tadhgán | O Tagan 1; Woulfe p.650. |
Trian? | O Trynyn 1; uncertain, but O'Brien lists "Trian" and "Trén". |
Tuathal | Otothel 7 (all 1303), O Tothill 1 (1305); Woulfe p.655. |
In mac-patronyms
Modern form |
Forms found in the manuscript |
|
Balbhach? | McBalwy 2; Woulfe p.433 mentions "Balbhán", perhaps an unattested "Balbhach". |
Brocc? | McBroyg 2, McBroey 1 (probably identical, same year and given name as one of the "McBroyg"s); identification is uncertain. |
Ceallach | McKaylly 1; Woulfe p.330, 457. Also: O Kaylly. |
Cearbhall | McKarwill 1, McKarwyll 1; Woulfe p.458, 330. Also: O Karwill. |
Cearnach | McKerny 1; Woulfe p.330. |
Cionaodha | McKeni 1; Woulfe p.331. |
Coilín | McKelan 2; Woulfe p.333, 470. Not a perfect fit, but close. Also: O Kellan. |
Corcrán | McCorkeran 2; Woulfe p.344, 480. Also: OCorcran. |
Corrán | McChorran 1; Woulfe p.481 has "ó Corráin". |
Donnchadh | McGonauthy 1, McConauthey 1 (via "mac Dhonnchaid"); Woulfe p.352. Also: Conauth[...]. See also: Doneheved, O Donohid; fil. Doncoun , O Donked. |
Duibhfionn | McGeiffein 1; "mag Dhuibhfinn" Woulfe p.417. |
Eoghan | McKun 3; indentification uncertain. Woulfe p.359. |
Ethnard? | McEthenard 1; unidentified |
Gealbhán? | McGalman 1; Woulfe p.539 has "ó Gealbháin" with Anglicizations "O Galvane" et al., but not an ideal fit. |
Giolla-Muire? | McGilmoy 1, McGylmoy 1; Woulfe** or possibly a reduced form of "Giolla-Maoil". |
Giolla-Duibh | McGilduff 1; Woulfe p.372. |
Griffyn | McGriffyn 1; R&W p.206. Also: Griffyn. |
Henry | McHenry 2; Woulfe p.358. |
Kengan? | McKengan 1; unidentified. |
Laoidheach | McLeog 1; uncertain, but see Woulfe p.386. |
Lorcán | McLorkan 2; OC&M p.124. Also: Lorcan. |
Lothyr? | McLothyr 2; unidentified. |
Lude? | McLude 1; unidentified. |
Maolachán? | McMalauthin 1; uncertain, but see Woulfe p.602 for "ó Maolacháin". |
Naspuk? | McNaspuk 1; unidentified. |
Odhar | McWythyr 1; Woulfe p.427. |
Oisín | McCoissyn 1; Woulfe p.424 has "Mag Oisín" and associates it with Meath. |
Robin | McRobion 1; compare with Woulfe p.402 "mac Rob", R&W p.380 "Robin". |
Seán | McShane 2; Woulfe p.404. |
Talwy? | McTalwy 2; unidentified. |
Treasach | McTressy 4; Woulfe p.654. |
Troightheach | McTrahy 1; Woulfe p.654. |
In Latin relational names
Modern form |
Forms found in the manuscript |
|
Adam | fil. Ade 1; diminutive of Adam, popular in Wales, R&W p.2. |
Benedict | fil. Benedicti (genitive) 1; R&W p.39. |
David | fil David 1; R&W p.128. |
Donnchadh | fil. Doncoun 1; OC&M p.76. Also: O Donked. See also: McGonauthy, McConauthey, Conauth[...]; Doneheved, O Donohid. |
Einion | fil. Eynon 1, fitzEynon 2; Welsh, R&W p.156. |
Hugh | fil. Hugonis (genitive) 1; R&W p.242. |
Ithel | fitz Ytholl 1; Welsh, R&W p.250. |
Johannes | fil. Johannis 3, filia Johannis 1 (genitive); R&W p.256. Also: uxor J.; if there is a default "name beginning with 'j'" it is almost certainly "Johannes". |
Laurence | filia Laurencii (genitive) 2; R&W p.272. Also: Lauerance. |
Matthew | fil. Mathei (genitive) 2; R&W p.302. |
Maurice | filia Mauricii 1; R&W p. 303. |
Meilyr | fil. Meileri (genitive) 4; Welsh, R&W p.294. |
Miles | fil. Milonis 6, uxor Milonis 1 (genitive); R&W p.309. |
Nicholas | vidua Nicholao (ablative) 1; R&W p.322. |
Phillip | uxor Phillippi (genitive) 1; R&W p.349. |
Ralf | filia Radulfi 2 (genitive); R&W p.371. |
Rhys | fil. Rys 1, fil. Rysy (genitive) 1; Welsh, R&W p.376. Also Rys (unmarked). |
Robert | fil. Roberti 1, her. Roberti 2 (genitive); R&W p.380. |
Roger | uxor Rogeri (genitive) 1; R&W p.381. |
Stephan | fil. Stephani (genitive) 1; R&W p.426. |
Walter | filia Walteri 1, uxor Walteri 1 (genitive); R&W p.474. |
William | fil. Willelmi (genitive) 2, vidua Willelmo (ablative) 1; R&W p.493. |
In unmarked patronyms
Modern form |
Forms found in the manuscript |
|
Bréanainn | Brenan 1; OC&M p.34 |
Cadwgan | Cadegan 1; Welsh R&W p.79 |
Caradog | Cradok 1; Welsh, R&W p.114. |
Cléireachán | Clerethyn 1; probable identification, Woulfe p.236 has this without the diminutive suffix. |
Críodán | Cridan 1; OC&M p.62 |
Donnchadh | Doneheved 2; Woulfe p.352. Also: O Donohid. See also: fil. Doncoun, O Donked; McGonauthy, McConauthey, Conauth[...]. If the last is interpreted correctly, it cannot be classed as "unmarked" as it must be a reanalysis of a "mac" form. |
Fionnbharr | ffynover 1; OC&M p.101 |
Gerard | Gerard 1; R&W p.189. |
Godfrey | Godfrey 1; R&W p.194. |
Griffyn | Griffyn 1; R&W p.206. Also: McGriffyn. |
Hywel | Howell 1; Welsh, R&W p.241. |
Laurence | Lauerance 1; R&W p.272. Also: filia Laurencii. |
Lorcán | Lorcan 1; OC&M p.124. Also: McLorkan. |
Maolruan | Moltron 1; Woulfe p.612 notes "Meldron" as an Anglicization of "ó Maolruain" so this is not as improbable as it might seem. |
Moénach? | Mouenath 1; O'Brien lists this. I can find nothing closer. |
Niall | Neele 1; OC&M p.145. |
Owain | Ywein 1; Welsh, R&W p.333, but possibly instead Irish "Eoghan". |
Patrick | Patrik 1; R&W p.341. |
Rambold | de Rembold 1, Rembold 1; R&W p.370. Based on the name's origin, the "de" cannot be locative in sense. While it is found in France as a patronymic marker, this seems unlikely here. More likely, the "de" has acquired some other sense, perhaps having to do with the social status of the family. |
Torcall | Torcell 1; compare Woulfe p.411 "mac Thorcaill". |
Tuaith(ach) | Toyte 1; uncertain, but see Woulfe p.654. |
Names Appearing in More Than One Type of Patronym and/or
as a Given Name
Patronyms
Name Given Mac O Latin Unmarked Total
Johannes 16 5 21
William 13 3 16
David 5 1 6
Philip 5 1 6
Walter 3 2 5
Laurence 2 2 1 5
Radulf 2 2 4
Nicolas 2 1 3
Hugo 2 1 3
Stephan 1 1 2
Ade 1 1 2
Roger 1 1 2
Robert 9 1 2 12
Henry 9 2 11
Griffyn 4 1 1 6
Meilyr 1 4 5
Ithel 3 1 4
Donnchadh 2 3 3 1 2 11
Corcrán 1 2 1 4
Cearbhall 2 1 3
Coilín 2 1 3
Ceallach 1 1 1 3
Malauthin 2 1 3
Giolla-Muire 1 2 3
Lorcán 1 1 2
Cionaodh 1 1 2
Tuathal 1 8 9
Carthach 1 1 2
Giolla-Fionnain 1 1 2
Patrick 1 1 2
Descriptive Bynames (and unidentified)
Modern form |
Forms found in the manuscript |
|
Aucupe | aucupe 1; unidentified. |
Becc | Beche 13 (all 1305), Beg 10 (1304, 1308); "small" DIL "becc". |
Beccán | Bekan 1; "small" diminutive of the preceding, DIL "becc". |
Buide | Boy 1; "yellow", DIL "buide". |
Ciar? | Ker 1; "dark", but not entirely certain. |
Donn | Don 1, Done 2; "brown, dun" DIL "donn" |
Faol | Foil 1; "wolf", also occasionally a given name (DIL "fael"). |
Fionn | ffynne 1; "white", DIL "find". |
Long | Longo 1 (ablative); Latin "long". |
Mór | Moor 1; Irish "big", DIL "mór". |
Óg | Og 1, Oge 2; Irish "young, junior". DIL "óc". |
Reannach? | Renath 2; Irish "pointed" (or possibly "starry"), somewhat doubtful, but Woulfe (p.630) lists "ó Reannacháin". |
Ruadh | Rowe 1; Irish "red", DIL "ruad". |
Rút | Roth 3, Roythe 1 (possibly); Irish borrowing of Norse "hrutr" (red), Woulfe p.666. Alternately, a variant of "ruadh". |
The meanings of the descriptive bynames mostly have to do with coloring
(buide, ciar, donn, fionn, ruadh,
rút) or size/age (becc, beccán,
mór, óg), but there are a couple ouside these
groups (faol, reannach). The overwhelmingly most popular
descriptive byname is becc, accounting for over half the
examples. The number might be cut in half if duplicate references to the
same person were eliminated, however the name would still be the runaway
favorite. The only descriptive byname found referring to a woman is
óg.
Popularity Rankings
Modern form |
Forms found in the manuscript |
|
Becc | 23 |
Rút | 4 |
Donn | 3 |
Óg | 3 |
Reannach? | 2 |
aucupe | 1 |
Beccán | 1 |
Buide | 1 |
Ciar? | 1 |
Faol | 1 |
Fionn | 1 |
Long | 1 |
Mór | 1 |
Ruadh | 1 |
Total | 44 |
Occupational and Ethnic Bynames
Modern form |
Forms found in the manuscript |
|
Capellanus | capellani (genitive) 1; "priest, chaplain" R&W p.90. |
Medicus | medico (ablative) 1; Latin "doctor". |
Molendinarius | molendinarii (genitive) 2; Latin "miller". |
Summonitor | summonitore 1; Latin "summoner". |
Tinctor | Tinctoris 1; "painter". |
Walensis | Walensi (genitive) 1; Latin "Welsh". |
Walsh | Walsh 1; "Welsh" R&W p.474. While this originates in an ethnic byname, in the example here, it is mostly likely a hereditary surname. |
Titles
Modern form |
Forms found in the manuscript |
|
Ormond | Comitem Ormonie 1; (accusative); title "count of Ormond". |
Locative Bynames with Irish Place-names
Modern form |
Forms found in the manuscript |
|
Baile Gabhráin | de Balligaueran 1; Hogan p.81 |
Baile Mór | de Balymore 1; Hogan p.84. |
Baile mac ? | de Balymaclothyr 1; unidentified. |
Boytenrath | Boytenrath; possibly the English surname "Boyten" (R&W p.58) plus Irish toponymic "rath", but uncertain. |
Cell Mór | de Killmor 1, Kilmor 1; Hogan p.203. |
Cell Caissill | de Kilkasshe 2; Hogan p.180. |
Dun Domhnaill | Doundonevold 2; Hogan p.382. |
Mide | de Midia 3, Methe 1; Hogan p.538. |
Raith Garbháin | de Rathgarvan 1; Hogan p.572. |
Other Locative-style Bynames, probably English Surnames
Modern form |
Forms found in the manuscript |
|
Blancheville | de Blaunchevill 1, Blaunchevile 1; unidentified. |
d'Anton | Doneton 1; Woulfe (p.282) notes ca. 1600 examples like "Daundon". |
Grange | del Grange 1; R&W p.202. |
Hay | de la Hay 1; R&W p.222. |
Hereford | de Hereford 1; R&W p.228. |
Penrhys | de Penris 1; Richards p.176. |
Roilly | de Roilly 1; unidentified. |
Rupe | de Rupe 1; unidentified. |
Salle | de Salle 1; R&W p.390. |
Stafford | de Stafford 1; R&W p.423. |
English Surnames
Modern form |
Forms found in the manuscript |
|
Argentine | Argentyme 1; R&W p.13. |
Betriche | Betriche 1; uncertain. |
Breannóc | Braynok 1; Woulfe (p.248) has "de Breannóc" as an Irish form of the Anglo-Welsh locative surname "Brechnock". "Braynok" is given as a ca. 1600 English form. |
Buckley | Bukeley 1; R&W p.70. Also perhaps Irish "ó Buachalla" (Woulfe p.446). |
Butler | Bottiller 1, le Botiller 2; Woulfe p.250. |
Cass | Casse 1; R&W p.86 |
Cowell | Cowill 1; R&W p.113, but also possibly from Irish given name "Cathmhaol" (Woulfe p.329). |
Croker | Croker 2; R&W p.117 |
Douce | Duse 1; R&W 139. |
Fainín | ffanyn 1; Woulfe (p.285), from the Norman given name "Payn", alternately a diminutive of Irish "fann" (weak) v. DIL. |
Hesam | Hesam 1; unidentified. |
Mag | Mag 1; R&W p.293. |
Rutledge | Rothlek 1; Woulfe p.666 notes the English surname as "Rutlech", "Routhledge" et al. |
Travers | Travers 1; R&W p.453. |
Vale | Vale 4, de Valle 2; R&W p.464. |
White | Wyte 1; R&W p.486. |
Introduction
Given Names
Name Patterns
Glossary of Elements in Bynames
Bibliography
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