Personal Names

Extract from W.W.Gill A Third Manx Scrapbook — dating from 1928 but not published until much later.

4. Some Characteristic Forenames.

The earlier records show a strong Gaelic element mixed with the sometimes adapted English fontnames, but Scandinavian names are surprisingly few, and most of what there are appear to have passed through Gaelic. Feminine names are, naturally, seldom found until the institution of Parish Registers. With one exception, Ballaugh, this did not occur until the 17th century was well under weigh. Though the Registers have been completely transcribed, only scattered extracts from two have been printed — Ballaugh and Malew in the Manx Note Book.

Aalish, Ealish, fem. Alish Kieg, 1786, Patrick (Mon. Inscr.). Fairly common till recently. Always written in its Eng. form, Alice, in M.R. as printed. Allis in Ireland generally, also Ailes (monosyllable) in the North. In Man the suffixes -ed and -et were sometimes added.

Ally, f. Alea Quay alias Brew, 1793, Malew (Mon. Inscr.). Mx aaley means " beautiful." Not quite obs. The modern Ellie may have replaced it to some extent. Sc. Ailie.

Allow, m. Allow Abel, M.R. Allow MacAllow later. Formed from the surname MacCalo, M.R., MacCaloe, 1585; mod. Callow. Calbhagh, bald, tonsured.

Apeke, m. The only instance is Apeke MacNeyll in 1429 (Acts of Stanley, p. 82). Assuming it to be correct, it appears to be really the surname Peake deriving ultimately from the early Eng. Pic. The initial here stands for " At "; i.e., " at the hill-top." In Ireland and S.W. Scotland, MacPeake, MacPake, MacPike.

Auley, m. Hawley MacKissacke, 1422, Auley MacKissacke, 1430 (the same man). The Norse Olaf, Gaelicised. Hence MacCawlowe, MacCowley (same man), 1422. Now Cowley.

Averick, f. Averick Steane, 1598, Ballaugh Par. Reg.; Averick Creer, 1623, Braddan, Bps. Bk. Arick Kenred, 1667, Lezayre (Mon. Inscr.); " Aucrick " Duggan, 1790, Malew (Mon. Inscr.); " Eric-ny-Moaney, an old woman so-called" (Kelly, Mx Dict.); Leany Arick (Averick's meadow), a Lezayre intack in 1703; Struan Arick (Averick's stream), in Upper Sulby Glen: these are some of the occurrences of this old Gaelic name in Man. In Ireland it is Aifric, though now almost gone out of use; in Scotland Oihrig, where Effie and Euphemia came to be substituted for it. The river Affric, and its loch and glen of the same name, commemorate a nymph, according to Macbain. He and Prof. W. J. Watson explain the word as athbreac, " very dappled, or speckled." Foam-decked is the normal state of many Highland rivers, but feminine humanity in the North is more likely to be freckled.

A nymph might be both. Knock Efferick in Galloway may refer to Affrica, daughter of Fergus, Lord of Galloway, at the end of the IIth cent. In Man the name may have been popularised by Affrica, daughter of Godred, King of Man (Chron. Mann.), who founded the Grey Abbey in Co. Down in 1193. Two abbesses of Kildare, in the 8th and 9th cents. respectively, bore the name.

Bahee, f. (first syll. as " bah "). Rarely " Baggy." Bahee Ine Gilcrist, Lezayre, 1513; Bahe Calyworre Ine Casse, Lezayre, 1540; Bahie Quinney, 1659, Malew Par. Reg.; Bahee Sayle, 1725, Andreas Churchyard; Bahee Kaighen, 1730, German (accused of witchcraft): these are some specimens of this curious name. It occurs also in a " charm against looseness: Philip va yn Ree," etc.; in English, " Philip was king of the fairies and Bahee was his wife," etc. The two personal names are probably substitutions for less domesticated ones.

Morrison and Goodwin, Anglo-Manx Dialect, equate Bahee with Biddy, and mention entries in Par. Registers of persons thus baptised who were married and buried as Bridget. But in many European countries names are equated with and substituted for others without there being any essential relationship, and in the cases just mentioned the connexion must have been quite arbitrary. For the true source and meaning of Bahee I can only make the most tentative suggestions, such as the Norse Bjargey (" helpful "), a fem. name in the Landnama-bak, or the Frisian Bauke, Bawke.

Brice, m. Brice Bullok, Brys Clarke, Bris Mac Alstyen, all in the Court Roll of 1417-8; Bric MacArthure, and Brice as surname, M.R.; John Brice, 1694, Malew Par. Reg. Now ohs. as forenam and surname. Probably of Scand. origin.

Caesar, m. This, like Flaxney, was an Insular family name which is now extant only as a forename Both have already been dealt with here.

Caly-. Ir. Cailleach, a nun; lit., " veiled one.' This was prefixed to names of saints and other sacred names to form fem. forenames. Like those with Gillo which they correspond, they were used chiefly it the North of the Island, and especially in the parish of Lezayre.

Calibrid, M.R.; " Nun of (St.) Bride." In one cas' it is entered in the Rolls as the name of a man.
Calycrist, M.R.; " of Christ."
Calyhony, M.R.; " of the Church," or " of the Lord."
Calypatrick, M.R.; Callypharick, 1609; " (St. Patrick.) "
Callychrowney, n.d. (Moore, Manx Names); " (St. Croine," a 6th cent. local saint in Carlow and Wicklow place-names Kilcroney near Bray, Temple Croine it Tirconell. Hence also the rare Ir. surname Mulcrowney
Calaghdooney, n.d. (Lioar Manninagh, I, pt. i.) " the Church," or " the Lord."
Callyvorry, Andreas, c. 1500; Calyborri and Calyvorr, M.R.; Calyworre, 1540. The second element in each means Mary. She of 1540 had the distinction, rare for the time, of bearing two forenames
In full, she was Bahe Calyworre Ine Casse; i.e., B.C., daughter of Casse-the present Cash.

Others occur in the Parish Registers, etc., but the type did not long survive the 17th century.

Cavaleiro, m. Cavaleiro Christian, died 1756, son of Edward Christian, Captain of the town of Ramsey, and Jane Teare, his wife (Maughold Mon. Inscr.). Unique in the Island, so far as I have seen.

Charlereta, f. Charlereta Taylor, 1677 (Malew Par. Reg.). Evidently meant as a fem. of Charles, and perhaps home-made. But Miss Yonge says of " Charlotte " that it was brought into England by Lady Derby, of the La Tremouille family, and first appeared in the 17th cent. as Charlet.

Christian, Cristen. Both m. and f., but commoner for women, from at least 1510, and probably long before. A Christian was Prioress of Douglas in 1408. Christiana occurs in 1540. The source was Norse. The Sc. Gaelic Cairistiona, " beloved," makes one suspect that the modern Scottish Christina had, in part at least, another origin.

Conchor, m. Conchor Gray, c. 1600, Bps. Bk. One instance as a surname in M.R. Ir. Conchobhar, an old and popular name, now Connor.

Coonie, f. " Coonie Stockan als. Quirke," 1667 (Malew Par. Reg.). If correct, and of Ir. derivation, " handsome "; if Mx, " helpful."

Christal, Cristil, m. Christal Shemyn, Kewen and Bell, Abbeylands tenants, 1611. As a surname in M.R., and later in the form of Christory. A forename and surname in Scotland, equivalent to Christopher (Criostoir).

Denys, m. Denys Daniell, 1536. Though in Ireland this has been the common anglicisation of Donncadh, in Man it seems to have been a popular adaptation of its true original Dionysius, which occurs twice in M.R. Or, conversely, Denys may have been latinized into Dionysius.

Darraty, f., the dialect form of Dorothy. Daratie Leece, 1654, Bps. Bk.

Dollin, m., was a very favourite name down to recent times; less often as Donall. Dolen, Dolyn and Donald, M.R. Cf. the Galloway McDollan, for McDonnell or McDonald. From early Celtic Dumnovalos, " World-ruler "; " Macdonwald " in Macbeth preserves the second initial of the primitive name.

Donagher, m. Roeder (Lioar Manninagh, iii. 145), records a Rushen fairy story in which a man is named Donagher Lowey. I have not met with it elsewhere, but if authentic it is the Ir. Donncadh which gives the surnames O'Donoghue and McDonagh, and the Mx MacDoncan and MacConky in M.R., Doncan, M.R. and 1580; John Doncan was elected Bishop of Mann in 1374. Duncan is the Sc. form.

Elena, f. Elena Ine Cane, M.R. Its form suggests the Norse Elina (Landnar''a Bok). A name closely resembling it is used once in M.R. as a metronymic: Gilmurry Elenagh.

Emell, Aimel, f. Emell Goldsmith compounded for Myre Croft intack, Lezayre, in 1643; Close Emell, a Ballaugh intack, 1703; (Lord's Rent Book). Eme, Emy and Emmy also occurred, but Emily was rare until comparatively recently.

Eunys, Eunice, f. Rather a favourite Mx name at the present time, and only distinguished from the usual English-Greek name by its occasional Manx-looking spelling. In 16th and 17th cent. Lancs. it was sometimes " Unis."

Ewan, Evan, m. Gaelic Eoghan or Norse Ewind; both may have contributed. Ewan is the original here; Evan is rarely seen before the 19th cent. It has been given both a short and a long " E," but the first is the more usual. Ewan or Ewen is the Sc. form also; Owen and Eugene are the Ir. adaptations, Ywain and Owain the Welsh, of Eoghain. Man, like England and France, had Huan, which appears to be a Norman or Breton softening of Eoghan. It may have been regarded by the Mx as a vocative of some form of John. Of how far it was considered the same name as Ewan I do not feel sure. Ewan is a characteristic name of the Christian family, but formerly they spelt it, or it was spelt for them, as Huan. Juan is not on record sufficiently early to be the old Danish Johan or Norse Joann, but it looks like an approximation to some form of John. There is a Scottish (East Coast) surname Shewan which invites comparison. In written records John was the regular Mx spelling of that name, and gave the patronymics MacJohn and MacJon or MacIon. Whether this was the English or the Norse name it would be hard to say; perhaps the latter was reinforced by the former. A Manx-Norse form was Inan, in a runic inscription. As Ewan, Huan, and John with its two Gaelic versions, together with the surnames derived from them, are difficult to disentangle, I give some early instances to make their distinctions as clear as may be.
MacEuyn, 1417, Huan MacNakell, 1417 (but als written Hugh and latinised Hugo), Yven MacQuirk' 1430, MacKewne, 1504,1510-13, Sir Huan Norris, 1521 Huan MacChristian, 1532, Huyn Standish, 1540Ewan Christian, 1585, Evan Christian, 1793; a from Eoghan or Eyvind. From Eain (John): MacKane 1417, MacCanne, 1430, MacKeyn, MacKayne, etc. 1540. From John: MacIon, MacJon, 1417, MacJohn 1430, and innumerable Johns as forenames. Ewa and Evan are still in use; Juan is almost obs.; Huan quite so, I believe.

Ferdinando, m. Ferdinando Halsall, 1665, Ferdi nando Stanley, 1692, Ferdinando Calcott, 1704; all i. Malew. It was and is a Stanley name.

Fferdinah, f. Fferdinah Norris, 1675, Malew. feminisation of Ferdinand or Ferdinando.

Fergus, m. Fergus MacCowle, M.R. Also in Mac Fergus, 1422, MacKerrous, M.R.; now Kerruish, bu obs. as a forename.

Finlo, Fynlo, Fynlowe, Finglo, Phinloe, Phinlough etc., m. A favourite name until the Igth cent. I occurs in 1422, and with " Mac " from 1429 (now Kinley). Phinlough Christry of Ballachristory, 1758 is a late instance when it was growing unfashionable but it is not yet quite obs. It is Scottish in origin Fionn-Lugh, compounded of fionn, fair, and Lugh a deity whose home was for a while the Isle of Ma under the aegis of Manannan Mac Lir, in Irish legend According to Woulfe (Irish Names, p. 36~), modern Sc. nasalisation of MacFionnlaoich has given it a pronunciation which would explain the Mx (Mac)Kewley, supposing such nasalisation to have been current early enough. But MacKewley and MacFynlo stood side by side in 1510.

Flaxney, m. See page 65.

Gemini had some popularity in Lonan, whether for twins, or a twin, does not appear. Gemini, Gemelli, 1736, both in Lonan Par. Reg. Jemony (Rydings, Manx Tales, page 92).

Gennet, Ginnett, Jinnet, Jinetta, f. Gennet ffoster, 1634, Ginnet Bridson, 1683. Jenet Lake, a water mill for corn in the Abbey Demesnes near Castletown, 1540. Not connected with Janet and John. Eng. Geneta, 13th cent., Frankish Genida, 10th cent.

Germot, Germede, m. Germede MacWilline, 1429. Germot MacGermot, M.R. Kermott, Igth cent. From the patronymic MacGermot (MacDiarmid), now Kermode.

Gibbon, m. Very common in early times; interchangeable with Gilbert, which gradually superseded it. Also in MacGibbon, now Cubbon. The Eng. dim. of Gilbert.

Gilchrist, m. Gilcrist MacDowyll and MacNelle, 1408, Gilchrist MacComish, 1430, M.R., and later. Patronymic MacGilchrist, now Mylchreest. Still common in Scotland.

Gildow, m., appears as a nickname in Malew Par. Reg., 1689. " Dark lad." Cf. Gildow McPaye, Perth, 1471 (Macbain), and as a Sc. forename in later centuries.

Giloo, -nho, -nhow, -noo, -now, etc., m. Dilnow MacCorkyll, 1408 (Oliver, Monumenta, ii, 248) should probably read " Gilnow "; Gilno MacCrokell, M.R., and sparsely later. In use in Lonan in 1733 (Par. Reg.), but long obs. Gaelic Giolla-na-Naomh, " servant of the saints." Cf. Keeill Knock-y-Noe, " Chapel of the Saints' Hill," Maughold, and Cronk-yn-Oe, a burial mound and oratory in Lezayre. Gilnef and Gilnew were Sc. forenames in 16th cent. McIlnoy, Wigtown, 1603. Gildernew is an extant surname in Tyrone; Gillarnowe McKeigane was a 17th-cent. Scot.
Gil-andrew, -ander, -calm, -martyr, -mere, -more -murr, and -murry all appear as masc. forenames in 1510-13. Their corresponding patronymics are dealt with in chap. iv.

Glennie, f. I have known but one instance of this name, but as it was given to a child because she was born in a glen (Glen Aldyn), it is worth recording as a case of an invented name, independent of the Sc. and Ir. family name of the same origin, and the cognomen in the old song " John O'Dwyer a'gleanna." Sc. Eglen has, I think, the same import.

Hane, m., occurs once: Hane MacGaw, Sulby, 1513. Cf., perhaps, Ballahane, Rushen. Either the old Eng. forename Heyne (variously spelt), or taken from a Gaelic surname. Mr. Gilbert Magilhane was Capellan at Whithorne in 1479; McHane, 1610, and McElhane 1613, appear in Reg. Privy Cncl. Sctd. Are all these based on Sheathan, Sean, John ?

Hommy, m., is " Tommy " treated as a Mx word, put in the vocative case, and used as a nominative. Quite common till recently. Also Hom.

Huan, m. (See Ewan.)

Ibbot, Ibot, Issot, Isot, all M.R.; Essot, 1540, Issa, Isa, 1690; Issa to-day; all shortenings of Isabel, also a favourite name often stressed on the last syllable, hence the common Bella. Essie, likewise common as a name by itself, may belong to these, or represent Esther - probably the latter. Issot, however, may have had an additional source in Ysolt of the Breton romances introduced by the Normans. This occurs in West Lancs. in a Lancs. Inquisition. It had been adopted by the Norse as Isodd.

Jezabel, f. Jezabel Curphey alias Christian, 1713, Lezayre (Mon. Inscr.), may be deemed worthy of record.

Johna, f. Once in M.R. as Johna, wife of Johne Atkyne. This shows an intermediate stage between the early Johnet and the later Joney. (See below.)

Johnet, f. Very numerous in M.R. Jonet was the Old Sc. form of Janet. Sc. Gaelic Sionaid.

Joney, f.; rarely Juney; once as Johna (see above). Talbot's Manorial Roll contains no Joney, pace P. M. C. Kermode (Kirk Michael, page 30), who says it is often met with in the Roll. Formerly the commonest of Mx fem. names, but now demoded. Popularly but erroneously equated with Judith (e.g. Moore, Manx Ballads, pages 45, 47), perhaps because of the resemblance of Juney to Judy, which was also popular.

Juan, m. (See Ewan.)

Kermott, m. (See Germot.)

Lailie, f. I have heard of two 20th cent. bearers of this name, both Mx; one in Lezayre, the other near St. John's. It is supposed to be a sort of by-product of Elizabeth. Eulalia was formerly not uncommon in Cornwall; but "Lailie" seems more likely to be the Lelia occasionally used in England (French Lelie), from an old Latin source.

Lewes, m. Lewes Kewley, 1661, Lewes Crideene, 1668. Perhaps taken from the surname Clewis in the belief that it was MacLewis; or more probably the Eng. Lewis.

Mallowney, Malloney, Moloney, etc., m. Malowne MacKnelle, 1538, Malowney Cowine, 1635. As Moldonny below, but with the initial of Domknach aspirated. Cf. the surname MacGillowney, mod. Looney.

Mappy, f., is said to have been a familiar substitute for Martha. Chibber Mappy, " Martha's Well," on the Sound Road, Rushen, commemorates a lady of the name. This is the only instance I know, and possibly Roeder, who records the name, may have misheard Matty as Mappy.

Margad, Marget, is the usual dialect form of Margaret.

Mariot, f. Passim in M.R. and later. A Norman shortening of Mary; hence the Eng. surname Marriott.

Mericke, f. " John Steene and Mericke his wyfe," Braddan, 1647 (Bps. Bk.). Possibly a MS. error for Avericke, a fairly common name, q.v. But surnames were occasionally given to girl babies at the font; vice Salisbury, Savag, and Sage. Charlotte Yonge says that " Merica " occurs in old Yorks. pedigrees as a Christian name. This would have the same source as the surname Merick.

Moggy, f. Dialect form of Maggy. Very popular until the end of 19th cent.

Moirrey, f. Pronounced Murra and sometimes used in the vocative, Voirrey, this Mx form of Mary was in use until recently. Mary itself must have made a late appearance, as it is not found in M.R. Even now it is less popular in the Island than in other parts of the Kingdom, I think.

Mold, m. From 1422 onward this appears frequently as Mould Mauld, Mold and Molde; as Mold it remained common down to the 17th cent., chiefly in the Northern parishes. Now obs. M.R. has it once as fem., but that may have been an error for Mawde, which occurs twice near by. If the intrusive " l " in " Maughold " had become sufficiently general by, say, the 14th cent., and if the saint's name had then been worn down to this degree, it would provide a satisfactory explanation for Mold. Maughold may fairly be deemed the Island's national saint. This might also explain why such a popular forename was never combined with " Mac," since that was not customary in the case of a Celtic saint's name, without the interposition of giolla. (That Mold, if a saint's name, was never combined with giolla tends to show that such compounds were not native, and that the Mx names of that type arose outside the Island and were imported ready formed.) Why Mold does not occur in names of crofts and other secular place-names is not clear, since forenames were often attached to these. Possibly its implied sanctity forbid.

Moldonny, n. Twice in 1408 (Oliver, Monumenta,ii, 248). From Maoldomhnaich, " servant of the Church," or " the Lord "; the same name as Mallowney above. The corresponding fem. forms are Calaghdooney and Calyhony, above. Derivative surnames are McAldonich in Scotland, Muldooney, Muldowney, in Ireland.

More, f. More Ine Kill, and others, M.R. A very old Gaelic name meaning, originally, " great " — perhaps in social distinction, as a chief's daughter. It is possible, however, that here More is meant for Mary as in Gilmore. A diminutive Morag is attested in the Maughold place-names Chibber Morag and Lag Booilley Morag, the Well and the Cattle-hollow of Morag. Though obs. in Man, the personal name in both forms is still used in the Highlands.

Moris, n. Frequent in M.R., and as a surname in various forms which are now Corris and probably some Morrisons. Norman de Marais, " of the marsh." MacMaras was one of the two opposing leaders at the battle of Santwat in Man, 1098 (Chron. Manniae) — an early appearance there for a Norman name. A little later a MacMaras was first witness in a Galloway grant to Holyrood Abbey by Uchtred, brother of Affrica, the wife of Olave, King of Man (M'Kerlie, Galloway, page 16/7).

Murdagh, m. Murdagh MacKerad, Murdagh MacCasmund, M.R. A very old Celtic name. The Muiredach of Adamnan's Columba (I, xii.) must have belonged to the 8th cent. But the " d " appears to have been lenated by the 13th cent., at any rate in Ireland, and the Mx Murdagh, Ir. Murtagh, may represent Muircheartach, " good pilot," or some approximate meaning. Muiredach would also mean " connected with the sea" in some way.

Murghad, m. Murghad MacCowle, M.R. Also in MacCurghy, now Curphey. Ir. Murchadh, " seafighter"; anglicised there as Murrough, and the surname as Murphy.

Nele, m. Nele Dogham (Doghan), Nele Bell, 1540. Though common in MacNele (now Kneale) it was never a favourite font-name in the Island; the MacNeles may therefore have come in already bearing that surname. Gaelic Niall, a hero, champion.

Nessie, f. Though in frequent use as a name by itself, it is probably a pet form of Agnes. There is, however, an Ir. fem. name Nessa (Neasa in Woulfe). King Conchubhar in the Naoise and Deirdre saga was named MacNessa after his mother, Ness.

Neven, m. Neven MacQuain, 1430. Naoimbin, " little saint," from which was formed the patronymic which is now Kneen. Mod. Sc. McNiven.

Ocky, m. Moore, Manx Names, page 81, quotes from some Par. Reg. the pedigree-name " Ocky-Dick-beg-Dick-Bob." The first of the string is probably the Gaelic Eochaidh, horseman; mod. Ir. forename Oghie, " formerly very common, but now almost obsolete " (Woulfe). It appears also in two Mx place names: " Croit Yoky," a Braddan intack in 1703; and Ballayocky, Andreas. There is a chance that it might be the obs. Eng. Jockey.

Otnel, m. Otnel Caterall, M.R., seems to be the only instance. Eng., like the surname. Otnell Worsley, in a civil action at Leigh, Lancs., 1521. If Otnel was an error for Otuel, Ottwell is also Eng. It is found in Malew in 17th cent. as Ottiwell, but was probably then of recent introduction.

Paton, m., was probably a pet form of Patrick rather than the surname used as a forename, since Paton and Patrick Goldsmith of Bride (M.R.), appear to have been the same man. MacFaden was a surname at the same period; now Cogeen.

Pyee, Paie, etc.; f. Peggy, with loss of intervocalic consonant. These colloquial corruptions were not used on formal occasions, such as being christened, married, and buried, hence do not appear in written records. Now obs., but there roamed about Sulby Glen until a very few years ago an old man known as " Billy Pyee," a metronymic. Somehow the name " Pyee " sank to a low social level, and came to be considered as almost equivalent to " beggar-woman." If a doubt is cast on its derivation from Peggy on the score that Maggie and its colloquial form Moggy did not suffer a similar change, I do not know what else " Pyee " can be. " McPaye " appears in Sc. records.

(Ragnald), m., either direct from Norse or through Gaelic Raghnaill, became by 16th cent. Reynold, and was recorded in the Eng. forms Reginald and Ranlyn, with one appearance as a fem. name, Reynylt in M.R, In 1611 are Raynold and Randall. Surname Crennell. Irish McGrannell. Ronaldsway, Malew, was Rognalswath in 13th cent. (Chron. Mann.). Though the personal name was common then and in the following four centuries, it lost its popularity later.

Rory, m. Rory Smyth and Rory Mason, M.R.; Rory Corleod, c. 1630 (Bps. Bk.). In M.R. as surname MacRory and Rory; but Roger was the usual form of the forename. Gaelic Rnadhri, a form of Norse Hrothekr; often Englished Roderick and Roger.

Sage, f. Sage Beckerleg, Malew Par. Reg. (oral information), must have been Cumbrian by marriage at least; but there was a Mrs. Sage Gelling among the subscribers to Cregeen's Manx Dictionary in 1835 or earlier, and " Cushag " has a poem about a girl called Sage-Ellen. The name appeared in a judicial matter in 1930. When moral qualities are used for fem. names it is always the noun: Prudence, Grace, and so on. So the origin of Sage is probably to be sought elsewhere, perhaps in the Eng. surname.

Salisbury was used as a fem. name in 17th cent. Salisbury Tubman, 1694, Salisbury Halsall, 1654; Bps. Bk. Salisbury Norris, 1667, Malew Par. Reg. All Engl. surnames.

Savag, f. Savag Radcliffe, 1634 (Mx Mt'.s. Jnl., No. 3I), Probably the surname Savage, sometimes so spelt in the Registers: Jony Savag, 1694, Malew Par. Reg.

Sessott, Sissott, f., M.R., are for Cissot, dim. of Cicely.

Stean, Steein, etc., m. Stephen. Steein-y-Chamaish, Steein-ny-Oghe (Manx Ballads, p. 168). Also a surname, obs. in Man. Stephen in M.R.

Tamar, f. Pronounced as the river-name. Extant, but very rare; I only know one instance. Old Test. ?

Tara, f., rhyming with " Sarah." [fpc note Sara not the americanised version] Also unique, so far as I know. Source unknown.

Thormot, m. Thormot MacQua, M.R. Surname MacCormot, now Cormode. From Norse Tormodr, or its Gaelic equivalent Thormoid.

Urmen, m. Once only, M.R., Urmen MacUrmen. MacUrmen was then frequent. Also MacErmyne, 1419; Curmyne, MacCormyn, same man, 1511; Thos. Orman, Vicar of Jurby, 1576; Curmin, c. 1600; Kameen (unless an error for Kaneen), 1600; now Kermeen. Crot Ermeen, a Maughold intack; Ballakemaine, Bride; Ballacarmine, Arbory; all 1703. Qu. Cronk Armyn, tumulus, Ballaugh. This name is probably the Anglian Eormen (Beowulf), giving mod. Eng. Ermin, Armine, Armyn. John Urmynson, York, 1415 (Bardsley, English Surnames, p. 558). It is unlikely to be the Ir. Eireamhon, in which the " m " was aspirated early and resulted in the surnames Ervine, Irvine, Erwin.

Voirrey, f. (See Moirrey.)

Vorgell, f. Vorgell Ine Killip, Lezayre, M.R. Norse Borgild or Borgilldr. It has been stated that this represents the Ir. Derbiorgaill. Also that the latter was an old law-term used as a fem. name; but Dinneen (Irish Dict.) analyses it in a different light. It had a medieval vogue as Dervorgilla. The Mx Vorgell of 1513 appears to have been the last use of the Norse name in the Island.

Though the records of Mx nomenclature are comparatively recent, dating with a few exceptions from the 15th century, much of its Celtic portion is of respectable antiquity in other countries. Among the oldest repositories of early Celtic personal names are the Lives of the 6th-century St. Columba. A number of their pre-Norse Scottish and Irish names are virtually duplicated among the extant Mx names and those obsolete during the last two or three hundred years.

Aedh; Mx. (MacK)ewe, Kew, both obs.
Aengus; (Mac)Inesh, obs.; Kinnish.
Ailen; Aleyn, MacAleyn, obs.; Callin.
Arthur; MacArthure, obs.
Berach (St.), of Kilbarrack, Clontarf: qu. Mx Berrag, Birrag, obs. unless surviving as Berry, but preserved in Ballabirrag, Jurby. Mod. Ir. Barry.
Cainnech (St.); (MacEl)hinney, obs.; Quinney.
Callach; Kelly.
Ciaran (St.); (MacYl)charane, obs.; Mylcraine.
Columba (St.); (MacGil)calm, forename Gilcalm, both obs. Ballacolum.
Comgell (St.); (MacEl)chole, obs.; Cowle.
Crag, (sobriquet); Crag, obs.
Diormit ; (MacG)ermot, obs.; Kermode.
Domhnall; (MacC)onylt, MacDanell, forename Dolyn, obs.; Cannell, Donald.
Eochaid; qu. forename Ocky.
Fergus; (Mac)Ferghuis, (MacK)errous, forename Fergus, obs.; Kerruish.
Ioan, (John); Mx runic Iuan.
Kairrech; qu. Kearey, obs.; but Ir. Kearey is otherwise derived by Woulfe.
Lugaid; (MacGil)lowey, obs.; Lowey.
Mac-an-Tsuer (" Kiaran mac Antsair "); MacTere, Seer, obs.; Teare.
Mac-nolmore; older form of Mx MacGilvorr, MacGilborr, MacGilvorra, and forenames Gilmore, Gilmurr; surname Molvurra, also obs., but absorbed into the extant Morrison. Mal-muru, fem., in a Mx runic inscription. Place-name Awin Mount, obs.
Muiredach; (see Murdagh in " Forenames ").
Mocudruidi. This family name, occurring in the Hebrides (Adamnan, I., xli.), but perhaps Irish, may be compared with the personal Maqui Droata in a Mx ogham, and with the Ir. tribal name Corcu MuDruad, extant as Corcomroe (Barony), Co. Clare. The legendary Mx name Mollyndroat (" one of the Nine Molleys, sons of Manannan," fabled to have been the first inhabitants of the Island), appears to have a partial affinity with the foregoing, and with the Ir. surname Mac-an-Dr?`aidh, anglicised Drury, etc. All the other " Molleys " are, or have been, attested surnames. (See Morrison, Manx Fairy Tales, " The Lazy Wife.")