[from Manx Place-names, 1925]

Parish of Kirk Bride

THE parish of Kirk Bride, the most northerly parish in Man, is dedicated to Saint Bridget, the Abbess of Kildare. Kyrke Bryde was also the ancient name of the treen in which the parish church is situated. Under February 1st in the Calendar of Ængus we find Brigit ban balt nualann tend caid caillech herenn, 'Bridget, fair, strong, praiseworthy, holy head of Ireland's nuns.' St. Bridget's Day was called in Manx Laa'l Breeshey or Bridey, and the patronal festival and fair was observed on St. Bridget's Day, February 1st, and, after the alteration of the Calendar, on February 12th.

The parish is bounded on the E. and N. by the sea, on the W. by Kirk Andreas and on the S. by Kirk Christ Lezayre. Its length from north to south is about three-and-a-half miles and, from east to west, two miles, and its area 580·232 acres. Through erosion and land-formation the ancient coast-line of the parish has disappeared, and the modern coast-line is singularly unbroken, not an inlet breaking the outline from Ramsey to the Lhen, a distance of over twelve miles. Several extensive sandbanks have been formed along this coast which add to the toponomy of the parish.

The small hamlet of Kirk Bride nestles around the parish church. In the churchyard may be seen some very interesting Runic cross-slabs, the personal names on one have come down to modern times, and are still found in two of the place-names.

KIRK BRIDE

Ayre Hook.

A fishing mark at the Point of Ayre.

Bahama (bank)

1673 Mx. Names Behema Bank, the
A sand-bank about 6 rniles east of Ramsey. Probably a foreign name. Also called the Rig (ridge) by the fishermen.

Ballabeg

1643 Man. Roll idem. 'Little farm.'

Ballacallow

1643 Man. Roll idem.
'Callow or McCalo's farm.' A common Kirk Maughold surname. In the Man. Roll of 1703 it states that John Christian's (the tenant) rent had been reduced 'because he was in continuall danger of being robbed by the Scotch.' Also allowed a reduction by Governor Sacheverell by order of the Lord on account of land taken away by the sea.

Ballacamain]

1643 Man. Roll Ballakemaine
1766 Dioc. Reg. Ballachymane
1794 C.R.P. Ballakemean
This is either 'McKemayn's farm' (Ir. Mac Amoinn, derived from Norse pers. name Asmundr), a surname found in Kirk Patrick in 1515 ; or the second element may postulate Keeill Mian, 'Matthias' church,' which existed here, but has now disappeared. It is also known as Cabbal ny cooilley, q.v.

Ballakash Bank.

A sand-bank N. of the Point of Ayre. Mr. A. W. Moore (Mx. Names) suggests that the bank takes its name from the farm Ballakesh. q.v.

Ballacasement.

1515 Man. Roll Patrick McCasmund
1643 ,, ,, Ballacasement
'Casement or McCasmund's farm.' Derived from the Norse personal name Asmundr, with Gaelic mac. Now Ballavarchein

Ballachrink

1643 Man. Roll Ballacrunk
'Farm of the hill.' Two quarterlands bearing this name in treens of 2nd Cranstal and Crosby beg respectively.

Ballacottier

1643 Man. Roll Wm. Cottier.
1703 ,,,, Joh. ,,
1773 Mon. Ins. Ballacottier
'Cottier's farm.'
From Norse personal name Ottar, with Gael. mac added.

Ballacowle

12th century Runic cross-slab Dufgal
1515 Man. Roll Donald McCowle
1643 ,, ,, Ballacowle
'Cowle or McCowle's homestead.' (Ir. Mac Dhubh-ghaill). A Scandinavian inscription on a cross-slab in Kirk Bride churchyard reads: "Druian son of Dufgal raised this cross to the memory of (K)athmiul his wife." Druian's Gaelic name would be Druachau Mac Dhubh-ghaill, and it is interesting to find his descendants in Ballacowle over four hundred years later. The surname Cowle was still common in the parish in the 17th and 18th centuries.
The Manx surnames Cowle and Cowell may be, in some cases, derived from the Ir. Mac Cathmhaoil.

Ballacree

1643 Man. Roll Balla na cree
'Farm of the end or boundary.' v. idem. in Kirk Christ Lezayre.

Ballacregga

1643 Man. Roll Ball na creggy
1671 C.R.P. Ballacregan
Mx. Balley ny creggey, 'farm of the rock.'

Ballacondyn

1515 Man. Roll Fynlo McCundre (adjoining)
1643 ,, ,, Ballacunder
'MacCundre's (now Condra and Anderson) home stead.' v. Ballacunner in Kk, Andreas.

Ballafayle

1515 Man. Roll Ballafayle
1643 ,, ,, John McFayle (adj.)
1705 Mon. Ins. Balla Fail
'Fayle or McFayle's farm.' (Ir. Mac Phail),

Ballagarrett

1515 Man. Roll Paton Goldesmyth
1703 ,, John Goldsmith „
,, ,, Ballacarret
'Garrett or MacKeird's farm.' Goldsmith was apparently an English rendering of MacKeird (now Garrett), 'craftsman's son,' a name which was also common in the district.

Ballagenney

1643 Man. Roll Ballagenny
1777 Dioc. Reg. Balnaghenneys Ayre
1796 Mon. Ins. Ballenegenney
Balley ne geinnagh, 'farm of the sands.'

Ballahard.

1643 Man. Roll Nard (yn ard)
'The farm of the height.'

Ballakeij.

1515 Man. Roll Thos. McKie
1643 ,, ,, Ballakeij
'McKie's farm.' (Ir. Mac Aoidh).

Ballakesh

1515 Man. Roll Moris McComas
1643 ,, Ballakewish
1777 Dioc. Reg. Ballakesh
' Kewish or McComas' farm.' This surname became later Comaish and Cammaish. We notice here a peculiar development, the aspiration of medial na in Comas to w in Kewish, and later the elision of w in Kesh. Cammaish , is the modern northern form and Cornish the southern. Kewish is not found until the second decade of the 17^th century. (Ir. Mac Thõmais and Mac Thamhais

Ballakilley

1643 Man. Roll Ballnakilley
Mx. Balley ny killey, 'farm of the church.'
Near the parish church.

Ballakymmey.

1515 Man. Roll Gilbert McKym
1643 ,, ,, Ballakymmey
Now lost. 'McKym's farm.' (Ir. MacShim).

Ballalhergy

1643 Man. Roll Ball na larghy
1774 Mon. Ins. Ballalargey
1782 ,, Balnalorgey
Mx. Balley ny liargee, 'farm of the slope.'

Ballamin, Treen

1515 Man. Roll Baly Lamyn
1643 ,, Ballemin, Ballamin
1794 C.R.P. Ballalamin
'Lamyn or McLamyn's farm.' From the Norse personal name Lagman.

Ballamooar.

1643 Man. Roll Wm. and Arthur Moore
'Moore's farm' (Ir. O Mõrdha). (in adj. treen)

Ballaquark

1515 Man. Roll Wm. McQuark
1643 ,, Quark
1703 , Patt. Ballaquark
'Quark or McQuark's farm.' (Ir. Mac Mhairc, a contracted form of Mac Mharcuis). Corkish was also common in Kirk Bride at the beginning of the 18th century. v. Ballacorkish in Kirk Christ Rushen.

Ballaskelley

1515 Man. Roll Rich. McScally (adjoining)
1643 ,, ,,Ballaskally
'Skelly or McScally's farm' (Ir. Mac Scalaighe).

Ballatrumman.

1703 Man. Roll
'Fold (bwoaillee) of the trammans or elders.' Intack.

Ballavair

1643 Man. Roll Ballavare
1732 Mon. Ins. Ballavaire
Mx. Balley yu vayr, 'farm of the road.' On the ancient road leading to Kirk Bride Church.

Ballavarchein

1643 Man. Roll Patt. Martin
1703 ,, Christian Martin
1729 Dioc. Reg. Balla Verjeen
'Martin or McMartyn's homestead' (Ir. MacMairtin).

Ballavark.

1515 Man. Roll Wm. Mc Quark
1703 Ballavark Now Ballayonaigue and Nassau.
'Mark's farm.' It is probable that the holder of this farm and the holder of Ballaquark took their surnames from Mark, the saint to whom the church in the treen was dedicated. v. infra.

Ballavarkish

1643 Man. Roll Ballavarkish
1707 Dioc. Reg. Ballavarkys
1786 Mon. Ins. Ballavarkys
'Mark's farm.' Takes its name from an ancient church here dedicated to St. Mark, which has now disappeared. A fair was held here on St. Mark's day up to 1834.

Balla Varranaugh. Treen.

1515 Man. Roll Balywaranagh
1643 ,, Ballavarranaugh
The second element appears to be either Scand. Varnarvik, 'defence creek ;' or Varðarvik, 'watch or ward creek.' This treen adjoins Cranstal Port and Cronk ny arrey laa, q.v. v. also Ballacallow. Probably there was watch and ward kept here from early times. Balla, 'homestead,' is a later addition.

Ballawanell

1515 Man. Roll Patric McHonylt (adj.)
1643 Ballawannell
1779 Mon. Ins. Baley Wannel
'MacHonylt's (later MacWannell and Cannell) farm.' (Ir. Mac Dhonihnaill).

Ballayonaigue

1737 Dioc. Reg. Ballajohn Aige
Mx. Balley Yuan aeg,'young John's farm.'
Probably the son of John Cowle, who held the adjoining quarter-land of Ballavarkish in 1703.

Bare a Polerey.

1703 Man. Roll
Mx. Bayr y phoyll ruy, 'road of the red pool.'

Barnagey.

1703 Man. Roll Barnagey
1782 Mon. Ins. Barney,
the Mx. Baarney ny geayee, 'gap of the wind.'

Bealna.

1703 Man. Roll
Mx. Beeal yn aah, 'mouth of the ford.' Near Citten.

Billamore.

1703 Man. Roll
Mx. Billey mooar, 'great tree.' Near Kionlough. v. Ballavilley in Kirk Santan.

Bollagh Jiarg.

'The red road or track.'

Bolley, The.

'The road or track' (bollagh).

Bwooailey ny Sheilleid.

1700 C.R.P.
Mx. Bwoaillee ny shilleeid,'fold of the slugs.'

Cabbal ny Cooilley .

'Chapel of the corner.'

Chibbyr feeyney .

'Wine well.' Where the good sparkling water was likened to wine. In Lheannee feeyney.

Chibbyr Pharick.

'Patrick's well.'

Chibbyr Varkysh

'Mark's well.' Near Keeill Varkysh. v. Ballavarkish.

Chibbyr Vreeshey

Bridget's well.' The sacred well from which the holy water was taken for baptismal purposes in connection with the parish church.

Citten

1643 Man. Roll Cytty, the
1761 Dioc. Reg. City
Mid. Eng. City or Cytty, but here simply applied to a homestead.

Close adding.

1703 Man. Roll
Mx. Close aittin, 'gorse enclosure.'

Close ne craigy.

1703 Man. Roll
Mx. Close ny creggey, 'enclosure of the rock.'

Close ne Scra.

1703 Man. Roll
Mx. Close ny scralt, 'enclosure of the scraws;' i.e. from whence turves were taken for thatching purposes.

Close Tappaugh.

1703 Man. Roll
'Tufted enclosure.'

Cloughaveila, Clough a Vaila.

1703 Man. Roll
Mx. Clagh y veilley, 'stone of the bowl or basin.' There was an ancient church here (near Ballacregga), and this stone may have been the font belonging to this edifice.

Comaish.

Lost. Now part of Ballakilley. A contraction of Ballacomish. The holder in 1515 was Moris McComas.

Cooill trass beg.

'Little third corner.'

Cranstall, 1st, 2nd 3rd Treen.

1515, 1643 Man. Rolls idem
The first element may be an obscure personal name. Mr. Moore (Mx. Names) suggests Kyaunsdalr, 'Kraun's dale.' The second element is more probably stac6r : v. Orristal in Kirk Michael. As the treen of Crosby adjoins Cranstall, the latter may be but a repetition of the former, Kross-staðr, 'cross homestead. (v. Crosby) the intrusive n having developed from a nasal vowel.

Cranstall more.

1643 Man. Roll
'Great Cranstall.'

Cranstal, Port.

1627 C.R.P. Cranstall port
1786 Dioc. Reg. Cranstyl Harbour
The night watch for the parish of Kirk Bride was kept here.

Creg Feeagh.

Raven's rock.'

Creg, The.

1784 Mon. Ins.
'The rock.'

Cronk Bane

1643 Man. Roll Knockbane
'White hill.'

Cronk Bouyr

'Deaf hill.' Prof. Joyce's explanation of the use of bouyr (Ir. bodhar) in place-names is that such places have usually fine echoes, and that you have to speak loudly to them, and you get a loud-voiced reply, exactly as happens when you speak to a deaf person. Botsyr (and balloo, 'dumb') in place-names often indicate 'silent.'

Cronk ny Arrey Laa.

1627 C.R.P. Blew hill
'hill of the day-watch.' The day-watch for the parish of Kirk Bride was kept here. The 1627 form suggests that its original Manx name was Cronk Gorin, 'blue hill.

Cronk y villey

`Hill ot the tree.' Tumulus on Ballacree, now demolished.

Cronk e Vowlan .

1819 [sic ? 1809] Jeffrey's Tour Cronc ye bollen.
'Bowland's hill.' Obsolete surname. (Ir. O'Beollåin)
occurs in the Landnamabok as Bjolan. The name of a tumulus.

Crosby more and beg. Treens.

1515, 1703 Man. Rolls Scand Krossbyr,
'cross-homestead.' In 1703 one quarterland called Crosby. This treen adjoins the parishchurchyard, and probably the famous Thor cross-slab is commemorated in the name. v. Mr. Kermode's interesting notes on the Thor cross in his great work, 'Manx Crosses.'

Crot a Cowle.

1703 Man. Roll Wm. Cowle
,, ,, Crot a Cowle
'Cowle's croft.' v. Ballacowle.

Crotacreggan.

1703 Man. Roll
'Croft of the rocky-ground.'

Crot Ally.

1703 Man. Roll
'Alice's croft.'

Crot Droughad, Crot a droughad.

1703 Man. Roll
'Croft of the bridge.'

Crot Nilly.

1700 C.R.P. 'Nelly's croft.'

Crot Renny.

1703 Man. Roll 'Ferny croft.'

Crot Steen, Crot Stephan.

1703 Man. Roll supra.
„ Stephan Kneale ,Stephen's croft.'

Crotta Lye Loany.

1703 Man. Roll
Mx. Croit y lieh ghlionney,
croft of the half glen.' Near Glentruan.

Crott Birrough.

1703 Man. Roll 'Pointed croft.'

Crott e Cray, Crot Crea.

1703 Man. Roll
'Cray or McCray's croft.' v. Ballacrye in Ballaugh.

Crottkeondeame,

1703 Man. Roll 'Croft of Kiondam,' q.v.

Crot Vac Sayle.

1833 Dioc. Reg.
'Mac Sayle's croft.' Given to the poor of Kirk Maughold by Edward Christian of Ramsey in 1738.

Curragh Beg

1703 Man. Roll idem.
177¢ Mon. Ins. 'Little marsh.'

Curragh Breeda.

1703 Man. Roll
'Bridget's (Bridey or Breeshey) marsh.'
Near Chibbyr Vreeshey.

Curragh Moore.

1643 Man. Roll Wm. Moore
1703 ,, Robt.,,
,,,Curragh Moore
'Moore's marsh.'

Curragh ne gey.

1703 Man. Roll
Mx. Curragh ny g uiy, 'marsh of the geese.'

Curragh Patrick.

1701 Mon. Ins.
1703 Man. Roll
'Patrick's marsh.'
"There are the ruins of a little church here, now called Cabbal ny cooilley, which may have been dedicated to St. Patrick. v. Curragh Breeda.

Curraugh Greenaby.

1703 Man. Roll
'Marsh of Grenaby.'

Dem ny marroo

'Pool of the dead.' "This lay on the old funeral road from Shellag to the site of what is now the parish church, and, in passing it, the funeral stopped, and the corpse was sprinkled with the water. On Lamb hill estate." (P.M.C. Kermode in Mx. Arch. Sur. 3rd Report, 1911, P35)-

Dem Varkyshdem varkif

'Marks's dam.' Near Ballavarkish.

Droghad, The.

1703 Man. Roll 'The bridge.'

Faaie Cabbalagh

'Flat or green of the chapel.' The site of an ancient church on Ballamooar.

Faaie Rhullick.

'Churchyard flat.' Of St. Mark's Church (Keeill Varkysh). v. Ballavarkish.

Ffarranan, The.

1703 Man. Roll
'The cow-parsnips.' Or a place where they grow.

Flax Croft.

1703 Man. Roll

Gary More.

1703 Man. Roll
'Big garey.' v. Garey in Kirk Santan.

Glandowne. Treen.

Lost

Glandowne

1515 Man. Roll
1703 ,, ,, Glandowne
'Deep glen.' v. Introduction, p. ix.

Glascoe

Modern name. Named after Glasgow in Scotland.

Glen Truan.

12th century Run. Mon. Druian
1643 Man. Roll Glentrowan
Ir. Gleann Ui Druachdin, 'O Druan or O Drohan's glen.' Mr. P.M.C. Kermode suggests that the personal name Druian found on a Runic cross-slab in Kirk Bride churchyard is contained in this place-name, and this is very likely. Another personal name on the same cross-slab is still preserved in the name of the quarterland adjoining the parish church. v. Ballacowle.

Glen Unjin

'Ash glen.' Opening to the sea S. of Kionlough.

Grenaby, Treen.

1515 Man. Roll Grenby
1643 Greneby
1703 Greenaby
Scand. Grcenbyr, 'green farm.' v. also Grenaby in Kirk Malew.

High Abner.

Name of a fishing bank.

Keeill Mian.

'Matthias' church.' v. Ballacamain.

Ken, The.

1703 Man. Roll
The end' (kione). "Intack near Currough Patrick called the Logh, ½d. under the Ken." v. Logh and Kionlough.

Keoncrotadroghad.

1703 Man. Roll
Mx. Kione croft y droghad,
'the end of the croft of the bridge.'

Kerroodhoo

1643 Man. Roll Kerrowdow
1796 Dioc. Reg. Kerroodhoo
1775 Mon. Ins. Kerroo doo 'Black quarterland.'

Kerrow fort.

1643 Man. Roll
Mx. Kerroo yn phurt,'quarterland of the port.' Now Port Cranstal.

Kimmeragh

1515 Man. Roll Mich. McKym
1643 Kymeraugh
v. Lea Kerrow ne Kymeraugh. This name indicates the 'Land of the McKyms.' W. and E. Kimmeragh.

King William's Bank.

A sandbank N.E. of the Point of Ayre. "So named from King William III, who was nearly wrecked there on his way to the battle of the Boyne." (Mx. Names).

Kirk Bride, Treen.

v. Introduction to parish.

Kiondam.

1703 Man. Roll Choandeam, Keonedeam
1870 Ord. Sur. Map Kiondam
'End of the darn or small lake.' Eng., dam.

Kionlough

1643 Man, Roll Keonlough
1777 Dioc. Reg. Kionlough Lake end.'

Knock Renny.

1703 Man. Roll 'Ferny hill.'

Laggagh, The.

1703 Man. Roll 'The hollow.'

Laggagh Guse.

1703 Man. Roll
Mx. Laggagh juys, (Ir. giumhas), 'hollow of firs.'

Lag ny voillan.

'Hollow of the gulls.'

Lambhill.

Modern English name.

Lea Kerrow ne Cronk.

1643 Man. Roll
Mx. Lieh kerroo ny gronk, 'half quarterland of the hills.'

Lea Kerrow ne Kymeraugh.

1703 Man. Roll
Mx. Lieh keyyoo ny Kymeyagh, 'half quarterland of the McKyms.' The adjectival endings -agh, -ragh etc., indicate the clan. Thus in Kk. Christ Rushen the Tailors were called, as a clan, Thalleyragh, the Mac-Walters, Whaltragh, whence Mac Whaltyagh, now Qualtrough and by translation Watterson.

Leany Cloagagh.

1703 Man. Roll
Mx, Lheeannee cliogagh, 'meadow of flags or sedge.'

Leany veg.

1703 Man. Roll 'Little meadow.'

Leany yarge.

1703 Man. Roll
Mx. Lheeannee yiarg, 'red meadow.'

Lheanneefeeyney

Wine meadow.' v. Chibbyr feeyney.

Lhentraugh.

Glion traght, 'shore glen.' Cronkbane.

Logh, The

1703 Man. Roll Logh, the
,, ,, Lough, John Corkishe
,, ,, Lougha, Wm. Comaish na 'The lake.'

Loughan More.

1703 Man. Roll 'Great pond.'

Loughan Sallaugh.

1703 Man. Roll 'Dirty lakelet or pond.'

Lough Ballavare.

1703 Man. Roll 'Ballavare lake.'

Lough Cranstal.

'Cranstal lake.' There was a large lake here which has now almost disappeared.

Lough Goar.

1703 Man. Roll idem.
1747 Dioc. Reg. ,,
Mx. Lough ny Boayr, 'lake of the goats.'

Lough Queen (Queenagh, Queenaugh).

1703 Man. Roll supra
,, ,, Wm. Quane
'Quane's lake' (Ir. MacDhubhciin). In regard to the form Queenagh, v. Lea Kerrow ne Kymeraugh.

Mantreigh.

Mx. Magher yn traie, 'shore field.'
On Grenaby beg.

Nassau.

Probably called so by a sailor who had been sailing to foreign parts.

Neash, Treen

1515 Man. Roll Rennesse
1703 ,, Ranessey, Renneash
Scand. Rananes,'hog-shaped ness;' from Yani,'a hog's snout.' This ness has disappeared through erosion.

Nock Urley.

1782 C.R.P.
'Eagle's hill.' v. Cronk Urleigh in Kirk Michael.

North Scar.

' A sandbank.' Nyrea,

Nyre.

1703 Man. Roll
Mx. Yn aaie Yea, the level flat, green, etc.'

Pollan Tom.

1703 Man. Roll Thomas Moore
,, Pollan Tom
'Tom's place of pools or holes.' He also held Crot a droughad. (Mx. poyllan from poyll).

Pinfold Penny.

1703 Man. Roll 1d. rent paid.

Poyll dowin

Deep hole or pool.'

Poyll ushtey,

1703 Man. Roll Pole Ushta
1736 Dioc. Reg. Pool Ushtey
1800 Pouyll Ushtey 'Water hole.'

Reast.

1703 Man. Roll
Mx. Reeast, 'waste or moor.'

Reastagh Boy.

1703 Man. Roll
Mx. Reeastagh buigh, 'yellow waste or moor.' Reeast with cumulative suffix. v. Introduction.

Reevona.

1703 Man. Roll
Mx. Rea-voaney,'level, even, etc., turbary.'

Rennagh.

1703 Man. Roll 'Ferny place.'

Renowle.

1703 Man. Roll
Cowle's division.' Owle is an aspirated form of the surname. Near Ballacowle.

Rheynn corkey.

1703 Man. Roll Rencorka 'Oats division.'

Rig

'A ridge.' The Northside fishermen's name for the Bahama Bank.

Shellag

1643 Man. Roll Shellage
1741 Dioc. Reg. Shellag
Scand. Selvik, 'seal creek or bay'; which has disappeared through erosion.

Shellagh.

1703 Man. Roll
'Place of willows.' An intack in the Neyra.

Sheu Howland.

1703 Man. Roll Margt. Howland
,, Sheu 'Howland's side' ).

Struan ny kill of Ballakesh.

'Stream of the church.' Remains of ancient church near here.

Ton Reaghan.

1703 Man. Roll
Mx. Toinn ny reaghyn, 'bottom (land) of the rams.' v. Tonvane in Kk. Malew.

White Sand Scar.

'The name of a sandbank.' Whitestone Bank.
A sandbank N.E. of the Point of Ayre. (Mx. Names).