[From Manx Note Book vol 2, 1886]

MANX SURNAMES

SURNAMES DERIVED FROM PERSONAL NAMES OF PURELY NATIVE ORIGIN

CHAPTER II. PART II.

DUGGAN, contracted from O'Dubhagain,

'Dubhagan's descendant.' Dubhagan is a derivative of Dubh, 'black.'

O'DUBHAGAIN was the chief poet of O'Kelly, of Ibh Maine, and was the author of the Topographical poem called after him. He died in 1372.

DOGAN [1540], DUCKAN [1649], DUCCAN [1675], DUGGAN [1723].

This name is almost confined to the parish of Malew, where, at one time, it was very common. Now it is scarcely found anywhere in the Isle of Mann, though a common name in Ireland.

DOWAN [1680], (extinct) is of similar origin to Duggan, being from Dubhan, a derivative of Dubh, black.' St. DOWAN's day is celebrated on the 11th of February.

Compare (Irish) DWANE, DOWNES, DOAN.

This name lingered in Andreas till the middle of the 18th century.

CORKAN, contracted from Mac Corcrain, a corrupted form of Mac Corcurain, 'Corcuran's son.' corcur,'purple,'

The Clann Ruainne, of the flowery roads, A sweet, clear, smooth streamed territory, MAG CORCRAIN is of this well peopled cantred of the white breasted brink of banquets.'*

'Cathasach Ua CORCRAIN,' A.D. 1045.+

Donagh Mac CORCRANE was one of O'Caroll's freeholders in 1576, when O'Caroll made his submission to Queen Elizabeth.

Compare (Irish) CORCORAN, CORKAN.

CORCAN [1511], CORKINE [1521], CORKAN[1611], CORCHAN [1720].

It was never a very common name in the Isle of Mann.

Marown, German, Michael (c), elsewhere (u).

ALLEN, probably from Alainn, handsome.'

'Killing of Dor, son of Aedh ALLAN," A.D. 624.

The Stuarts were descended from the great Norman family of FITZ ALAN.

ALLAN, according to Train, was Governor of the Isle of Mann in A.D. 1274.

'ALAN of Wygeton has letters of presentation to the Church of St. Carber in Mann, vacant, and in the King's gift,'§ A.D. :1291.

ALLEN is not a common name in the Isle of Mann, being chiefly confined to the parishes of Maughold, Andreas, and Bride. Many of those bearing the name are probably descendants of the five successive vicars of Maughold, the first of whom came from Norfolk.

ALEYN [1511], ALAYNE [1540], ALLEN [1648].

CAVEEN, contracted from Mac Caemhain, 'Caemhln's son,' (caeimh, 'beautiful.')

'And the privilege of first drinking [at the banquet] was given to O'CARMI-1AIN by O'Dowdha, and O'CAEMHAIN was not to drink until he had first presented it [the drink] to the poet, that is, to Mac Firbis.'*

O'Huidhrin, p. 133.
Four Mast., Vol. II., p. 849.
Chron, Scot., P. 76.
Manx Society, Vol. VII., p. 113.
Chron. Scot. Introduction, p. 13, being an extract from 'Tribes and Customs of Hy. Fiachrach,' P. 440.

O'KEVAN of Ui-Fiachrach flourished,' A. D. 876.

Compare (Irish) KEEVAN.

It is an uncommon name in the Isle of Mann, being confined to Malew and Arbory.

CAVEENE [1649], CAVEEN [1662].

COWIN and COWEN, contracted from Mac Eoghain, which has been corrupted into Mac Owen. The name Eoghain is glossed by Cormac as meaning 'well-born,' and suggests the Latin (originally Greek) Eugenius.

The celebrated OWEN More was king of Munster, in the time of Conn of the hundred battles, whom he obliged to divide the whole of Ireland equally with him.

'MACGILLA COWAN and a few of O'Connor's people were slain,' A.D. 1330.+

It is much commoner in the Isle of Mann than in Ireland and Scotland.

McCOWYN [1408], M'OWEN [1422], M'COWEN [1429], McCOWNE [1511], COWIN [1611], COWN [1651], COWEN [1685].

Bride, Lonan (vc), Braddan, German, Andreas, Malew, Patrick (c), elsewhere (u).

QUIRK, contracted from Mac Cuirc, 'Corc's son.' CORC was king of Munster early in the 5th century.

Ceinnedigh O'CUIRC, Lord of Museraighe, was slain,' A.D. 1043.

It is a common name in the South of Ireland.

MCQUYRKE, QUYRKE [1511], QUEERKE [1601], QUIRK [1641].

Patrick (vc), Ballaugh, Malew, Braddan, Andreas, Maughold, Arbory, Santon, Rushen, Lonan (c), elsewhere (u).

CORRIN and CORRAN, contracted from Mac Odhrain (contracted Oran,) 'Odhran's son,' (Odar, pale faced.') St. Patrick's charioteer was called ST. ODHRAN.

'ODHRAN, his charioteer, without blemish,' A.D. 447.§

Compare (Gaelic) MAC ORAN.

Annals of Ulster.

+ Four Mast., Vol. III., P. 547.
1 Four Mast., Vol., I., P. 136.
§ Four Mast. Vol. I., P. 139.

M'CORRANE [1422], M'CORRIN, CORRIN [1504], McCORRYN, McCORYN [1511], COREAN [1611], CORRAN [16271, CORINE [1629].

Malew, Braddan, German (vc), Santon, Rushen, Arbory (c), elsewhere (u).

COROOIN, (pronounced Corrune) probably contracted from O'Ciardubhain, 'Clardubhan's son.' (Dubhan means ' little dark (man),' and as Ciar also means dark colored'-vide Karran, it had probably lost its significance before dubhait was added.)

Maenach Ua CIRDUBHAIN, successor of Mochta of Lughmadh died.'*

The Annals of Ulster in the same year call him O'CIERUVAN.

CIARDUBHAN has in Ireland been contraned into KIRWAN.

COROOIN may possibly be a contraction of MacCarrghamha. 'This name is anglicised CARON by O'Flaherty, in his 0,-ygia, part iii, c. 85, and MAC CARRHON by Connell Mageoghan, who knew the tribe well. The name is now anglicised MAC CARROON.+

'MAC CARRGHAMHA is over their battalions of the stout and lordly chiefs.'++

CORROWANE [1430], CAROWNE [1632], CAROONE [1644], CARROWNE [1646], COROIN [1651], CURUIN [1665], KEEROWNE [1669], CARROOIN [1709], COROOIN [1740].

Malew, Braddan, Lonan (c), elsewhere (u).

KARRAN, CARRAN, CARINE, a contractlon of Mac Ciarain, 'Ciaran's son.' The name CIARAN (Ciar, mouse colored,) was borne by one of the twelve great saints of Ireland, after whom a large number of Irish children were formerly named.

'ST. CIARAN, son of the artificer, abbot of Chrain-mic-Nois, died on the ninth day of September, A.D. 548.'§

'MAC CIARAIN, airchinneach of Sord,' A.D. 1136.*

Four Mast., Vol. II., p. 849.
+ Four Mast., Note, Vol. III., p. 55. t
O'Dubhagain, P. 13. Four Mast., Vol. I., p. 185.
Do. VOI. II., P. 1053.

This name may possibly be derived from Mac Carrghamhna. (See COROOIN).

It is probable that KARRAN has come to us through the Scandinavians, though, of course, they originally imported it from Ireland. KJARAN and KVARRAN are not uncommon in Iceland, and Scandinavians in Ireland took the name CUARAN,-hence its different form to MYLCHRAIN and CRAIN, which see.

The Book of Leinster' says that Gormlaith was likewise mother of the Norwegian-Irish King Amlaff CUARAN (Olaf KVARAN); whilst the Irish chronicler, Dugald Mac Firbis, mentions this same Olaf KVARAN as married to Sadhbh (Save), a daughter of Brian Boru."*

Compare (Irish) McCARRON, McCAROON, KERRINS, (Gaelic) McKERRON.

MCCARRANE [1430], MCCARREN [1504], KERRON [1507], McKERRON [1511], McKARRON [1540], McKERRAN [1540], McKARRAN [1570], KARRAN [1711], CARRAN [1648], CHARRAN [1680], CARRON [1691], CARINE [1729].

This last form is found chiefly in Marown, Arbory, and Malew, and is not common.

German, Marown (vc), jurby, Malew, Arbory, Patrick, Lonan, Maughold (c), elsewhere (u).

MYLCHRAINE and MYLECHARANE (pronounced MOLLE-CARANE or MULCRANE), contracted from Mac Giolla Ciarain, Glolla Claran's son' (Giolla Ciarian Ciaran's servant). (See KARRAN and CRAINE.)

'Maclmuire MAc GILLACHIARAIN,' A.D. 1155.+

MYLECHARAINE, the miser of the Curragh, is the subject of one of the most popular ballads in the Manx language. The name is now less common than formerly, and is still chiefly found in the Curragh district.

McGILCRAYNE [1511], MACYLERAN [16731, MEYLREAN [1688], McYLKIARRAINE [1689], MCYLCARRANE [1696], MYLECHARAINE [1740], MYLCHRAINE [1766], MYLECHARANE [1782].

Jurby, Andreas, Lezayre, Ballaugh (c), elsewhere (u).

Worsaae-The Danes and Northmen, P. 323.
+ Four Mast., Vol. II., p. 1098.

CRAIN and CRAINE, contracted from Mac Ciarain, Claran's son.' (See KARRAN and MYLCHRAINE).

It seems to be a purely Manx name, not being found elsewhere, except in the form CRANE, which has probably quite a different origin.

McCROYN [1408], MCCROYNE [1417], McCRAINE [1422], MACCARRANE [1422], MECRAYNE [1504], CRAINE [1586], CRAIN [1607], CRAYNE [1638], CRANE, [1736].

German (vc),Jurby, Braddan, Andreas, Santon, Ballaugh, Lezayre (c), elsewhere (u).

QUIDDIE, MACQUIDDIE [1511],CUDDIE [1653],(extinct) probably from Mac Gilla Cuddy, a shortened form of Mac Gilla Mochuda, ('St. Mochuda's servant's son.')

'ST. MOCHUDA, Bishop of Lismore and Abbot of Raithin died A.D. 636.*

CUDDIE is found as late as 1680.

Four Mast., Vol. I., P. 255.

BRIDSON, contracted from Bridgetson, the anglicised form of Mac Brighde. The original name was MAC GIOLLA BRIGHDE ('Bridget's servant's son,') but the Giolla dropped out at a comparatively early date. ST. BRIDGET, Abbess of Kildare, born about A. D. 450, was the most highly venerated of the lrish female saints, and, consequently, many were named after her.

'SAINT BRIGHIT, virgin, Abbess of Cill-dara, died A.D. 525⁺

GIOLLA-BRIGHDE, Son of Dubhdara, chief of Muintir Golais, was wounded' A.D. 1146.⁺⁺

Another form of this name, MAELBRIGHDE, is much commoner in Ireland than MAc GIOLLABRIGHDE, from the gth to the11th century, and in the Isle of Mann we find it on the Runic Stone in Kirk Michael Church-yard, on the southern side of the gate:-MAIL: BRIGDI : Sunr: Athakaus: Smith: raisti: crus, &c. 'MAELBRIGD, the son of Athkaus, the smith, raised this cross.'

'MAELBRIGHDE, son of Spealan, lord of Conaill' A.D. 867.^§

Four Mast., Vol. I., P. 171.
+do. Vol. II., P.,
~ Four mast, Vol. I., p. 511.

MAELBRIGHDE, 'Bridget's tonstired servant,'-'- has become obsolete both in Ireland and the Isle of Nlann. There is a St. Maelbrighde.

Compare (Irish) KILBRIDE (Gaelic) McBRIDE.

The name Bridson appears to be peculiar to the Isle of Mann.

McGILBRID [1511], BRIDSON [1609], BRIDESON [1628].

Marown, Malew, Santon (vc), Braddan, Maughold, Arbory (c), elsewhere (u).

MOUGHTON and MUGHTIN, possibly derived from a diminutive of Mochta, but no authority can be given for this.

ST. MOCHTA was a disciple of St. Patrick.

'MOCHTA, after him his priest.'+

MOUGHTON [1673], MUGHTIN [1714], MOUGHTIN, [1742].

The name is now very uncommon. it is so unintelligible to strangers that some of those bearing it have changed it to Morton.

Jurby (ve), Ballaugh (c) formerly, elsewhere (u).

+Four Mast, Vol. I., p. 129.

CURPHEY, contracted from Mac Murchadha, 'Murchad's sorl,' (muir, sea,' cathaide, warrior'). MURCHAD was formerly anglicised MURCHOE, now MURPHY.

'Domhnall Dall UA MURCHADA chief sage of Leinster,' A.D., 1127.⁺ (This would now be anglicised Blind Daniel MURPHY.)

Diarmid MACMURCHADA, King of Leinster,' A.D. 1137.⁺⁺

MACMURCHADA is sometimes anglicised MURRAY.

It has been suggested that CURGHEY, the earlier form of the name in the Isle of Mann, is a contractlon of CURRAGHEY (belonging to the Curragh). it is certainly true that the name is much more common in the Curragh district than elsewhere, but still this derivation appears more apt than likely. It is a purely Manx name.

MCCURGHEY [1422], COURGHEY, CHURGIE [1601, CURGHEY [1609], CURPHEY [1643].

CURGHEY is the usual form till the middle of the 18th century.

See note on name under MYLECHREEST.
+Four Mast, Vol. Il., P. 1027.
++Do. do.P. 1057.

KINNISH and KENNISH, contracted from Mac Aenghuis, Aenghus's son,' (aen, 'one,' gus, 'strength.')

'Duneath McAONGUIS,' A.D, 620'*

Domhnall Mac AENGHUSA, Lord of Ui-Ethach,' A.D. 957+
(This would now be anglicised Daniel MAGENNIS, Lord of Iveagh.)

.The river called Banthelasse issuing out of the desert rnountaines of Mourne, passeth the country of Eaugh, which belongeth to the family of Mac GYNNIS.'++

Compare (Irish) McGUINESS (Gaelic) McGINNIS.

McINESH ? [1511] , KYNNISHE [1601], KINNISH [1626], KENISH [1649], KEANISH [1734], KENNISH [1732].

Maughold, Santon (vc), Braddan, Marown, Lonan, Malew (c), elsewhere (u).

* Annals of Ulster.
+ Four Mast., Vol. Il., p. 677.
++ Camden, Ireland, p.109.

CARNAGHAN, contracted from O'Cernachain, 'Cernachan's descendant,' (Cethernach, a foot soldier,'a kern.')

'Two other chieftains, it is certain to you, Are over the victorious Tuath-Bladhach, of them is O'CERNACHAIN of valour.'*

Compare (Irish) KERNAGHAN.

This name was formerly almost confined to the parish of Maughold, and is now scarcely found anywhere.

* Dubhagain, P. 45.

(TO BE CONTINUED.)