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Scottish Gaelic Given Names: For Men:
Names of Scottish Gaels from Scottish Gaelic Sources
Cainneach
Draft Edition

Evidence: * Scottish * Irish * Modern * Conclusions

Evidence

Pre-1600 Scottish Gaelic Evidence (from documents written using Gaelic orthography)

The early 12th century Gaelic notes in the Book of Deer mention "Cainnech mac Meic Dobarcon", "Comgell mac Caennaig, taesec Clande Canan", and "Gartnait mac Cannech".(Jackson; Simple Guide)

The 1467 manuscript, a collection of genealogies of Scottish Gaelic families written in Ireland by a Scottish Gael and dated 1467 A.D., gives the following spellings for forms of Cainneach (1467 MS):

Unicode < n̄ > and ASCII <{n-}> represent an <n> with a straight line above it as an abbreviation mark; in these cases, the abbreviation mark is indicating that a following <n> has been omitted. Unicode < i̿ > and ASCII <{i=}> represent an <i> with two straight lines above it as an abbreviation mark; in these cases, the abbreviation mark is indicating that two following <n>s (that is, <nn>) have been omitted. Unicode < ċ > and ASCII <{c.}> represent a <c> with a dot above it indicating lenition (in modern Gaelic orthography this would be written <ch>). Likewise Unicode < ġ > and ASCII <{g.}> represent a <g> with a dot above it indicating lenition (in modern Gaelic orthography this would be written <gh>). Unicode < g̃ > and ASCII <{g˜}> represent a <g> with a wiggly line above it as an abbreviation mark; in this case, the abbreviation mark appears to simply be indicating lenition. Generations are counted backwards in time, such that the 1st generation is the first person listed, the 2nd generation is his father, the third generation is his grandfather, and so on. Note, however, that the first person listed in a genealogy was not necessary alive at the time the genealogy was written in 1467 -- in some cases he may have been dead for many generations. Note also that the 1467 MS tends towards archaic spellings.

Pre-1600 Scottish Gaelic Evidence (from documents written in Gaelic but using Scots orthography)

As yet, no pre-1600 Scottish Gaelic examples of the name have been found in documents written in Gaelic but using Scots orthography.

Pre-1600 Latin Evidence from Scotland

Black says "As a forename we have Kennach in 1342" (Black, s.n. KINNOCH). Black's source, Regisrum Episcopatus Aberdonensis, has the text of a Latin document dated 1342 which includes in a list of witnesses "Kennach filium Keppar" (REA., I, p. 73). Grammatically, the name is in a non-genitive oblique case (so neither nominative nor genitive), however since it has no Latin ending at all, it is likely that, at least in this particular case, it was being treated as indeclinable.

A 24 February 1399/1400 entry in the Aberdeen Council Register records "uxoris Kennach" ('of the wife of Kennach') and "dicti Kennach" ('of the said Kennach') (Dickinson ERA, p. 130). Grammatically, in both instances the name is in the genitive case, however since it has no Latin ending at all, it is likely that, at least in this particular case, it was being treated as indeclinable. Aberdeen was a burgh/town in the eastern Lowlands, and so not Gaelic in culture, however its trading area included parts of the Highlands and the occassional Gael is found in its records.

A marriage dispensation dated 13 September 1465 was granted to "Kennacius Alexandri Kennaci" and "Finvola Celestini de Insulis" (Munro, p. 244 [B42], citing ASPA, 13, 32v.). Munro identifies Kennacius as Kenneth MacKenzie of Kintail, and Finvola as a granddaughter of Alexander, Lord of the Isles (Munro, pp. 261, 307). Grammatically, <Kennacius> is in the nominative case, while <Kennaci> is in the genitive case.

A 1541 "list of parishoners of Kilmacronack in Muckarne, obtained from a notorial instrument" includes "Nigellus Joannis Mc Kennich" (Ewen, p. 209). However, it is not clear from the context whether <Mc Kennich> represents his father's literal patronymic byname (indicating his grandfather's given name was a form of Gaelic Cainneach) or a Scots language inherited family byname.

Pre-1600 Scots Language Evidence

Note: in various names below, the letter <z> has been used in the published sources to represent the letter <ȝ> (yogh), which is what would have actually appeared in the original manuscripts. (True <z> is very rare in Scots.) In these contexts, <ȝ> (yogh) was pronounced roughly the same way as a consonantal "y" sound, like the <y> in English <yes> and <canyon>.

The burgh court books of Inverness record the following names in Scots language entries, in which Scots language forms of Gaelic Cainneach are used as given names and/or as part of literal patronymic bynames [these elements are in bold]:

• "Kennoch McKenze of Kintall" 9 Dec 1564 (Mackay, p. 119) -- Note: here <McKenze> is almost certainly an inherited family byname

In the following names, from the same source, it is not clear from the context whether the final byname elements represent literal patronymic bynames or inherited family bynames, and so aren't particularly useful for determining when the Gaelic name was in active use as a given name.

• "Rorie McAllister McKennycht" 1562 (Mackay, p. 85)

Black (s.n. KINNOCH) cites the following names, which appear to be from Scots language documents. However, although these surnames appear to be ultimately derived from Gaelic Cainneach, there were probably several intermediate steps; it is unlikely any of these examples use literal unmarked patronymic bynames rather than inherited family bynames. As a result, they aren't particularly useful for determining when the Gaelic name was in active use as a given name.

• William Kinzeoch, officer in Methven, 1588 (Methven, p. 73).
• William Kanauch in Ardune, Patrick Kanauch in Auld Rein, and John Kanauch in Bonitoune, are mentioned in 1610 (RSCA., II, p. 164).
• Duncan Kynnoch in Dalcroane was fined for reset of Clan Gregor, 1613 (RPC., XIV, p. 639).
• Thomas Kinnock in Scotston, parish of Renfrew, 1617 (Campsie).
• William Kanzeauch in Ledinturk was concerned in an action of spulzie, 1633 (RSCA., II, p. 372)
• Helen Kenoch is recorded in Tiubeg, 1663 (Caithness).
• Thomas Kinnoch alias Robertson in Dalmungell, 1742 (Dunkeld), and William Kynoch in Longhillock, 1752 (Moray).

Pre-1600 Irish Gaelic Evidence

(To be included when found.)

Pre-1600 Latin Evidence from Ireland

(To be included if found.)

Pre-1600 English Language Evidence from Ireland

(To be included if found.)

Modern Scottish Gaelic Evidence

(To be included if found.)

Conclusions

Speculative Pre-1600 Scottish Gaelic Forms

(To be written when time permits.)

Summary

In the table below, all Gaelic spellings are normalized; the first column gives Early Gaelic spellings (roughly 600-900 AD), the fifth text column gives Middle Gaelic spellings (roughly 900-1200 AD), and the ninth text column gives Common Gaelic spellings (roughly 1200-1700). A question mark, ?, after a form indicates it is a speculative Scottish Gaelic spelling and parentheses, ( ), around a form indicates it is a non-Gaelic spelling (e.g., Latin or Scots language). Genitive case forms are labeled as such and within square brackets, [ ]. An X in a column indicates there is at least one known example of a form of the name used for a Scottish Gael in the century indicated at the top of that column. An asterisk, *, in a column indicates the same thing except that the evidence has not yet been included above.

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