by Mari Elspeth nic Bryan (Kathleen M. O'Brien)
© 2000-2005 by Kathleen M. O'Brien. All rights reserved.
Version 2.7, updated 20 March 2007
Both Descriptive Bynames and Hereditary Surnames are listed on this page.
NOTE: The Annals referenced below under the code letters A, B, C, E, & F tend to use later spellings than the other Annals. In some cases, the spellings listed in these Annals may not be appropriate for the year referenced in the Annal entry.
In some Gaelic scripts, there is a character that looks approximately like a lowercase f,
but without the crossbar. This character (represented by an underscored
These are the only descriptive bynames found in women's names in the annals.
Annals | Entry | Context | Citation (formatting preserved) |
Bhallach ("[the] Freckled") | |||
U3 | U1463.11 | Graíne Ballach, ingen Aedha Meg Uidhir | |
Caomhánach ("[of the] O'Caemhain [family]", a reference to this family, perhaps by fostering) | |||
The meaning "was called Caemhanach, from having been fostered by the family of O'Caemhain" , is given in regards to a man's name in 1421 (FM p. 848, vol. 4). | |||
LC2 | LC1465.2 | Gormlaith Chaomhanach ingen mheic Murchadha, bean I Neill .i. Einri mheic Eoghuin I Neill | |
D | M1465.2 | Gormlaith Caomhanach (ingen Meic Murchadha ri Laighen) ben Uí Neill | |
U3 | U1465.1 | Ben h-Ui Neill (.i. Enri) [unrelated], .i. Gormlaith Caemánach, ingen Mic Murchadha, .i. ingen righ Laighen ["The wife of Ua Neill (that is, Henry) died this year: to wit, Gormlaith Kavanagh, daughter of Mac Murchadha, namely, daughter of the king of Leinster."] | |
Cham ("Crooked", refers to physical appearance, posture) | |||
C | M1370.6 | Siobhan Cham inghen Meg Cartaigh ben Mec Con Mara | |
F | M1598.4 | Siubhan Cham inghen iarla Desmumhan .i. Semus, mac Seain, mic Tomáis Droichit Atha | |
Dhubh ("Black", probably refers to hair color) | |||
Co | 1421.18 | ingen Ragnailt Dub ingen h. Briain ben h. Flaithbertaich | |
an Einigh ("the Hospitable") | |||
Co | 1471.28 | mac Margrege in Enig ingine h. Cerbaill | |
D | M1471.3 | Mairgreicce an Einigh Uí Chearbhaill | |
Mhór ("Big") | |||
D | M1395.10 | Coblaigh Mór inghen Chathail mic Domhnaill Uí Concobair inghen Righ Connacht | |
U3 | U1395.6 | Cablaigh Mor [unrelated], ingen Cathail h-Ui Conchobuir, .i. ingen righ Connacht | |
na Mhuimneach ("the Momonian [Munster-woman]") | |||
The definition "the Momonian, so called because he was fostered in Munster", is given in regards to a man's name in 1210 (FM p. 166, vol. 3). | |||
D | M1421.8 | Mór Mumhan na Muimneach [Note: her full name (including patronymic) is listed earlier in the same entry.] | |
Óc / Óg ("Young") | |||
It is important to note that all the early examples of this byname refer to saints, and they are all translated as "virgin" by O'Donovan (FM). | |||
A | M525.2 | S. Brighit ogh, banab Chille Dara [Translation: "Saint Brighit, virgin, Abbess of Cill Dara"] | |
A | M569.3 | S. Ite, ógh ó Cluain Credhail, d'écc an 15 Ianuarii. As di ba h-ainm M' Ide. [Translation: "St. Ite, virgin, of Cluain Cread Hail, died on the 15th of January. She was also called Mide."] | |
A | M577.3 | S. Caireach Dergain ogh, o Cluain Boireann [Translation: "St. Caireach Deargain, virgin, of Cluain Boireann"] | |
A | M596.2 | S. Sinche, ógh ó Cluain Leth Tengadh [Translation: "St. Sinche, virgin, of Cluain Leththeangadh"] | |
A | M679.2 | Ciar ógh, inghen Duibh Rea [Translation: "St. Ciar, virgin, daughter of Duibhrea"] | |
A | M734.2 | S. Samhthann ogh, ó Cluain Brónaigh i t-Tebhtha [Translation: "St. Samhthann, virgin, of Cluain Bronaigh, in Teabhtha"] | |
U3 | U1475.9 | Edain Og, ingen Maigister Seoain Meg Uidhir, .i. bean Eogain, mic Eogain h-Ui Breislen | |
Co | 1531.12 | Sile Óc ingen Cairbre h. Birnn | |
U3 | U1540.3 | Graine Og, ingin Ui Uiginn, .i. ben Fedhlím Ui Doibhilen | |
E | M1576.7 | Inghen Uí Baoighill, Siubhan Ócc, inghen Toirrdhealbaigh, mic Néill | |
Phécach ("Gaudy" or "Showy") | |||
E | M1569.4 | Mór Phécach inghen Bhriain, mic Taidhcc, mic Toirrdhealbhaigh, mic Briain Catha an Aonaigh Uí Bhriain ben Uí Seachnasaicch .i. Diarmaid mac Uilliam mic Seain Buidhe |
There are four hereditary surnames (all of Anglo-Norman ancestry) that appear as part of a woman's namen in the annals. I have placed these here rather than create a web page simply for five names. These entries list women who are part of the Anglo-Norman families known as Barnewall, Burke, Butler, Cusack, and Dalton in English.
Annals | Entry | Context | Citation (formatting preserved) |
Bearnauál (Barnewall) | |||
E | M1583.20 | AN | a bhen Isibél Bernauál ["His wife, Isabella Barnewall"] |
a Burc (Burke) | |||
Co | 1435.9 | AN | Cundais Desmuman Mari a Burc |
Co | 1419.33 | AN | Mairi a Burc |
Buitiler (Butler) | |||
SAL | [no entry number; no date] | AN | Mairgréag Builtéir .i. bean Mhic Giollapháttric |
F | M1597.10 | AN | Oilen Buitiler inghen iarla Urmumhan .i.Piarus Ruadh, mac Semais, mic Emainn, mic Risdeird ben an dara h-iarla do h-oirdneadh ar Thuadhmumhain .i. Donnchadh, mac Concobair mic Toirrdhealbhaigh Uí Briain |
Ciosócc (Cusack) | |||
F | M1597.17 | AN | Mairghrecc inghen Tómais Ciosocc |
F | M1598.39 | AN | Mairgreig Ciosócc |
Dalatun (Dalton) | |||
U3 | U1488.17 | AN | Mairghreg Dalatun, ingen Ainntriu Dalatun, .i. bean h-Ui Fherghail, .i. ben Domnaill Buidhe, mic Domnaill, mic Sheaain, mic Domnaill h-Ui Fhergail |
Medieval Scotland | Medieval Names Archive | Index of Names in Irish Annals
Feminine Given Names | Feminine Descriptive Bynames | Masculine Given Names | Masculine Descriptive Bynames
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