Index of Names in Irish Annals:
Descriptive Bynames found in Feminine Names

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 , e, in the entries below) sometimes represents e and sometimes ea depending upon the context of the text.


Descriptive Bynames found in Feminine Names

These are the only descriptive bynames found in women's names in the annals.

AnnalsEntryContextCitation (formatting preserved)
 
Bhallach ("[the] Freckled")
U3U1463.11Graíne 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).
LC2LC1465.2Gormlaith Chaomhanach ingen mheic Murchadha, bean I Neill .i. Einri mheic Eoghuin I Neill
DM1465.2Gormlaith Caomhanach (ingen Meic Murchadha ri Laighen) ben Uí Neill
U3U1465.1Ben 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)
CM1370.6Siobhan Cham inghen Meg Cartaigh ben Mec Con Mara
FM1598.4Siubhan Cham inghen iarla Desmumhan .i. Semus, mac Seain, mic Tomáis Droichit Atha
 
Dhubh ("Black", probably refers to hair color)
Co1421.18ingen Ragnailt Dub ingen h. Briain ben h. Flaithbertaich
 
an Einigh ("the Hospitable")
Co1471.28mac Margrege in Enig ingine h. Cerbaill
DM1471.3Mairgreicce an Einigh Uí Chearbhaill
 
Mhór ("Big")
DM1395.10Coblaigh Mór inghen Chathail mic Domhnaill Uí Concobair inghen Righ Connacht
U3U1395.6Cablaigh 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).
DM1421.8Mór 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).
AM525.2S. Brighit ogh, banab Chille Dara [Translation: "Saint Brighit, virgin, Abbess of Cill Dara"]
AM569.3S. 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."]
AM577.3S. Caireach Dergain ogh, o Cluain Boireann [Translation: "St. Caireach Deargain, virgin, of Cluain Boireann"]
AM596.2S. Sinche, ógh ó Cluain Leth Tengadh [Translation: "St. Sinche, virgin, of Cluain Leththeangadh"]
AM679.2Ciar ógh, inghen Duibh Rea [Translation: "St. Ciar, virgin, daughter of Duibhrea"]
AM734.2S. Samhthann ogh, ó Cluain Brónaigh i t-Tebhtha [Translation: "St. Samhthann, virgin, of Cluain Bronaigh, in Teabhtha"]
U3U1475.9Edain Og, ingen Maigister Seoain Meg Uidhir, .i. bean Eogain, mic Eogain h-Ui Breislen
Co1531.12Sile Óc ingen Cairbre h. Birnn
U3U1540.3Graine Og, ingin Ui Uiginn, .i. ben Fedhlím Ui Doibhilen
EM1576.7Inghen Uí Baoighill, Siubhan Ócc, inghen Toirrdhealbaigh, mic Néill
 
Phécach ("Gaudy" or "Showy")
EM1569.4Mór Phécach inghen Bhriain, mic Taidhcc, mic Toirrdhealbhaigh, mic Briain Catha an Aonaigh Uí Bhriain ben Uí Seachnasaicch .i. Diarmaid mac Uilliam mic Seain Buidhe


Hereditary Surnames found in Feminine Names

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.

AnnalsEntryContextCitation (formatting preserved)
 
Bearnauál (Barnewall)
EM1583.20ANa bhen Isibél Bernauál ["His wife, Isabella Barnewall"]
 
a Burc (Burke)
Co1435.9ANCundais Desmuman Mari a Burc
Co1419.33ANMairi a Burc
 
Buitiler (Butler)
SAL[no entry number; no date]ANMairgréag Builtéir .i. bean Mhic Giollapháttric
 
FM1597.10ANOilen 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)
FM1597.17ANMairghrecc inghen Tómais Ciosocc
FM1598.39ANMairgreig Ciosócc
 
Dalatun (Dalton)
U3U1488.17ANMairghreg 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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