Fifth Article.
According to Mabillon, hereditary surnames were first established in
Italy in the tenth and eleventh centuries; but Muratori shows that this
statement cannot be correct, as in the MSS. of the tenth century in the
Ambrosian Library of Milan, no trace can be found of surnames. In the
ninth and tenth centuries, to distinguish persons, their profession or
country is added to the Christian name, as Johannes Scotus Erigena,
Dungallus Scotus, Johannes Presbyter, Johannes Clericus; the dignity is
also sometimes added, as Comes Marchio, without stating of what place.
In the tenth century, “A, the son of B, the son of C,” was another
mode of designation. It is said that the Venetians in the beginning of
the eleventh century adopted hereditary surnames, a custom which they
borrowed from the Greeks, with whom they carried on a great trade. The
Lombards adopted the same practice after the fashion of the Venetians,
and accordingly the great family of Monticuli took that name from their
castle in Lombardy called Montecuculi, it being on the top of a hill. The
great house of Colonna took its name from the town and castle of Columna
about the year 1156; and about the same time the noble family of Ursini
derived its name from an ancestor nicknamed Ursus, or Orso, on account
of his ferocity. Other noble families adopted names from the nickname
given to an ancestor, as the illustrious family of Malaspina (the bad
thorn) of Pavia, and the family of Malatesta (the bad head). The family
of Frangipani, so formidable to the Popes, took that name in the twelfth
century. The Rangones of Rome took their name from an estate of theirs
in Germany. The Viscontes of Milan were so called from their title of
Viscount, which was borne by one of the family. These names appear for
the first time in the latter end of the twelfth century. I consider
it but proper to observe, that for this information on the subject of
Italian surnames we are indebted to the antiquary whose name I have
already mentioned, the accurate and laborious Muratori.
To resume the history of surnames in Ireland. We have seen in the
last article that in the year 1682 the inferior classes in Ireland,
especially in Westmeath and the adjoining counties, were very forward in
accommodating themselves to the English usages, particularly in their
surnames, “which by all manner of ways they strove to make English or
English-like.” This was more particularly the case after the defeat
of the Irish at the Boyne and Aughrim, when the Irish chieftains were
conquered, and the pride of the Irish people was humbled. At this period,
the Irish people, finding that their ancient surnames sounded harshly in
the ears of their conquerors and new English masters, found it convenient
to reduce them as much as possible to the level of English pronunciation:
and they accordingly rejected in almost every instance the O’ and Mac,
and made various other changes in their names, so as to give them an
English appearance. Thus a gentleman of the O’Neills in Tyrone changed
his old name of Felim O’Neill to Felix Neele, as we learn from an epigram
written in Latin on the subject by a witty scholar of the name of Conway
or Mac Conwy, whose Irish feeling had not been blunted by the misfortunes
of the times. The following translation of this epigram is perhaps worth
preserving:--
All things has Felix changed, he has changed his name;
Yea, in himself he is no more the same.
Scorning to spend his days where he was reared,
To drag out life among the vulgar herd,
Or trudge his way through bogs in bracks and brogues,
He changed his creed and joined the Saxon rogues
By whom his sires were robbed; he laid aside
The arms they bore for centuries with pride,
The Ship, the Salmon, and the famed Red Hand,
And blushed when called O’Neill in his own land!
Poor, paltry skulker from thy noble race,
_Infelix Felix_, weep for thy disgrace!
Many others even of the most distinguished family names were anglicised
in a similar manner, as O’Conor to Conors and Coniers, O’Brien to
Brine, Mac Carthy to Carty, &c. The respectability of the O’s and Macs,
however, was kept up on the Continent by the warriors of the Irish
Brigade, who preserved every mark that would prove them to be of Irish
origin; the Irish having at this period become so illustrious for their
military skill, valour, and politeness, that they were sought after
by all the powers on the Continent of Europe. Thus we find O’Donnell
made Field Marshal, Chief General of Cavalry, Governor-General of
Transylvania, and Grand Croix of the Military Order of St Theresa.
The O’Flanigan of Tuaraah (John), in the county of Fermanagh, became
Colonel in the imperial service; and his brother James O’Flanigan was
Lieutenant-General of Dillon’s regiment in France. O’Mahony became a
Count and Lieutenant-General of his Catholic Majesty’s forces, and his
Ambassador Plenipotentiary at the Court of Vienna; Mac Gawley of the
county of Cork became Colonel of a regiment in Spain; O’Neny of Tyrone
settled at Brussels, and became Count of the Roman Empire, Councillor of
State to her Imperial Majesty, and Chief President of the Privy Council
at Brussels. A branch of the family of O’Callaghan, who followed the
fortunes of King James II, became Baron O’Callaghan, and Grand Veneur
(chasseur) to his Serene Highness the Prince Margrave of Baden-Baden. The
head of the O’Mullallys, or O’Lallys of Tulach na dala, two miles to the
west of Tuam, in the county of Galway, settled in France and became Count
Lally-Tollendal and a General in the French service. O’Conor Roe became
Governor of Civita Vecchia, a sea-port of great trust in the Pope’s
dominions, &c., &c.
The lustre derived from the renown of these warriors kept up the
respectability of the O’s and Macs on the Continent, and induced many
of the Irish at home to resume these prefixes, especially the O’. Thus
in our own time the name O’Conor Don was assumed by Owen O’Conor, Esq.
of Belanagare, whose line was seven generations removed from the last
ancestor who had borne the name; and the name of the O’Grady has also
been assumed by Mr O’Grady of Kilballyowen, in our own time, though none
of his ancestors had borne it since the removal of that family from
Tomgraney, in the county of Clare. Myles John O’Reilly, late of the
Heath House, Queen’s County, was at one time disposed to style himself
the O’Reilly, but I regret to say that his circumstances prevented him.
Daniel O’Connell, Esq. of Derrynane Abbey, prefixed the O’ after it had
been dropped for several generations; and I have heard it constantly
asserted that he has no _title_ to the O’, because his father, who did
not know his pedigree, never prefixed it; but such assertions have no
weight with us, for we know that O’Connell’s father never mentioned his
own name in the original Irish without prefixing O’, because it would be
imperfect without it. And whether O’Connell can trace his pedigree with
certainty up to Conall, chief of the tribe in the tenth century, we know
not, but we know that he ought to be able to do so.
In like manner, Morgan William O’Donovan, of Mountpelier, near Cork,
has not only re-assumed the O’ which his ancestors had rejected for
eight generations, but also has styled himself the O’Donovan, chief of
his name, being the next of kin to the last acknowledged head of that
family, the late General Richard O’Donovan of Bawnlahan, whose family
became extinct in the year 1829. His example has been followed by Timothy
O’Donovan, of O’Donovan’s Cove, head of a respectable branch of the
family. We like this Irish pride of ancestry, and we hope that it will
become general before many years shall have passed.
There are other heads of families who retain their Irish names with
pride, as Sir Lucius O’Brien of Dromoland, in Clare; Mac Dermot Roe of
Alderford, in the county of Roscommon; Mac Dermot of Coolavin, who is
the lineal descendant of the chief of Moylurg, and whose pedigree is as
well known as that of any royal family in Europe; O’Hara of Leyny, in the
county of Sligo; O’Dowda of Bunyconnellan, near Ballina, in the county
of Mayo; O’Loughlin of Burren, in the north of the county of Clare; Mac
Carthy of Carrignavar, near Cork, who represents one of the noblest
families in Ireland; Mac Gillicuddy of the Reeks, in the county of Kerry,
a collateral branch of the same great family; O’Kelly of Ticooly, in
the county of Galway; O’Moore of Clough Castle, in the King’s County;
More O’Ferrall, M. P. O’Fflahertie, of Lemonfield, in the same county;
and John Augustus Mageoghegan O’Neill, of Bunowen Castle, in the west
of Connamara, in the same county. We are not aware that any of the old
families of Leinster have preserved their ancient names unadulterated.
Of these, the Cavanaghs of Borris, in the county of Carlow, are the most
distinguished; and we indulge a hope that the rising generation will
soon resume the name of Mac Murrogh Cavanagh, a name celebrated in Irish
history for great virtues as well as great vices.
Among the less distinguished families, however, the translation and
anglicising of names have gone on to so great a degree as to leave no
doubt that in the course of half a century it will be difficult, if
not impossible, to distinguish many families of Irish name and origin
from those of English name and origin, unless, indeed, inquirers shall
be enabled to do so by the assistance of history and physiognomical
characteristics. The principal cause of the change of these names was
the difficulty which the magistrates and lawyers, who did not understand
the Irish language, found in pronouncing them, and in consequence their
constant habit of ridiculing them. This made the Irish feel ashamed of
all such names as were difficult of pronunciation to English organs, and
they were thus led to change them by degrees, either by translating them
into what they conceived to be their meanings in English, by assimilating
them to local English surnames of respectable families, or by paring them
in such a manner as to make them easy of pronunciation to English organs.
The families among the lower ranks who have translated, anglicised, or
totally changed their ancient surnames, are very numerous, and are daily
becoming more and more so. Besides the cause already mentioned, we can
assign two reasons for this rage which prevails at present among the
lower classes for the continued adoption of English surnames. First,
the English language is becoming that universally spoken among these
classes, and there are many Irish surnames which do not seem to sound
very euphoniously in that modern language; and, secondly, the names
translated or totally changed are, with very few exceptions, of no
celebrity in Irish history; and when they do not sound well in English,
the bearers naturally wish to get rid of them, in order that they should
not be considered of Atticotic or plebeian Irish origin. As this change
is going on rapidly in every part of Ireland, I shall here, for the
information, if not for the amusement, of the reader, give some account
of the Milesian or Scotic names that have thus become metamorphosed.
And first, of names which have been translated correctly or incorrectly.
In the county of Sligo the ancient name of O’Mulclohy has been
metamorphosed into Stone, from an idea that _clohy_, the latter part of
it, signifies a _stone_, but it is a mere guess translation; so that
in this instance this people may be said to have taken a new name. In
the county of Leitrim, the ancient and by no means obscure name of Mac
Connava has been rendered Forde, from an erroneous notion that _ava_,
the last part of it, is a corruption of _atha_, _of a ford_. This is
also an instance of false translation, for we know that Mac Connava,
chief of Munter Kenny, in the county of Leitrim, took his name from his
ancestor Cusnava, who flourished in the tenth century. In Thomond the
ancient name of O’Knavin is now often anglicised Bowen, because Knavin
signifies a _small bone_. This change was first made by a butcher in
Dublin, who should perhaps be excused, as he conformed so well to the act
of 5 Edward IV. In Tirconnell the ancient name of O’Mulmoghery is now
always rendered Early, because _moch-eirghe_ signifies _early rising_.
This version, however, is excusable, though not altogether correct.
In Thomond, O’Marcachain is translated Ryder by some, but anglicised
Markham by others; and in the same territory O’Lahiff is made Guthrie,
which is altogether incorrect. In Tyrone the ancient name of Mac Rory is
now invariably made Rogers, because Roger is assumed to be the English
Christian name corresponding to the Irish Ruaidhri or Rory. In Connamara,
in the west of the county of Galway, the ancient name of Mac Conry is now
always made King, because it is assumed that _ry_, the last syllable of
it, is from _righ_, a king; but this is a gross error, for this family,
who are of Dalcassian origin, took their surname from their ancestor
Curoi, a name which forms Conroi in the genitive case, and has nothing
to do with _righ_, a king; and the Kings of Connamara would therefore do
well to drop their false name, a name to which they have no right, and
re-assume their proper ancient and excellent name of Mac Conry, through
which alone their pedigree and their history can be traced.
These examples, selected out of a long list of Irish surnames,
erroneously translated, are sufficient to show the false process by which
the Irish are getting rid of their ancient surnames. I shall next exhibit
a few specimens of Irish surnames which have been assimilated to English
or Scotch ones, from a fancied resemblance in the sounds of both.
In Ulster, Mac Mahon, the name of the celebrated chiefs of Oriel, a name
which, as we have already seen, the poet Spenser attempted to prove to be
an Irish form of Fitzursula, is now very frequently anglicised Matthews;
and Mac Cawell, the name of the ancient chiefs of Kinel Ferady, is
anglicised Camphill, Campbell, Howell, and even Cauldfield. In Thomond,
the name O’Hiomhair is anglicised Howard among the peasantry, and Ivers
among the gentry, which looks strange indeed! And in the same county, the
ancient Irish name of O’Beirne is metamorphosed to Byron; while in the
original locality of the name, in Tir-Briuin na Sinna, in the east of
the county of Roscommon, it is anglicised Bruin among the peasantry; but
among the gentry, who know the historical respectability of the name, the
original form O’Beirne is retained. In the province of Connaught we have
met a family of the name of O’Heraghty, who anglicised their old Scotic
name to Harrington, an innovation which we consider almost unpardonable.
In the city of Limerick, the illustrious name of O’Shaughnessy is
metamorphosed to Sandys, by a family who know their pedigree well; for no
other reason, perhaps, than to disguise the Irish origin of the family;
but we are glad to find it retained by the Roman Catholic Dean of Ennis,
and also by Mr O’Shaughnessy of Galway, who, though now reduced to the
capacity of a barber in the town of Galway, is the chief of his name, and
now the senior representative of Guaire Aidhne, king of Connaught, who
is celebrated in Irish history as the personification of hospitality.
Strange turn of affairs! In the county of Londonderry, the celebrated
old name O’Brollaghan is made to look English by being transmuted to
Bradley, an English name of no lustre, at least in Ireland. In the county
of Fermanagh, the O’Creighans have changed their name to Creighton,
for no other reason than because a Colonel Creighton lives in their
vicinity; and in the county of Leitrim, O’Fergus, the descendant of the
ancient Erenachs of Rossinver, has, we are sorry to say, lately changed
his name to Ferguson. Throughout the province of Ulster generally, very
extraordinary changes have been made in the names of the aborigines; as,
Mac Teige, to Montague; O’Mulligan, to Molyneaux; Mac-Gillycuskly, to
Cosgrove; Mac Gillyglass, to Greene; O’Tuathalain, to Toland and Thulis;
O’Hay, to Hughes; O’Carellan, to Carleton, as, for instance, our own
William Carleton, the depicter of the manners, customs, and superstitions
of the Irish, who is of the old Milesian race of the O’Cairellans, the
ancient chiefs of Clandermot, in the present county of Londonderry;
O’Howen, to Owens; Mac Gillyfinen, to Leonard; Mac Shane, to Johnson,
and even Johnston; O’Gneeve, to Agnew; O’Clery, to Clarke; Mac Lave, to
Hande; Mac Guiggin, to Goodwin; O’Hir, to Hare; O’Luane, to Lamb; Mac
Conin, to Canning; O’Haughey, to Howe; O’Conwy, to Conway; O’Loingsy, to
Lynch; Mac Namee, to Meath, &c., &c.
In Connaught, O’Greighan is changed to Graham; O’Cluman, to Coalman;
O’Naghton, to Norton; Mac Rannal, to Reynolds; O’Heosa, to Hussey; Mac
Firbis, to Forbes; O’Hargadon, to Hardiman (the learned author of the
History of Galway, and compiler of the Irish Minstrelsy, is of this
name, and not of English origin, as the present form of his name would
seem to indicate); O’Mulfover, to Milford; O’Tiompain, to Tenpenny;
O’Conagan, to Conyngham; O’Heyne, to Hindes and Hynes; O’Mulvihil, to
Melville; O’Rourke, to Rooke; Mac Gillakilly, to Cox and Woods. In
Munster, O’Sesnan is changed to Sexton; O’Shanahan, to Fox; O’Turran, to
Troy; O’Mulligan, to Baldwin; O’Hiskeen, to Hastings; O’Nia, to Neville
(in every instance!); O’Corey, to Curry; O’Sheedy, to Silke; O’Mulfaver,
to Palmer; O’Trehy, to Foote; O’Honeen, to Greene; O’Connaing, to
Gunning; O’Murgaly, to Morley; O’Kinsellagh, to Kingsley and Tinsly; Mac
Gillymire, to Merryman; O’Hehir, to Hare; O’Faelchon, to Wolfe; O’Barran,
to Barrington; O’Keatey, to Keating; O’Connowe, to Conway; O’Credan, to
Creed; O’Feehily, to Pickley; O’Ahern, to Heron, &c., &c.
Scores of similar instances might be given, but the number exhibited is
sufficient to show the manner in which the Irish are assimilating their
names with those of their conquerors.