308 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



compound Dun-sleibhe (=Dunlevy), a distinguished name among the fa- 

 mily of Oli-h-Eochaidh, Kings of Uladhin the 11th and 12th centuries. 

 This name, and that of -Slehinus, a name found in the Martyrologies, 

 seem to indicate that their possessors lived on a mountain (St/nsfa). 



II. In my second division 1 comprise those names which took their 

 origin from circumstances connected with bieth or from time. 



Thus Finghin (translated of late years into Florence among those 

 families with whom it was a customary prarnomen) is, on the authority 

 of Dr. O'Donovan, "fair offspring," and Coemhghin (now Keevan), 

 " beautiful offspring,"* Eoglwn (Owen) has been said to mean " rood 

 offspring;" but if it be cognate with the Owen of the Welsh (which 

 appears in the Book of Llandaff as Euguen or Eugein), or -niththe 

 Armorican Ewen, Zeuss would make it signify an active or vigilant 

 person. Cormac, on the strength of the glossaries, is said to mean " son 

 of the chariot" [i.e. from Corb and Mac), and is said to have been im- 

 posed upon its first possessor because he happened to have been bom 

 in a chariot. It would appear that Maelcorgais (Four Masters, 888), 

 meaning servant {i.e. TTI&oL) of Lent (Cop^&p), and Maehamlma 

 (from 1T1&oL, and S&m&in " all hallows"), were originally given on 

 account of their respective bearers having been born, or it may be ton- 

 sured, at these seasons. Maelchallain (now Mulholland), as was sug- 

 gested by Mr. O'Curry, may be made up of 1TI&oL and C&Lt&irro, 

 " Calends," and may therefore belong to the same category; but I 

 prefer to think that it conta ns the name of S. Chaillin, who was a 

 contemporary of Columba and who is mentioned in the Book of 

 Fenagh. The name Mac Samhradhain (M 'Govern), probably from 

 Sambradh, summer, may belong to this class. O'Shannahan (Shennon) 

 is probably from seanach, old, or prudent. 



III. The third class embraces those names which were derived from 

 physical peculiaeities. The following are a few examples — O'Keefe 

 (from C&oih, handsome); Calbhach (from CcXb&c, bald, cf. Latin 

 Calvus). Trinlavery, the original name of several families near Lough 

 jSeagh, (from cpem = strong, and l&rh, the hand). In accordance 

 with this derivation the name has within recent times been changed to 

 Armstrong. Cas, a quo the Dalcais, is said to have been so called from 

 his curled hair (C&p = curled). Caindealbhain, (now 0'Q.uinlan), 

 from Cmti, pure, fair, and "oe&Ub, the face. O'Lawlor, from be/sc 

 borj^p = one side leprous. In addition to the foregoing we may con- 

 sider as belonging to this class all those names, chiefly diminutives 

 and compounds, derivedfrom colour, e. g. Maguire from Mac, son, and the 

 genitive of Ot)&p, dun, or pale. The latter word has also given origin 

 to the names Horan, or Oclhran and Heerin {i.e. O'H'uidhrin). 



Creavy or Macllreavy {i.e. Mac Giolla lliabhaich) from Tli&'b&c, 

 swarthy or grey. The Highland M'Crae is from the same word. Cronan, 

 and the Highland McCron are from Cpon, swarthy. Ciaran and Kirwan 



* I doubt this derivation Very much. I believe it is ou the authority of Cor- 

 niac's Glossary, in which we find many false derivations, based on a fanciful re- 

 semblance between Irish and Greek words, e. g, Air\cint> and d^Kos, 



