ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 1164
http://www.s-gabriel.org/1164
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From: "S Friedemann" 
4 Sep 1998

Greetings from the Academy of Saint Gabriel!

You asked us for help completing a name for a 14th century Scottish Gaelic
male.  You wanted to be <{name} Dhu Mac Coinnigh>, with your given name
starting with <C> or <M>.  You later spoke with one of the Academy members
about the names <Ceallach mac Cainnigh> and <Ceallach Dhu>.  Here is the
information we have found.

There are a number of Gaelic masculine names that start with <C> or <M>.
Here's a list of a few, with their pronunciations.  In these names, \U\ is
the sound of the <o> in <other>, \OO\ is the sound of <oo> in <moose>, \kh\
is the rasping "ch" sound in Scottish <loch> or German <Bach>, and \gh\ is
the voiced version of \kh\.  The / represents an accent over the previous
letter.  [1,2]

  Cairbre        \KAR-breh\
  Calbhach       \KAHL-vakh\
  Cathal         \KAH-hahl\
  Cathbharr      \KAH-far\
  Cathoir        \KAH-heer\
  Cearbhall      \KYAR-vahl\
  Ce/adach       \KAY-dahkh\
  Cian           \KEE-an\
  Cinne/idigh    \KIN-ay-dee\
  Coilea/n       \KIL-yahn\
  Colla          \KUL-a\
  Conall         \KUN-ahl\
  Conchobhar     \KUN-kho-war\
  Conmhac        \KUN-vahk\
  Conn           \KUN\
  Connla         \KUN-la\
  Corc           \KORK\
  Cormac         \KOR-mahk\
  Cu/ Chonnacht  \KOO KHUN-nahkht\
  Cu/ Mhaighe    \KOO VEE\
  Cu/ Uladh      \KOO U-la\

  Mac Con          \mahk KUN\
  Maol Mho/rdha    \MAIL VOR-a\
  Maol Mhuadh      \MAIL VOO-a\
  Maol Mhuire      \MAIL VEER-eh\
  Maolruanaidh     \MAIL ROO-a-nee\
  Maoilsheachlainn \MAIL-ahkh-lin\
  Maonach          \MAIN-ahkh\
  Maghnus          \MAHN-ahs\
  Maine            \MAHN-ye\
  Mathghamhain     \MAH-ghow-an\
  Muircheartach    \MEER-yar-tahkh\
  Muirgheas        \MEER-ees\
  Murchadh         \MUR-kha\

We found three examples of <Ceallach>, pronounced \KEL-lahkh\, in a Scottish
Gaelic document from 1467. The nominative spellings used were <Ceallach> and
<Cellach>, while the genitive (possessive) spelling used was <Ceallaig>.
The three men with the name refered to in this document were a 15th century
man and his grandfather and great-great-grandfather. [5]  We also found
evidence of patronymics (bynames based on the father's name) derived from
this name, circa 1150 and in 1298. [3]  Based on this evidence, we believe
that <Ceallach> was used by Scottish Gaels at least from the 12th century
through the 15th century.

While <Coinneach> was not on the list of names beginning with <C> above, we
have evidence that it was used in Scotland.  It would be a fine name for
your father.  It is also spelled <Cainnech> and <Cainnec>. [3,4]  For the
fourteenth century, either the spelling <Coinneach> or <Cainneach> would be
expected.  <Cainneach> is pronounced \KEN-yahkh\. [2,4]  The \kh\ is
pronounced like the hard, rasping "ch" sound in Scottish <loch> or German
<bach>.  The form meaning "son of Cainneach" would be <mac Cainnigh>--the
change in spelling from <Cainneach> to <Cainnigh> is the equivalent of the
change from "John" to "John's."

<Dhu> appears to be a misspelling of <dubh>, a byname (nickname) meaning
"black."  It is pronounced \doov\.

A name such as <Ceallach dubh mac Cainnigh> "Ceallach the black, son of
Cainneach" would be reasonable for the 14th century.  [4] It is pronounced
<KEL-lahkh doov mahk KEN-yee> [1]

We hope that this letter has been useful to you, and that you will not
hesitate to write again if any part was unclear or if you have further
questions.  Research and commentary on this letter was provided by Talan
Gwynek, Arval Benicoeur, Tangwystyl verch Morgant Glasvryn, Barak Raz, and
Afraig inghean Chainnigh mhic Arailt.

For the Academy,
--Aryanhwy merch Catmael
     September 4, 1998

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References:

[1] Patrick Woulfe, _Sloinnte Gaedheal is Gall: Irish Names and Surnames_
(Kansas City: Irish Genealogical Foundation)

[2] O/ Corra/in, Donnchadh and Fidelma Maguire, _Irish Names_ (Dublin: The
Lilliput Press, 1990.

[3] Black, George F., _The Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning and
History_, (New York: The New York Public Library, 1986), s.n. Mackelly,
MacKenzie

[4] Jackson, Kenneth, _The Gaelic Notes in the Book of Deer_ (Cambridge:
Cambridge University Press, 1972).

[5] Skene, William F., "Genealogies of the Highland Clans, Extracted from
Ancient Gaelic MSS.: 1. Gaelic MS. Written circa A.D. 1450, with a
Translation,", pp 50-62, and "Genealogies of the Highland Clans, Extracted
from Ancient Gaelic MSS.: 2. Gaelic MS. Written circa A.D. 1450, continued,"
pp. 357-60, _Collectanea de Rebus Albanicis consisting of Original Papers
and Documents Relating to the History of the Highlands and Islands of
Scotland_, ed. The Iona Club (Edinburgh: Thomas G. Stevenson, 1847).