ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 2941 http://www.s-gabriel.org/2941 ************************************ 1 Dec 2004 From: Josh Mittleman Greetings from the Academy of Saint Gabriel! You asked our help choosing a name appropriate for a Scottish Gael before 1400 meaning "Uilliam son of the red-haired man". Here is what we have found. is the Irish and Scottish Gaelic adaptation of the Norman name . It was in use among Irish Gaels in the 14th century [6]. We aren't sure exactly when it came into use among Gaels in Scotland -- obviously after the arrival of the Normans in the 13th century, but we're not sure how much after. The earliest evidence we have that Scottish Gaels used appears in a genealogy dated 1467, which mentions a man of this name who lived three generations earlier [7]. So it is reasonable to believe that Scottish Gaels used this name occasionally by the end of the 14th century. However, it certainly wasn't a common name among Scottish Gaels until the 15th and 16th centuries [1, 2]. The name was pronounced just like . You originally chose the surname . As we explained earlier, this is probably a modern Scottish Gaelic name, a transcription into modern Gaelic of the English surname , which was itself originally an English transcription of "son of Ruadhri" [3]. The given name is etymologically related to the Gaelic word "red", but it would be a mistake to think that the given name _means_ "red". You told us that you wanted a byname that means "son of the red-haired man". We can offer a couple possibilities. One is "son of the red-haired lad", which is the Gaelic precursor of the modern English-language surname . This name was in used by 1376 [4]. It was pronounced \mahk YIL-l@ ROO-ee\ in your period. Another possibility is the name . This name literally means "son of the red" and would have been used by the son of a man known by the nickname "the red[-haired man]". We do not have an example of this name in our period, but we do have an analogous name, "son of the brindled [man]", which was in use in Scotland as early as 1530 [5]. The byname would have been pronounced \mahk ahn ROO-ee\. Our evidence for Scottish use of before the late 15th century is a bit slim, so we can't recommend it without reservations. It is plausible, but it is definitely a better choice in the late 15th century or later. Thus, is a fine late 15th century name and a plausible late 14th century name. The alternative is plausible for the 16th century. We hope this letter has been useful. Please write us again if any part of it has been unclear or if you have other questions. I was assisted in researching and writing this letter by Talan Gwynek, Maridonna Benvenuti, Aryanhwy merch Catmael, and Ursula Georges. For the Academy, Arval Benicoeur 1 Dec 2004 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - References [1] Krossa, Sharon L., "Scottish Gaelic Given Names" (WWW: privately published, 2000-2002). http://www.MedievalScotland.org/scotnames/gaelicgiven/ [2] Black, George F., _The Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning and History_, (New York: The New York Public Library, 1986), s.n. MacWilliam. [3] Black s.n. Macrory. [4] Black s.n. Macilroy. [5] Black s.n. Macinreoch. [6] Stephen Beechinor, Beatrix Fa"rber, Daithi/ O/ Corra/in, ed., "Annals of the Four Masters, Volume 3" (WWW: CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts: a project of University College, Cork, Ireland, 2000), entries M1172-M1372. http://www.ucc.ie/celt/online/G100005C/ Entries include: M1311.2 Uilliam Mac Giolla Arra/ith M1316.2 Uilliam mac Aodha O/icc Ui/ Fhe_rghail M1321.7 Uilliam Mac Gille Finde/n M1340.2 Uilliam mac Donnchadha Muimhnig Ui/ Cheallaigh M1344.6 Uilliam mac Mathgamna Mhe/g Raghnaill These men all appear to be Gaelic-speakers. The first four digits of the entry number are the year of the events recorded. [7] 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), folio 1, rectum, column C.