Academy of Saint Gabriel Report 725

Academy of Saint Gabriel Report 725

This report is available at http://www.s-gabriel.org/725

Some of the Academy's early reports contain errors that we haven't yet corrected. Please use it with caution.

Greetings,

You asked about the Scottish Gaelic form of the name "Kenneth."

During the Middle Ages there was essentially no difference between Irish and Scottish Gaelic, at least in the way they were written. However, we have been able to provide some additional information.

There are two Gaelic names which are connected to the modern English name "Kenneth."

The first one is the name "Cainnech" (with the modern form "Coinneach.") The early Irish St. Cainnech is now usually called "St. Kenneth." The modern pronunciation of this name is roughly "KONE-yahkh".

The second is the name "Cinaed," which was pronounced like "KIN-eth" around 1200. The modern Gaelic spelling is "Cionaodh"; in Irish it's pronounced roughly "KYUN-ay." This is a modern Gaelic equivalent of "Kenneth" in both Ireland and Scotland.

Our source for this information is "Irish Names" by O'Corrain and Maguire.

Effric neyn Kenyeoch vc Ralte, Arval Benicoeur, Livia Montgomery, Talan Gwynek, and Tangwystl verch Morgant Glasvryn contributed to this letter.

We hope this has been helpful. If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Sincerely,
Alan Terlep
Academy of S. Gabriel