BEGINNERS' BLAS
SLOINNTE/ SURNAMES
Baile an Chaistil
We will take a look at surnames which are to be found in and
around the Ballycastle and north Antrim area. Due to its obvious proximity
to Scotland, it is perhaps no surprise to learn that many of the local
Gaelic surnames have their origin in Scotland and in the Isles. This harks
back to the days when this part of Ireland and neighbouring areas of Scotland
formed a Gaelic sea-kingdom in which families ruled and lived on the islands
and between the two mainlands.
The Mac Dónaill, the McDonnells, have a long tradition in the area
and were recently the ruling family. The name McNeill, Mac Néill,
is another example of this overseas link. The Mac Néill seem to
have had their seat of power on the islands of Gigha and Barra, and have
spread from there to north Antrim. The MacAuley, Mac Amhlaoibh have spread
from similar Scottish roots, this time from Dumbartonshire, to become
prevalent in the Ballycastle area. The Amhlaoibh from whom this surname
takes its origin seems to be a Norse / Viking figure, perhaps a derivation
of the name Olaf. Amhlaoibh was a mythical hero figure in the Norse /
Icelandic folklore, and it is widely believed that it was from this same
Amhlaoibh that Shakespeare drew the inspiration for his famous character
Hamlet.
An exception to this pattern of Scottish origin is the surname McQuillan,
Mac Uilín, which appears to mean ‘son of little Hugh’
and has its origin in Wales, from where the McQuillan came shortly after
the Anglo-Norman invasion. They ruled the area known as the Route until
they eventually lost control to the McDonnell’s in the sixteenth
century. Testament is born to their longstanding links with the area in
the fact that the local GAA club still carries their name.
McElhatton is a surname also associated with N. Antrim and has its origin
in Mac Giolla Chatáin, meaning the follower of St. Catán.
A branch of the Ó Donnghaile (Donnelly) also have links with the
Ballycastle area, the name meaning brown or dark haired, and courage or
valour.
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