ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 3188 http://www.s-gabriel.org/3188 ************************************ 13 Oct 2006 From: Aryanhwy merch Catmael Greetings from the Academy of S. Gabriel! You asked if we could recommend authentic 15th and 16th century Scots forms of the Gaelic name . Here is what we have found. We found a number of Scots forms of the Gaelic name , including or , c. 1470, 1504, 1515, 1525, 1570, and 1571. [1] There are two different ways that a Gaelic woman's name could have been rendered into Scots. Sometimes, the woman's name uses a style byname, e.g.: [2] Joneta Makgillumquha, 1406 Cristina Makfery, 1456 Agnes Makcalpyn, 1475 Margaret Makrerik, 1490 Marion M'Quharge, 1493 Jonete Maknes, 1495 Mariote Macneis, 1496 Effric Makfatrik 1504, 1515 Katheryne Makcoran, 1509 Mirabella McCornak, 1516 Mariot Makneisch 1517, Mariot, Jonet, Katherine, and Elena Makneissche, Affrica Makpatrik, 1525 Margarite McBridan, 1529 Janet McIntailyeour, 1539 Sydoc McCaill, 1540 Margaret MacColmy, 1540 Maria M'Kane M'Fale, 1548 Janet Makdonart, 1550 Cristina Mykcarmy, 1552 Jannet M'Corker, 1561 Jannet M'Korkyll, 1561 Katerene Mc spadane, 1564 Elizabeth McKynnestrie, 1564, 1565 Effreta Maclachlan, 1570 Africk McQuhollaster, 1571 Africk McQuhollastar, 1571 Agnes M'Krayth, 1584 Elizabeth McClannochane, 1585 Helen Macartney, 1588 Ewfame Makcalzane, 1591 Katherine M'Ferries, 1597 Elyzabeth M'Quen, 1597 Marion M'Cash, 1598 The woman recorded as and was the daughter of . Alternatively, the word was retained. The word was by the 16th century sometimes spelled , reflecting a change in pronunciation from, roughly, \IN-yen\ to, roughly, \NEE-en\. We found a number of Scots forms of Gaelic women's names which use either or : [3] Eafric or Effric neyn Corgitill, c. 1470 Bahag Neuyntouchirly, 1471 Gradach Ynnythome, 1527 Christiane Neinfinlay Vikeanesker, 1585 In these examples, , , and probably all represent , most likely. represents a form of the 'daughter' word intermediate between and . could also have been spelled . We found the following Scots spellings of in Scotland in the 16th century: [4] M'Gregare 1500 McGrigour 1586 M'Gregur 1600 Makriggour 1600 We believe that these are all suitable for the 15th century as well. We'll take as an example spelling, and based on this, we can recommend any of the following: M'Gregare McGregare MacGregare Makgregare Neingregare neyn Gregare Neuyngregare Ynnygregare Innygregare We're not sure what determined whether a or a form was used. However, we've gathered more and more evidence which indicates that when women used style bynames, they matched their father's bynames, and not their father's given names, as in the example cited above of who was the daughter of . [5] We therefore can tentatively recommend the forms as more appropriate for representing the byname . We hope that this letter has been useful to you, and that you won't hesitate to write us again if any part was unclear or you have further questions. Research and commentary on this letter was provided by Mari neyn Brian, Talan Gwynek, and Ari Ansson. For the Academy, -Aryanhwy merch Catmael, 28 September 2006 -- References: [1] Black, George F., _The Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning and History_, (New York: The New York Public Library, 1986), s.n. Africa [2] ibid., s.nn. Africa, Aquhonan, Macalaster, Macalpin, Macbridan, Maccalzean, Maccarmick, Maccartney, Maccash, Macclannachan, Macclumpha, Maccombie, Maccorkill, Maccornack, Maccorran, Maccraith, Maccririck, Macdonart, Macferries, Macfery, Macharg, Macinstrie, Macintaylor, Mackail, Macneish, Macpatrick, Macphail, Macqueen, Macspaddan [3] ibid., s.nn. Africa, Beathag, Inninthome, Macinesker [4] ibid., s.n. MacGregor [5] Unpublished research of Mari neyn Brian based on examples from Black, op. cit.