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"Maoil" as bearla..?

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  • 16-01-2009 3:58am
    #1
    fergalr
    Registered Users Posts: 1,922 ✭✭✭


    Dia daoibh,

    I've a question, the answer to which might be a bit obscure, maybe as much a history question as a language one.


    From "The book of Ulster Surnames by Robert Bell":
    ...the name Ó Maoildeirg (Mulderrig), meaning 'descendant of the red warrior'...

    I don't understand where he gets the 'warrior' bit from. Perhaps he's working off some other historical information, but if so, it's not present or referenced in the text. There's no other useful context in the book.

    Maoil, I'd have thought was 'bald'; from talking to a few people, they'd say bald or tonsured, as in the shaved bit of the back of the head typically worn by a monk - so would say it probably means religious or holy, in that context.

    So, anyone got any idea where the 'Warrior' bit in this book comes from? Is it another, less common meaning of "Maoil", in certain contexts? Or is it more likely to be referencing some other historical facts or context not mentioned?

    I've also seen 'chieftain, or servant of chieftain' mentioned as a translation for "Maoil" in family names - anyone know where that comes from?

    Anyone got any info on this, lingual or historical?
    Or know where I might find some?

    Go raibh maith agaibh!
    Fergal


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    #2
    arse..biscuits
    Registered Users Posts: 1,878 ✭✭✭arse..biscuits


    Bald is "Maol" as far as I know.

    Maoil can be something to do with overflowing or bursting.

    Can't answer your question though.


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    #3
    KingLoser
    Registered Users Posts: 725 ✭✭✭KingLoser


    Dia daoibh!

    As a Reid, I traced the family name back to the Maoildeirgs of Ulster and found this which might help.

    From: http://www.libraryireland.com/articles/Muls/Muls.php
    What, then, was the meaning of the name borne by the original Mulblank? In other words, what is the meaning of the Mul- prefix? In modern Irish the Mul is written maol, and this maol represents different older Irish words in different names. (a) In most of our present names the Mul stands for 'servant of,' or 'votary of.' And most of these names are of Christian origin, and of very great interest. Thus, many centuries ago, a person devoted to St. John, for example, would assume the name Maol-Eoin,'servant of John' Hence arose the modern surname O'Maoil-Eoin, descendant of the servant of John--O'Malone, Malone. (b) In other surnames the Mul stands for an old Gaelic word meaning 'hero, magnate.' (c) In others, Mul probably represents a word for 'head.'


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