People of Medieval Scotland
1093 - 1371

Headline forms of Gaelic names

Contents [hide]

Headline name forms of Gaelic names generally appear in one of three types: modern scotticized or anglicized forms (like Donald or Duncan), standard medieval forms developed by Prof Ó Maolalaigh, or, for the more obscure names, in the spelling they appear in the document. Finally, there is a small group of Gaelic names which sometimes appear in latinized or francized ‘equivalents’, such as Eugenius for Ewen. These categories are laid out in full below.

1. Modern anglicized or scotticized forms

HeadlineMedieval GaelicModern Gaelic
Alpin Ailpín Ailpean
Angus Áengus Aonghas
Aulay Amalgaid / AmlaíbAmhlaidh
Blane Bláán Blathan
Colin Coilín Cailean
Conall Conall / Gilla CongailConall / Gille Conghail
Deirdre Deirdriu Deirdre
Dermot Díarmait Diarmaid
Dervorguilla Derb Forgaill Dearbhaill
Donald Domnall Dòmhnall
Dougal Dubgall Dùghall
Duff Dub Dubh
Duncan Donnchad Donnchadh
Ewen Éogan Eòghann
Fergus Fergus Fearghas
Finlay Finnláech / FinnlóegFionnlagh
Gilchrist Gilla Críst Gille Crìosd
Gillanders Gilla AndréisGill’ Anndra
Gillespie Gilla Escoip Gill’ Easpaig
Gillies Gilla Ísu Gill’ Ìosa
Kennedy Ceinnéitig Cinneidich
Kenneth Cináed Cionaodh
Lachlan Lochlainn Lachlann
Leod (Ljot) Léot Leòd
Macbeth Mac BethadMac Beatha
MacDuff Mac DuibMac Duibh
Maclean Mac Gilla Eoain Mac Gill’ Eathain
Malcolm Máel ColuimMaol Caluim
Malise Máel ÍsuMaol Ìosa
Morgan Morcunn Morgann
MurdochMuiredach Muireach
Níall Níall Niall
Niven Naímín Naoimhean
Rory Rúaidrí Ruairidh

1A. Other distinctive headline forms

Bridin Britín / BrigtínBrìdean
Cane Cano Cana
Cimbaeth Cimbáeth / CimbaíthínCiombadh / Ciombaidhean
Corc Corcc Corc
ÍvarrÍmar Ìomhar

 

2. Names where a European ‘equivalent’ or Latinized/ francized form is used

Note that where the spelling of the name in the document is indicative of the Gaelic or Scotticized Gaelic name, we have used the relevant forms to be found elsewhere in this list, e.g., Ewen, Murdoch, Niall. Where the spelling is in the Latin and the context strongly suggests the Gaelic name is intended, such as it is coupled with the use of ‘mac’, we have used the forms to be found below. For situations in which it is somewhat likely that the Gaelic name was intended, or where it is possible that the bearer deliberately used both the Gaelic name as well as its European ‘equivalent’, we have used the headline form ‘Niall or Nigel’, ‘Gilbert or Gilla Brigte’, etc. All others have been given in the ‘European’ form alone (e.g., Gilbert, Eugene, and it should be noted that the bearer being a churchman was a factor in this); users should keep in mind that it is still possible that bearers of these versions may have sometimes used the Gaelic ‘equivalents’.

Eugenius (Ewen)

Gilbertus (Gilla Brigte)

Mauricius (Murdoch)

Nigellus (Níall)

Nicholas (Níall)

Reginaldus (Ragnall)

Note also:

Hector (Eachann)

Roland (Lachlan)

 

3. Headline forms where a standard medieval Gaelic form is used

Headline/medieval formModern Gaelic form
Áed Aodh
Bard Bàrd
Bethóc Beathag
Bran Bran
Brigtóc Brìdeag
Bróiccín Bròicean
Búachaill Buachaille
Búadach Buadhach
Cainnech Coinneach
Cairell Coireall
Cairpre Cairbre
Cathal Cathal
Cessán Ceasan
Cimbaíthín Ciombaoithean?
Coimgell Coimhgheall
Colbán Colban
Colmán Colman
Conaing Conaing
Conán Conan
Congal Conghal
Cormac Cormag
Coscrach Cosgrach
Cuilén Cuilean
Díuccach Diùcach
Domongart Domhanghart
Donn Sléibe or Dub SléibeDonn Slèibhe or Dubh Slèibhe
Dub Loingsig Dubh Loingsich
Dub Síde / Síthe Dubh Sìthe
Dubscolóc Dubhsgolag
Dubthach Dubhthach
Dubucán Dubhagan
Duibne Duibhne
Dúngal / Donngal Dùnghal / Donnghal
Feradach Fearach
Ferdomnach Feardhòmhnach
Finguine Fionghaine
Flaithbertach Flaithbheartach
Forbflaith Farbhlaidh
Fothud Fothadh
Gartnait Gartnaid
Gilla AdomnáinGill’ Adhamhnain
Gilla Aldáin Gill’ Aldain
Gilla Asaild Gill’ Asaild
Gilla Begóic Gille Beaghaig
Gilla BethóicGille Beathaig
Gilla BlááinGille Blathain
Gilla Brigte Gille Brìde
Gilla CaillíneGille Chaillein
Gilla Cathbhairr Gille Cathbhairr
Gilla CléirechGille Clèireach
Gilla Coimded Gille Coimhdhe
Gilla Coluim Gille Caluim
Gilla Comgaill Gille Còmhghail
Gilla Conaill Gille Conaill
Gilla CongailGille Conghail
Gilla Cosaintín Gille Cosaintein
Gilla Cuithpeirt Gille Cuithbeirt
Gilla Domnaig Gille Dòmhnaich
Gilla Doraid Gille Doraidh
Gilla DuibGille Duibh
Gilla Eithne Gill’ Eithne
Gilla Fáeláin Gille Faolain
Gilla Giric Gille Girig
Gilla GlasGille Glas
Gilla M’ÁedáinGille M’ Aodain
Gilla M’Ernóic Gille Meàrnaig
Gilla MartainGille Màrtainn
Gilla MíchéilGille Mìcheil
Gilla Mo ChessóicGille Mo Cheasaig
Gilla Mo Choe Gille Mo Chotha
Gilla Mo FhécuGille Meuga
Gilla Mo LuóicGille Mo Luthaig
Gilla Mo-LuócGille Mo Luthaig
Gilla MuireGille Moire
Gilla na Náem Gille nan Naomh
Gilla Pátraic Gille Pàdraig
Gilla Petair Gille Peadair
Gilla SeirbGille Seirbh
Gilla Talorcain Gille Talargain
Gilla Tomáis Gille Tòmais
Gilla Gille
Gos DuibGos Duibh
Írgalach Iorghalach
Loarn Latharna
Mac CairillMac Coirill
Mac Craith Mac Craith
Mac RaithMac Raith
Máel BethadMaol Beatha
Mael BriccinMaol Bricein
Máel BrigteMaol Brìde
Máel DomnaigMaol Dòmhnaich
Máel DúinMaol Dùin
Máel F(h)échínMaol Fèichein
Máel GiricMaol Girig
Máel MartainMaol Màrtainn
Máel Muire Maol Moire
Máel PátraicMaol Pàdraig
Máel PóilMaol Pòil
Máel SnechtaMaol Sneachda
Matad Madadh
Mataidín Madaidhean
Moílíne Maoilean
Muirchertach Muircheartach
Muirenn Muireann
Murchad Murchadh
Nechtan Neachdann
Ness Neas
Níall Niall
Páitín Pàidean
Ragnall Raghnall
Soidelb Soidhealbh
Súanach Suanach
Suibne Suibhne
Suthain Suthain
Tairdelbach Toirdhealbhach
Tigerna Tighearna
Tráilín / Tráillín Tràilean / Tràillean
Túathal Tuathal

Note also forms where modern Gaelic form rather than medieval form used for headline name:

Beathan (medieval form: Bethá or Bethadán)

Eachann (medieval form: Echdonn)

Fearchar (medieval form: Ferchar)

 

4. Headline forms where a standard medieval Gaelic form is uncertain

Anecol
Aomlinn
Aulon possibly Amalgaid / Amlaíb
Barach possibly Berach
Bean possibly Beán
Beollan possibly Béollán
Berbeadh possibly Fer Bethad
Blei possibly Bláe
Boed possibly Báeth
Bowein possibly Bóguine
Bozli possibly Béollán
Bridy Britín or Brigtín
Dafreth possibly Damrad
Dufoter possibly Dubodor
Duna possibly Donn
Duvoc possibly Dubóc
Edoc possibly Áedóc
Elphin possibly Ailpín
Essoc Essóc
Ewoc possibly Éogóc
Falletauch possibly Folachtach, Falachtach, or Faltach
Ferdan possibly Feradán or Fer Dána
Ferlicius Fer L- (uncertain)
Ferteth Fer Téid or Fer Tead
Ferthnauh possibly Feradach or Ferdomnach
Ferthre possibly Fercheirtne
Folan possibly Fáelán
Galbraith possibly Gallbreth or Gallbrath
Gallephradhe possibly Gallbreth or Gallbrath
Garvach possibly Garbach
Giderede possibly Gilla Doraid or Gilla Riata
Gilbeg possibly Gilla Beic
Gilbothyn possibly Gilla Baíthín
Gilcolin possibly Gilla Colmáin or Gilla Coilín
Gilernanth Gilla R- / Gilla E- (uncertain)
Gilfal possibly Gilla Fáeláin
Gilherine possibly Gilla Cíaráin
Gill'Gilla- (uncertain)
Gillane possibly Gilla Eoain or Gillán
Gilla ChadGilla C- (uncertain)
Gilla MantachGilla Mantach or Gilla Manchach
Gilla WinninGilla Winnin or Gilla Finnéin
Gillebaran Gilla Barráin or Gilla Barrainn
Gillebrech Gilla Brigte or Gilla Brecc
Gillecohel Gilla Cochaill or Gilla Comgaill
Gillecondad Gilla Coimded?
Gilledoueng'possibly Gilla Domongairt
Gillefakeneshi possibly Gilla Maic Neise
Gillefali possibly Gilla Fáeláin
Gillefin possibly Gilla Finn or Gilla Finnéin
Gilleger possibly Gilla Gerr
Gilleheshoc possibly Gilla (Mo) Cheisóc
Gilleker Gilla C- (uncertain)
Gillekungal Gilla Congail or Gilla Comgaill
Gillenbract possibly Gilla Brigte
Gillerachcah possibly Gilla Ferchair
Gilleroch possibly Gilla Rúad
Gilleroth possibly Gilla Rúad
Gillewinin Gilla Winnin or Gilla Finnéin
Gillin possibly Gillín
Gillon possibly Gilla Eoain
Gilmahed Gilla Mo Choíte or Gilla Mo Chéiti
Gilmakali possibly Gilla Maic Caille
Gilmalagon possibly Gilla Mo Fhécu
Gilmelonoc possibly Gilla Mo Luóic or Gilla Mo Lonóic
Gilmoran possibly Gilla Muirinn or Gilla Muiréin
Gilruth possibly Gilla Rúad
Kedi possibly Coíti or Céiti
Kelan possibly Cóelán or Coilén or Cailén
Kelledared possibly Gilla Doraid
Kelly possibly Cellach
Kenachy possibly Cainnech
Kercau possibly Cercán
Kerin possibly Cíarán
Keschyn possibly Cessachán
Lenin possibly Gilla Finnéin
Lugan possibly Lugán or Longán / Logán
Lulach possibly Lulgach
Maceroht possibly Mac Raith
Macgillegunnin possibly Mac Gilla Guinnín
Mack-holffe possibly Mac Uilf
Macmars possibly Mac Marais
Mactheuel possibly Mac Teimil
Macungal possibly Mac Congail
Macynel possibly Mac Cinn Alla
Malcongi Máel + ??
Malegegill Máel + ??
Mallon possibly Máel Eoain
Malmuren Máel Muirinn or Máel Muiréin
Maloch possibly Máel S(h)uthain or Máel Othna
Malothen possibly Máel S(h)uthain or Máel Othna
Manechin possibly Mainchín or Mainchíne
Marghugh possibly Murchad or Muiredach
Matain possibly Maitne or Mattain
Mathalan Nathalan?
Mehin possibly Móen
Mein possibly Móen
Millimyrn possibly Máel Muirinn
Mocche Moiche or Mocha
Mohan Mochán or Moán
Molreni Máel Riain, Máel Rúain, Máel Rúanaid, or Máel Raithnig
Monach Monach or Móenach
Morear possibly Muirchertach
Moren possibly Muirenn
Morin possibly Muirenn
Moroc possibly Morag, Murchad, or Muireóg
Morthan possibly Muirethán
Mulethir possibly Mac Maíll Lethair
Murchan possibly Murchán
Murdan possibly Muiredán
Muredhad possibly Muiredach or Murchad
Murin possibly Muirenn
Mythoc uncertain
Nakeeigelle possibly Mac na Coicéile
Nelgos possibly Níallgus
Padin possibly Páidín
Phenich possibly Fíanach
Pol (Paul)
Riscoloc Ríscolóc or Rígscolóc
Sithach Síthach or Síthech
Sluagadach Slógadach or Slúagadach
Yothre possibly Rúaidrí