| Question Title | Posted By | Question Date |
|---|---|---|
| St. Malachy O'Morgain his origins | Bernard | Wednesday, April 9, 2008 |
Question: Why does St Malachy have two surname O'Morgain and O'Morgair? O'Murgain is a local Armagh in paper by Dr. Seamus O Ceallaigh in 1951, the manuscript he references is the Trinity College Dublin Manscript 1366 (TCD MS.1366). Dr O'Ceallaigh did not give the name O Murgain for this is title the 18th century manuscript gives for the pedigree of a powerful Erenagh family in north Armagh called Ua Muireagain, now days O'Morgan. I only know the O'Murgain title by accident by ordering from Trinity the entire manuscript and then having to search for the Ua Muireagain pedigree I was looking for. Dr O'Ceallaigh describe the O'Muireagain pedigree as "a doubtful pedigree", yet it can be traced back to the 11th century genealogical manuscript Laud 610. While the O'Muireagain left there mark in north Armagh with: Tullyworgle “Hillock of Uí Mhuireagáin” is 0.7 miles southwest of present Cathedral of Armagh. Kilvergan Hill “Church of Ui Muiregain”, parish of Seagoe. Is identified in “Irish Place Names” by Deirdre Flanagan and Laurence Flanagan (formerly of Queens University). Who identify O Muiregain as erenaghs or hereditary stewards of the church. In the surronding areas there are Baile Ua Muireagain placenames. In the Annals of Ulster and Four Masters 1072 Mael Muire Ua Muireagain, Erenagh of Tynan abbey, dead. and in Antrim: 1096 Flann Ua Muireagain, Erenagh of Antrim, dead. So could St Malachy be a O'Morgain? Many thanks, Bernard. |
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| Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary
Dear Barnard: St. Malachy's family name was O’Morgair. He was born in 1094 at Armagh, Ireland. He was baptized "Maelmhaedhoc" (which was latinized to Malachy). He is also known as Malachy O'More, Malachy D’Armagh, and also as Mael Maedoc ua Morgair or Maolrnhaodhog ua Morgair. In any event, I suspect that somewhere along the line the "r" was read as an "n". Especially in old books, and in particular with certain fonts, a "r" can be mistaken for a "n" (and vice versa too for that matter). It is also possible that "Morgain" was another spelling for "Morgair" or became "Morgain" over time. This is the sort of evolution of names that is rather typical. But all the listings I can find from Catholic sources spell his family name as O'Morgair. Are the O'Morgair's and the O'Morgain's the same family? I do not know. They might be. God bless, |
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