Blair Collection > Surnames & place-names of the Isle of Man

AUTHOR'S PREFACE.
My aim in the following pages is to give a complete
account of the Personal Names and Place-Names of
the Isle of Man. With regard to the former, I can
confidently state that no names which have continued
in the island for more than a very limited period have
been omitted ; and with regard to the latter, which
are more difficult to secure, as changes are going on
every year, I believe that I have included all of any
importance. No one has hitherto attempted to explain
Manx Personal Names, though there have been several
explorers into the Place-Names, among whom is
Canon Taylor, who, in his most interesting book on
* Words and Places,' has correctly translated a few of
them. The others, not being equipped with his know-
ledge, have made the most ludicrous blunders, some
of which are so amusing as to be worth quoting:
Ballaugh — bcalach, ' a pass ;' Cassnahowin — Cassi-
velaunus (a British chief). The following are some
of a number supplied by an enthusiastic Welshman :
Sv-LBY—Siil-dydd/Snndidjy;' BEMAUAG\J-E—benw-haig, *a