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

Sitrnamcs of €elftc aE>rtatn. 29
MacMarten [1511], Martinsone [1521], Martin
[166S], Martee [1672].
Andreas (vc), Lezayre, Patrick, Santon (c), Bride. Jurby
(u). Hardly found elsewhere.
CosTAiN and Costean contracted from MacAmteyn, a
shortened form of MacAugustin, ' Augustin's son.'
(Augustin is the diminutive of Augustus.) The
fame of Augustinus of Hippo, and his namesake,
the missionary of the English, would cause this
name to be a favourite among Christian converts.
Magnus Barfod, King of Norway, who died a.d.
1 103, had a son Osteen and a grandson, son of
Harold Gyllie, Osteen.
CosTAiN and Costean are purely Manx names.
Costeane [1507] , MacCoisten, MacCosten, Coisten,
Costen [1511], Causteen [1687], CosTAiN [1715],
Costean [1747].
Maughold (vc), Rushen, Arbory, Santon, Lonan (c),
elsewhere (u).
Stephen and Stephenson, from the protomartyr, are,
in the Isle of Mann, very frequently the transla-
tions of CosTAiN, which, however, has quite a
different origin (see above).
Stean, which has now disappeared, if not a shortened
form of Stephen, may be from (O N) Steinn, 'stone.'
Compare — (Dutch) Steen.
In A.D. 1334, Gilbert MakStephan was one of the
commissioners appointed by Edward III.* ' to
seize the aforesaid Island (Mann), with its
appurtenances into our hands.'
MakStephan [1334], Stephen [1408], Stevenson
[1417], Stephan [159S], Stephenson [1643],
* Manx Society, Vol. VII., p. i8i.