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

Surnames tyf Bafttrc i!?ri0tn. 65
LowEv [i6og], LowiE [1611], Lewie [1629], Loweay
[1670], LowY [1707], LowAY [1734].
Formerlj' Maughold (vc), Jurby, Rushen (c), elsewhere (u).
Mylrea seems to be contracted from Mac Guilley yea
{ray). Its meaning presents considerable diffi-
culties, as the ordinary derivation from ree,
* king,' is disposed of by the pronunciation ray.
Both Professors Mackinnon and Rhys, whose
opinions have been asked, incline to a connection
with the Gaelic Gilray, but will not commit them-
selves to an explanation of either Mylrea or
Gilray.
Compare (Irish and Gaelic) Gilray, Gilivray.
Mac Gilrea [1511], Illerea [1598], Illirea [1599],
Maclerea [1601], Maccillrea [1603], Illeray
1618], Molerie* [1631], M'^ylleriah [1650]
M°ylrea [1654], Illyreah [1660], Mallereay*
[1684], Mollereigh*[i69o], Mallereigh* [1691J,
Mallery*[i693], Mylreey[i754], Mylrea [1750],
and many other forms.
Jurby, Ballaugh, Braddan, Malew (c) ; elsewhere (u).
Mylroi and Mylroie, contracted from Mac Gilroy, a
corrupted form of Mac Giolla-ruaidh, ' Giolla-
ruadh's son,' or ' the red-haired youth's son.'
' When an adjective, signifying a colour or quality
of the mind or body, is postfixed to Giolla, then it
has its ancient signification — namely, a youth, a
boy, or a man in his bloom ; Giolla-ruadli, i.e., the
* These forms look as if they might be derived from Maol.
See note on Mylvorrey. Mcylrea is the commonest form
during the eighteenth century.
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