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

76 Manx SiwtnamEa.
the Mac-an-GhobhAxM were historians to the
O'Kennedys of Ormond.
' Maelbrighde Mac-an-Ghobhann,' a.d. 1061*
Henry Gawen was * Atturney ' in 1517.
Compare (Irish) M^Gowan, Gowan, Gavan,
(Gaehc) M^Gavin, (Enghsh) Smithson.
MacGawne+ [1422], M'Gawen, M'Gawn [1430],
Gawen [1517], Gawne [1586], Gawn [1599], Gown
[1601].
Malew, Rushen (vc), Jurby, Ballaugh, Arbory (c), else-
where (u).
MacCray [1511], Cry [i6it], Crye [1623], is possibly
from MacCraith, ' The weaver's son.' In Ireland
and Scotland this name is now found in the form
Macrae.
Nideragh [1611], Nidraugh and Nedraugh [1623]
(extinct), has possibly some connection with the
Manx word fidderagh, ' weaving.'
Clague and Cleg, contracted from MacLiaigh, ' The
leech's son ' {Liagh, ' leech ').
' In the T'ai'n B'a Ciiailng;e^ a Fdth-Laig, or Prophet-
Leech, heals the wounds of Cuchiilaind^ after his fight with
Ferdiad. It is probable, therefore, that in Pagan times the
Liag (leech) belonged to the order which may be conven-
tionally called Druidic, and that charms and incantations
formed part of the means of cure. The position assigned to
the Leech by the laws in the middle ages was a very high
one. He ranked with the smith and the Cerd, or artist in
gold and silver ; and the Ollamh, or doctor in leech-craft,
ranked with an Aire Ard, z>., one of the highest grades of
lord. He had also a distinguished place at assemblies, and
at the table of the king. Leech-craft became hereditary in
certain families, some of whose names indicate their profes-
sion, as O'Lee, /.,?., O'LiAiGH.'J
* Four Mast., Vol. 1 1., p. 881. fin the British Museum copy only.
X Ency. Brit. art. on Celtic Literature.