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

84 Manx ^nvinam^si.
[1666], CORLEOD [1677], CORLOT [1678], CORLET
[1618].
Ballaugh, Lezayre, Bride, Andreas (vc), Jurby, Malew,
Rushen, German, Michael, Braddan, Lonan (c), elsewhere
(u).
Cowley, and Kewley (pronounced Cowlah and
Keolah), contracted from MacAulay, the shortened
form oi MacAmhlaibh, ' Anlafs or Olafs son.'
The Scandinavian name Anleifr, Alefer,
Olafr was rendered by Anlaf in the Saxon
Chronicle, and by Amhlabh in the Irish
Chroniclers ; thus Righ Amhlab was King Olave
the White in Dublin. We have it in the form
Aulafir* on the cross at Kirk Michael, and on
the cross at Ballaugh in'the curious form Oulaibr,
which Dr. Vigfusson says is unique. Olaf was a
royal name in Man, and must at one time have been
common. The derivation from Olaf seems most
probable ; but it so happens that the native Irish
name Amhalghada was also pronounced Aulay.
Aumond M'Olave was Bishop of Man from
A.D. 1077-1100, and, in 1102, Olave, son of Godred
Crovan, commenced his reign.
'Flann MacAulay killed,' a.d. 1178.!
Olafr was a favourite proper name in the north,
and was common both in the Landndinaboc and
the Flateyjarboc. Some of our Cowleys maj^ be
of English origin, but Kewley is a purely Manx
name.
In the parishes where Cowley is common,
Kewley is rare, and vice versa.
* Manx Note Book, No. 9, pp. 12, 13. f Four Mast.