by Mari Elspeth nic Bryan (Kathleen M. O'Brien)
© 2000-2020 by Kathleen M. O'Brien. All rights reserved.
Version 2.16, updated 19 March 2020
When looking at the distribution of feminine given names in the annals between 1201 and 1600, the names fall into three categories based upon the linguistical origin of the name and its usage:
The Frequency noted in the tables below gives the number of women with this name who appear in the annals during the time period highlighted on this page.
From the data displayed below, it seems that a large number of Gaelic given names fell out of use after 1500, while a smaller number of names continued to be used between 1500 and 1600. No feminine names of Gaelic origin appear in these annals after 1600.
Names that fell out of use include:
Freq. | 501 - 550 | 551 - 600 | 601 - 650 |
651 - 700 | 701 - 750 | 751 - 800 |
801 - 850 | 851 - 900 | 901 - 950 |
951 - 1000 | 1001 - 1050 | 1051 - 1100 |
1101 - 1150 | 1151 - 1200 |
1201 - 1250 | 1251 - 1300 |
1301 - 1350 | 1351 - 1400 |
1401 - 1450 | 1451 - 1500 |
1501 - 1550 | 1551 - 1600 | 1601 - 1650 | |
Áine | 13 | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||||||||
Raghnailt | 11 | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||||||||
Éadaoin | 9 | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||||||
Béibhinn | 7 | X | X | X | X | |||||||||||||||||||
Bean Mhídhe | 7 | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||||||
Dearbháil | 7 | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||||
Dearbhforgaill | 5 | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||||||
Affraic | 4 | X | X | X | X | |||||||||||||||||||
Barrdhubh | 4 | X | X | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
Dubh Essa | 4 | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||||||||
Ailbhe | 3 | X | X | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
Fíneamhain | 3 | X | X | |||||||||||||||||||||
Mór Mhumhan | 2 | X | X | X | X | |||||||||||||||||||
Aoife | 1 | X | X | |||||||||||||||||||||
Bean Laighean | 1 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Cacht | 1 | X | X | |||||||||||||||||||||
Cailleach Dhé | 1 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Cobhlaith | 1 | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||||||||
Dubh Themrach | 1 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Dubhóg | 1 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Elec | 1 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Imag | 1 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Maol Mheadha | 1 | X | X | |||||||||||||||||||||
Órlaith | 1 | X | X | X | X |
Gaelic feminine names that continued to be used between 1500 and 1600 include:
Freq. | 501 - 550 | 551 - 600 | 601 - 650 |
651 - 700 | 701 - 750 | 751 - 800 |
801 - 850 | 851 - 900 | 901 - 950 |
951 - 1000 | 1001 - 1050 | 1051 - 1100 |
1101 - 1150 | 1151 - 1200 |
1201 - 1250 |
1251 - 1300 |
1301 - 1350 |
1351 - 1400 |
1401 - 1450 |
1451 - 1500 |
1501 - 1550 | 1551 - 1600 | 1601 - 1650 | |
Mór | 28 | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | |||||||||
Sadhbh | 26 | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||
Fionnghuala | 25 | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||||||
Gráinne | 22 | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||||||||
Úna | 16 | X | X | X | X | X | X | |||||||||||||||||
Gormlaith | 12 | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | |||||||||||
Lasairfhíona | 11 | X | X | X | X | X | X | |||||||||||||||||
Nuala | 11 | X | X | X | X | X | X | |||||||||||||||||
Bean Mhumhan | 10 | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||||||||
Dubhchobhlaigh | 8 | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||||
Sláine | 7 | X | X | X | X | |||||||||||||||||||
Meadhbh | 6 | X | X | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sorcha | 3 | X | X |
Since none of these names appeared before 1200, those columns have been omitted from this table.
Note: The names Alis, Cristina, and Iuliana seem to have been used by the Anglo-Normans who came to Ireland, but do not seem to have been adopted by their descendants.
From the Anglo-Norman name: | Freq. | 1201 - 1250 |
1251 - 1300 |
1301 - 1350 |
1351 - 1400 |
1401 - 1450 |
1451 - 1500 |
1501 - 1550 | 1551 - 1600 | 1601 - 1650 | |
Máirghréad | Margaret | 26 | X | X | X | X | X | ||||
Siobhán | Fr. Jehane, Jehanne | 22 | X | X | X | X | X | X | |||
Máire | Mary | 15 | X | X | X | X | X | X | |||
Caitríona | OFr. Caterine | 14 | X | X | X | X | X | ||||
Síle | Caecelia | 12 | X | X | X | ||||||
Caitilín | OFr. Cateline | 10 | X | X | X | X | |||||
Aibhilín | Avelina, Emeline | 7 | X | X | X | ||||||
Onóra | Honora | 7 | X | X | X | ||||||
Róis | Rose | 7 | X | X | X | X | |||||
Isibél | Fr. Isabel | 3 | X | X | X | ||||||
Lucia | Lucy | 3 | X | X | X | ||||||
Alis | Fr. Aliz | 2 | X | ||||||||
Annábla | Annabel, Annabella | 2 | X | X | |||||||
Eilionora | Eleanor | 2 | X | X | |||||||
Oilen | Ellen | 2 | X | ||||||||
Sisuile | Cecily | 2 | X | X | |||||||
Cristina | Cristina | 1 | X | ||||||||
Iuliana | Juliana | 1 | X | ||||||||
Mairsil | Marcella | 1 | X | ||||||||
Mauda | Maude | 1 | X |
Medieval Scotland | Medieval Names Archive | Index of Names in Irish Annals
Feminine Given Names | Feminine Descriptive Bynames | Masculine Given Names | Masculine Descriptive Bynames
Kathleen M. O'Brien's articles are hosted by Medieval Scotland, which is published by Sharon L. Krossa (contact). Shopping online? How you can support this site.
© 1996-2007. All rights reserved. Copyright of individual articles belongs to their authors. Please do not copy or redistribute without proper permission!
http://MedievalScotland.org
Shop Amazon.com |
Shop Amazon.co.uk |