Page:Alexander Macbain - An Etymological Dictionary of the Gaelic Language.djvu/472

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ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONRAY

Menzies, G. MMnnear, M&inn and Mfcinnearach locally, early documents de Mengues (1487), de Meyners (1249); De Meyneria would mean much the same as De Camera, that is, "of the household," from mesn-, masn-, giving Fr. men- (our menage, menagerie, menial), from Lat. mans- (our mansion), from maneo, remain. The root anyway is man of mansion and manor, and the name is allied to Manners and Main- waring.

Morgan, M. G. Clann Mhorguinn (M'V.), 0. G. Morgunn, g. Morcunt, W. Morgan, Cor. and 0. Br. Morcant : Mori-canto-s, "sea-white," from the stem of muir and root hid, burn, as in connadh (Lat. candeo, shine, Eng. candle). See Mackay.

Morrison, G. Moireasdan, earlier M'Gille-mhoire, Mary's servant, M. G. Gillamure, whence Gilmour. The name Morris is for Maurice, from the Latin saint's name Mauricius, "Moorish."

Munro, G. Rothach, Mac-an-Rothaich (Dial. Munro). In the fourteenth century the name is "of Monro," which shows it is a territorial name, explained as Bun-roe, the mouth of the Roe, a river in County Derry, Ireland, whence the family are represented as having come in the eleventh century.

Murdoch, G. Muireach, Murchadh ; the first is M. G. Muiredh- aigh, gen. (M'V.), Murreich (D. of L.), Muireadhaigh, g. (1467 MS.), Ir. Muireadhach, E. Ir. Muiredach, 0. Ir. (Lat.) Muirethachus, Adamnan's Muiredachus, " lord," allied to muirenn and muriucdn ; Ag. S. masre, clarus ; Br. cono- morios (1) (Stokes R. C. 1876.) The form Murchadh is in Ir. the same, E. Ir. Murchad : * Mori-catu-s, sea warrior. Hence (from the first) M'Mhuirich (in Arran, etc., becoming Currie), and from the second, Murchison, Murchie, and Ir. Murphy. See murrach above.

Murray, G. Moirreach ; from the county name Moray or Murray, early Gadelic forms being Moreb, Muref, and Norse Morhcefi (influenced by Norse haf, sea) : * Mor-apia, from mor of muir, sea, and *apia, the termination of several Celtic place-names. Andrew Morrich, Kiltearn, 1672.

Myles, G. Maolmoire, servant of Mary, an old and common name. Myles is from the Med. Lat. Mito, with a leaning on miles, soldier — a common name in the Middle Ages.

Mac-alister ; see Alexander.

Mac-andrew ; see Andrew.

M ac- arthur ; see Arthur.

Mac-askill, G. M'Asgaill ; from Norse ' Askell, for *'As-ketill, the kettle (sacrificial vessel) of the Arises or gods : " a vessel of holiness."