Date: 07/10/2024

Last week we discussed the deceptive English townland name Holdenstown in Co. Wicklow. Before we look at some further examples on that theme in Co. Meath, we will say a word about the Anglo-Norman influence on townland names in general. 

Usage note: Some readers may be more familiar with the narrow linguistic sense of the term Anglo-Norman, relating strictly to the development of the French language in Norman England. In Irish historical and toponymic studies, however, Anglo-Norman happens to be the word conventionally used to refer to the heterogenous group who invaded and colonized Ireland from the 12th to 15th centuries, and also to the placenames and surnames they introduced. Thus in the Irish context, even plainly Middle English items -- e.g. the placename Woodstock and the surname (le) White -- are legitimately described as being of Anglo-Norman (AN) origin. (At the risk of totally exasperating the linguists, note also that when new English settlers arrived in the 16th and 17th centuries the formerly Middle English-speaking, latterly Irish-speaking Anglo-Norman families were now Old English!)

It is well known that the vast majority of townland names in Ireland originate in the Irish language. The largest single category of English-language townland names, from what we know so far, comprises those connected with Anglo-Norman settlement. Moreover, a huge amount of Irish-language placenames themselves contain personal names and surnames introduced by the colonists. Owing to the comprehensive gaelicization of the Anglo-Normans during the 14th and 15th centuries and the dearth of historical records relating to that very period, if these Irish placenames are first attested in the 16th century -- as is typically the case -- we cannot be sure whether they were coined by earlier English-speaking colonists or their Irish-speaking descendants. Nevertheless, these English- and Irish-language placenames provide strong evidence of Anglo-Norman settlement. Examples include:

• Ballybunnion/Baile an Bhuinneánaigh 'the town(land) of An Buinneánach' [where An Buinneánach means 'the person surnamed Buinneán'] < AN Bunyan (logainm.ie #24000) in Co. Kerry; 
• Ballynapierce/Baile na bPiarsach 'the town(land) of Na Piarsaigh' ['the people surnamed Piaras'] < AN Piers (logainm.ie #52449) in Co. Wexford; 
• Ballyfruit (logainm.ie #21653) in Co. Galway and Ballyfroota (logainm.ie #30938) in Co. Limerick, both from Baile an Phrútaigh 'the town(land) of An Prútach' ['the person surnamed Prút'] < AN (le) Prout (mod. Proud) also found in Proudstown (logainm.ie #38036) in Co. Meath; 
• Ballinvronig/Baile an Bhrúnaigh 'the town(land) of An Brúnach' ['the person surnamed de Brún'] < AN le Brun (modern Browne) (logainm.ie #10957) in Co. Cork;  
• Ballahantouragh/Baile an Chantúnaigh 'the town(land) of An Cantúnach ['the person surnamed Cantún (gaelicized elsewhere as Condún)'] < AN de Caunteton (mod. Condon) (logainm.ie #24626) in Co. Kerry; 
• Ballyvarring/Baile an Bhairínigh 'the town(land) of An Bairíneach' ['the person surnamed Bairín'] < AN Warin/de Warene (mod. Warren, Waring)'] (logainm.ie #27605) in Co. Kilkenny; 
• Ballineetig in Co. Kerry (logainm.ie #22633) and Ballyneety in Co. Limerick (logainm.ie #31202), Tipperary (logainm.ie #47369), Waterford (logainm.ie #50149) and Mayo (logainm.ie #34111) -- all from Baile an Fhaoitigh 'the town(land) of An Faoiteach' ['the person surnamed de Faoite'] < AN (le) White; 
• Ballinbrittig in Co. Cork (logainm.ie #12175), Ballybrit in Co. Galway (logainm.ie #18678) and Ballybritt in Co. Offaly (logainm.ie #41735) are from Baile an Bhriotaigh 'the town(land) of An Briotach' ['the person surnamed Briot'] < AN Bret (mod. Brett/Britt); 
• Ballyhide/Baile an Hídigh 'the town(land) of An Hídeach' ['the person surnamed Híde, de hÍde'] < AN (de la) Hyde (logainm.ie #28870) in Co. Laois. 
  

While this is only a very small sample, it would strongly imply that any research into the settlement patterns of the Anglo-Normans in Ireland is missing a trick if it ignores placenames of Irish-language origin. For instance, it has been shown that practically the only placename evidence the Anglo-Normans left behind in north Co. Wexford is to be found in the Irish townland nomenclature. With very few exceptions, the surviving English townland names in that part of the county are either post-1600 "New English" creations or translations from Irish, and as such are of no use in plotting Anglo-Norman settlement (see Logainmneacha na hÉireann IV: Townland Names in Co. Wexford). 

But of course, hundreds of other English townland names in the old English Pale do have Anglo-Norman origins. As pointed out in last week's contribution, this evidence must be handled delicately, as many modern forms of English townland names are quite misleading. The following is a selection of disguised Anglo-Norman surnames in placenames from Co. Meath: 

• The curious-looking placename Alexander Reid (logainm.ie #38567) contains the surname (or personal name) Ellis ('Elyston Rede' (1419)); 
• Barfordstown (logainm.ie #38085) < Barefoot ('Barfotestoun' (1402));
• Gernonstown (logainm.ie #38740) < Garland ('Garlandston' (1575));
• Jarretstown (logainm.ie #37782) < Gerard ('Gerardston' (1393));
• Harlinstown (logainm.ie #38714) < Harden ('Hardinston' (1625));
• Harmanstown (logainm.ie #38749) < Hardiman ('Hardemanestoun' (1432));
• Harlockstown (logainm.ie #37983) < Harlet ('Harletteston' (c.1540));  
• Oristown (logainm.ie #38324) < Over ('Overeston' (1536));
• Ringlestown (logainm.ie #106106) < Ringer ('Ryngereston' (1387));
• Tremblestown (logainm.ie #39257) < Trymlett ('Tremeletestoun' (1393)); 
• Hayestown (par. Culmullin) (logainm.ie #37704) < Hayne ('Heynestoun' (1401)).
  

This second list, too, represents only a small selection from one county in the old English Pale. But these examples should suffice to show that English-language townland names must be researched just as thoroughly as those of Irish origin before being cited in historical or archaeological studies. The modern forms are likely to give a misleading impression of the real picture.

Conchubhar Ó Crualaoich & Aindí Mac Giolla Chomhghaill

• Baile an Bhrúnaigh/Ballinvronig
• Baile an Bhriotaigh/Ballinbrittig
• Baile an Bhriotaigh/Ballybrit
• Baile an Phrútaigh/Ballyfruit
• Baile an Fhaoitigh/Ballineetig
• Baile an Bhuinneánaigh/Ballybunnion
• Baile an Chantúnaigh/Ballahantouragh
• Baile Ghearaird/Jarretstown
• Baile an Bhairínigh/Ballyvarring
• Baile an Hídigh/Ballyhide
• Baile an Phrútaigh/Ballyfroota
• Baile an Fhaoitigh/Ballyneety
• Baile an Fhaoitigh/Ballyneety
• Baile Héin/Hayestown
• Baile Harlóg/Harlockstown
• Baile an Phrútaigh/Proudstown
• Baile Bharfard/Barfordstown
• Baile Órthaí/Oristown
• /Alexander Reid
• Baile Hairlín/Harlinstown
• Baile an Ghearlánaigh/Gernonstown
• Baile Hardaman/Harmanstown
• Baile Throimléid/Tremblestown
• Baile an Bhriotaigh/Ballybritt
• Baile an Fhaoitigh/Ballyneety
• Baile an Fhaoitigh/Ballyneety
• Baile na bPiarsach/Ballynapierce
• Baile Uistín/Ballyeaston
• Baile an Ringéalaigh/Ringlestown
• Baile Hóm/Ballyholme

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