[Yn Lioar Manninagh Vol 3 pp 444/451]

NOTES ON MOORE’S SURNAMES AND PLACE NAMES IN THE ISLE OF MAN.

Rev. JOHN QUINE, M.A.

As Mr. Moore’s book was the first in a new field, I offer these notes with grateful recognition of what it has achieved—the great mass of material collected and arranged, and the work as a whole done once for all. My annotations are mainly on place names, and do not presume to be more than suggestions. Any value I attach to them is that they may be acceptable to Mr. Moore in the first instance, and, secondly, to members of the N.H.S. interested in this subject. Should a reprint be made of the book, this paper may be of, at least, some value,

The first class of notes is on names omitted ; the second on names mentioned, but without explanation ; the third, with reference, to names of which the explanations might be modified.

NAMES OMITTED.

a. Nikkesen, a pool on the Glen Roy river, probably from Nikki, a Scandinavian water-sprite ; also a pool on the upper section of Groudle river. Both have legends of a water-sprite.

b. Gudness or Gudnaes, a point of land in Lonan between two streams. On the Onchan side is Treen Begoade. There is a legend that Gudnaes was once part of Morest Treen, but was relinquished to Rigg Treen as compensation for sheep stolen. Probably from Godi-ness.

C. Cabbal Leonard—Chapel of Leonard, just outside Castletown, S. side of Port Erin road. Croit Leonard, on the German Abbey Lands, near Peel.

d. The Desert, E. side of river in E. Baldwin, opposite Algare The name, on inquiry, seems not to be modern. If really ancient it. may have a bearing on the question of the Columban and Celtic church period.

e. Pollr, a pool (p. 258). In Ballaugh there are pools called " the polleys," in which theey seems to be a distinct survival of the final r in the Norse pour.

f. Rencell or Rhencell, the west side of Laxey Glen. On this slope stood the Keill, the site of which is identifiable. The ridge (or division) of the Keill.

g. Glione Foss, a ghyll or glen midway between Agneash and Snaefell, with a fine but slender waterfall. This seems to be a survival of the Norse foss, a waterfall.

h. Huburton (in Rent Roll, 1513), a mill located there in Parish of Patrick.

i. Shenarra, old Abbey, the name of farm on Abbey Lands midway between Peel and St. John’s.

j. Cross-valla, or the Treen of the Cross, west of W. Baldwin, containing remains of an immense stone circle.

k. Keeil-cubberagh at the mouth of Sulby Glen (Church of St. Cuthhert).

I. Lhing, Lhingey in Linga-Glastin, in Glen Mona ; several pools on the Coma river, and the ling-dub at Glanfaba. This gives at once the explanation of Lingague, or the "little pools," at the head of the Colby river ; the centre and characteristical feature of that locality.

m. Testraw, or Testro, is identical with Hentrce in abbey boundaries.

There are others : and a complete list can be made only by other members of N.H.S. taking up the omissions in their own districts.

III.

Of names mentioned without explanation these notes offer suggestion rather than avowed explanations.

a. Arernan on Arerna, is the name of a treen at the base of S. Barrule. It is given in Rushen Chronicle,Abbey Land Boundaries as Staynarhaa, and in this older form its explanation must be sought (p. 275, " stone how"). It is incorrectly given as identical with Shenvalla (see paper on Abbey Boundaries).

b. Airyrody, a treen in German, has the farms Eary-Moar, Eary-Veg and the first part of the word is manifestly Eary-a moor ; the latter probably a descriptive term.