The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1881-02-26
ORIGIN OF THE NAME OF BALTIMORE


The annual meeting the Maryland Historical
an interesting paper, written BY Joseph Barry, Of
IIarper's Ferry. on the subject OF the "origin Of
the name Of Baltimore" was read.
Mr.. Barry claimed that Il was impossible TO as
certain certainly the derivation Of the name, and
said be was antagonistic 10 any who claimed he
had discovered its origin. lie said he would only
make some suggestions. "More," the third syla-
bio, he said, undoubtedly meant great. and this he
took rs good omen, proving the truth Of the old
adage, there Is something In a name" Bai,i-
more has many namesakes In old Ireland, and the
ono which he thinks Lord baltimore took its name
from h town In Ulster. The new Baltimore.
like the old, has suffered At the hands Of lis own
inhabitants !; but we are reminded on the 18th Of
September OF every year OF the fallacy Of the az
tempts Of foreign invaders. The first syllable, In
the Gaelic, means house, and the second hut,
or place OF taking refuge, also. meaning straw
or even Gre. Thegrcat house Of Iaal; the mouth
or gate Of the great house the great IRE Of Baai
the great refuge Of Baal, or even the town Of the
great IRE. The 2fth Of June In ireland Is called
BY name which docs not sound unlike Baltimore
The town Of the great straw, or the town Of the
great house, viii also pass muster; but will
leave TO yourselves tho task Of finding others. I
have stated enough to cast doubt ON any deri-
walton, and that Is what wish TO do. object to
"the great house Of Baal." because the Irish
worshippcrs in ancient days worshipped in IA
lures temple, the forests. Some contended that
the famous round towers were intended for the
worship OF Baal; but am satisfied they were In.
tended for astronomical purposes, and not for rcli
gious worship. The theory that Bait the arm Of the
sea, furnishes the derivation, incorrect rs many
Baltimorcs are inland towns. In conclusion, Daita
means town, and the plural Of tho word Is Balti.
What, then, more easy than adding the word
more aud making II large town, or q succession
.E a. - = II
TO his first person plural; and was there ever
city In ancient or modern times more worthy the
patronage Of the gods, or entitled 10 the same,
than Batmorei Whatever may be tho etymology
Of Baltimore, there DO no doubt that your city
derived Us name from the green isle.
Gen. Phelps said that Mr.. Barry had cleared up
the Illusion that the ctymoiogy Of Baltimore was
derived from Baai. lie had himself endeay ored
to confuie this theory. but pagan prophets Of aal
had risen NIL around him, and he had received no
gratitude FOR his attempts 10 clear Baltimore from
the stain Of having been derived from Pagan
god. lie was also opposed TO the derivation re-
fcrring 10 the Arm OF the Sea- and agreed with Mr..
Barry In dropping Il. lie knew, however, that
Lord baltimore had no connection with the fish,
ing village In Cork, while he did have n place In
County Longford, called Baltimore: upon this
latter subject and place much information IL need
cd. There arc theories In regard 10 this place,
but no evidence. Lord Baltimore, No know, in
selecting names for places, showed n purpose,
.e9r. .bstiRs tbat he -hssaRs- aasssEed CT hi.
manor In County Longford in fee simple, AFTER he
held II In conditional title. II no named Il him
SELF he probably selected the name on account Of
associations, for ut that time he changing his
faith, or rcuouncing religion In which he had
previously believed. At such crisis in his life,
he would be likely to be moved by religious con-
siderations. Bal is clearly from the word mean
ing place, and In the Irish dictionary you will
find "tmorc" means the Supreme Being: and u
appears clear TO my mind that 'the place Of the
Supreme Being" would be such narnd As Calvert
would be likely 20 give place at that time. Every
town In ireland has significance; none Of them,
like those In this country, being named hapharard.