The Irish standard., 1912-02-10

self firmly in the country. The chief OF
these were the Annals Of the Four
Masters, and the Annals Of Ulster.
Now, in dealing with names (which are
widely used in Ireland" a prudent his
torian would have consulted these
Irish genealogies. Any other course
seems ridiculous, yet Frances Cowles
evidently thought it sufficient to con-
suit foreign authorities concerning
Irish names.
According to the different genealo-
gies, the O'Casey clan Urish spelling
O'Cahasaigh) owned the territory of
Sarthni in East Meath. The sept
formed part of the great tribe of the
Ciannachta who were descended from
Clan, a famous Irish NEUROLOGICAL per-
sonage. Soon after the Norman inva-
sion, the Caseys were dispossessed of
their lands by Hugh de Lacy, a Nor
man adventurer, but they are still very
numerous in the counties of Meath and
Louth. The name occurs frequently in
the Irish annals, the most famous, per-
haps, being Cormac O'Casey, Arch
bishop of Leinster, who died in 1146.
Concerning the name Rice, the Pho
neer Press writer tells us that all the
Rices who came to this country,
whether they came from England or
nd 11,, Of 1ch out
gin. We are willing to admit that
large number, who bear the name, are
Welsh, although their correct name is
Rhys, but we refuse to concede that
the Irish families of the name bear
any relationship to their namesakes
on the other side Of the Irish sea. The
name is very widely found in Louth,
Monaghan and Armagh, and the clan
originally belonged to the historic ter
rtory Of Cooley. In the Irish tongue
which is still spoken in Cooley, they
are called O'Malschravibbe (pron. Null
veevy), and this clan is mentioned in
the genealogies and in the Annals. In
passing l may say that large num-
Der of the Irish clans changed their
names considerably, when they trans
lated them into Anglo Saxon.
Concerning the Griffin family, Fran
ces Cowles writes, 1T is said that
Llewellyn of Griffith, the last prince
of independent Wales. is the founder
of all the Gritflngs, Griff1ns and Grit
tiths in the world. The tradition is
found in almost every branch of the
| family where there are any traditions
at all. so that there is good reason to
believe that it is a tradition founded
| of that name doubtless came originally
from Wales. The name is from a
Welsh word 'gruff meaning terrible F"
With all respect for the writer's ver-
| acity. we know a few families of the
| name where it would be dangerous ia
| mention such a theory and these
families are not without their own ira
ditions. Neither can we compliment
| Frances CoWles on her knowledge OF
| the Welsh language. We again admit
! that a few of those, who bear the
name, are Of Welsh origin, but they
| are a small minority. The name is
that Of an old and powerful Irish clan
called, in their native language
O'Griobhta or O'Griffa, who, accord
ing to all the annals and genealogies
were chiefs of Kinel Cuallachta ir
County Glare, hundreds Of years be-
fore Llewellyn fought and died fol-
Welsh liberty. To this clan belonged
the famous Irish poet and novelist
Gerald Griffin. A smaller clan of the
same name were settled in Wexford
and Kilkenny. The latter were prob
ably of Danish origin, but, after thu
lapse of eleven centuries, they can nj
longer be regarded as Scandinavians.
| OF the Kirk family, this writer says
''There is a favoritc tradition among
the Kinks that all of their family IL
America were descended from tire,
Observation-Disclosures, Jacob and Roge
who came from Ireland and settlet
in America early in the eighteenth
century. Thus runs the tradition, bu
there is very little to substantiate it
1.-THE name Kirk is a variation O
Church, and is said to be the Nortl
Of England pronunciation of that word
The Kinks are plentiful in Scotland
and many went from there to Ireland.
OF course, according to France
Cowles. a tradition is valueless when
ever it goes to prove that any of tn
American people are not Of Saxon orr
gin, while any kind of hearsay evi
dence is reliable. The idea Of con
founding the family name Kirk witt
the Scottish kirk Is ludicrous. Fortu
nately, there is plenty of material t,