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McDermott
McDermott is
Irish in origins, but is also found in Scotland.
It is classified as of being of both patronymic
and nickname origins. It is
thought to be an Anglicisation of an ancient Irish name "O'Duibhdiorma".
Its derivation is simple - Mac Diarmada (son of Diarmuid or Dermot).
Dermott is a personal name with one of two meanings
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A
number of derivatives based around the following concepts -
"envy free" or "free man" or "free
of jealousy" |
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dia:
Irish, "a god," and "armaid," of "arms," and signifying a great
warrior |
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The name
is numerous - it is included in the hundred most common in
Ireland. It is the second most common in its home county (Roscommon)
and is also found frequently in Counties Donegal and Tyrone.
It is seldom used without the prefix Mac, except in Co. Leitrim
where the simple form Dermott is not uncommon. Other derivatives
and corruptions of the name include D'Ermott, Darby, Darmody,
Deermot, Deermott, Dermid, Dermody, Dermond, Dermoddy, Dermott,
Dermoty, Deyermond, Deyermott, Diarmid, Diarmod, Diarmond,
Diermott, Diurmagh, Durmody, Dyermott, MacDermott, Mack, McDermott,
McDiarmod, Mulrooney, Mulrony, O'Dermott, Rooney and Kermode
(found in some parts of Connacht due to accent)
The MacDermots
are one of the few septs whose head is recognized by the Irish
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Genealogical Office
as an authentic chieftain, that is to say he is entitled in popular
parlance to be called The MacDermot; and in this case this is enhanced
by the further title of Prince of Coolavin, though of course as titles
are not recognized under the Irish Constitution the designation is
only used by courtesy.
Irish MacDermotts
The
family descends are a branch of the O'Connors, descended from Tadhg
O'Connor (Teige of the White Steed), who was King of Connacht before
the Norman invasion. Tadhg has a son Maolruanaidh, and it is from
him that the tribe got its name - Clan Mulrooney. The
sept took its name from Mulrooney's grandson, Diarmuid O Maelruanaidh
Mor, King of Moylurg from 1124 to 1159 and brother of Conor, King
of Connacht.
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has it that the two brothers came to an agreement that, in return
for surrendering any claim to the kingship of Connacht, Maelruanaidh
and his descendants would receive the territory of Moylurg,
an area in the north of the modern Co. Rosscommon roughly corresponding
to the baronies of Boyle and French park. The ancient chiefs
of Moylurg (before the time of the MacDermotts) were MacEoach
(or MacKeogh), MacMaoin (or MacMaine), the great and MacRiabhaidh
(or Magreevy). Certainly
this is the area with which the descendants of Maelruanaidh,
the Mac Dermots, have been closely associated down to modern
times. The MacDermotts had their chief fortress at the Rock
of Lough Key, a large castle on McDermot's island in Lough Key
(also Loch Ce), near Boyle; and they are the only Milesian family
who have preserved their title of Prince, namely, the hereditary
"Prince of Coolavin" a title by which the MacDermott is
to this day recognised in the county Sligo. |
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Inevitably,
the MacDermotts split into a number of other branches also formed
over the centuries. The
three main families were The principal families of the MacDermotts
in Connaught are
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The
MacDermotts 'Princes
of Coolavin', |
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MacDermott
Roe of Alderford in the county Roscommon. |
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Mac
Dermot Gall - the ('foreign'), who usurped the chieftainship
for a time from their base in east Rosscommon. This line was
based in Airtech. It was their lands that were later acquired
by the Dillon Family |
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MacDonaghs
- a tributary line of the MacDermotts, who took their name from
Tomaltach MacDermott King of Moylurg (1197-1207). |
The MacDermott
Gall sept quickly accepted English domination and was all but disregarded
in the clan history, leaving MacDermotts
Roe and MacDermott
of Moylurg.The territories of both septs are in County Roscommon.
In addition, of course, many other families of the name established
themselves over the centuries.
Coat of Arms
& Crest - Irish
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The accepted
version of the MacDermot Coat of Arms is described as
"argent
on a chevron gules between three boars' heads erased azure
tusked and bristled or as many cross crosslets of the last".
The Crest
is described as
"a
demi-lion rampant azure holding in the dexter paw a sceptre
crowned or."
Crest
Motto "honor et virtus" (honour and virtue)
Coat Motto
"honor
probataque virtus" (honour and proven virtue)
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There is some
conjecture about what the emblems on the MacDermott Coat mean, however
it is likely that MacDiarmada chose the boar symbol because of the
legend of the Fianna in which Diarmuid has an encounter with a boar
or it could simple be because the boar was considered a symbol of
potency and of unswerving and fierce determination. The MacDermot
was O'Conor's chief military vassal and therefore would need to
reflect this attribute on his Coat of Arms. The lion is a later
addition and would complement the already stated qualities of the
boar. The cross, in its various forms, is a clear affirmation of
the piety and observance of Catholic values and virtues of the holder
of the Coat.
Scottish
MacDermotts
The
Scottish McDermots, appear to be completely unrelated to the Irish
MacDermotts, however, the source of the name, however is probably
of similar meaning, given the Gaelic origins of both the Scots and
the Irish. Alternate, derivative or corrupted spellings of the name
in Scotland include: MacDermid, MacDermot, MacDiarmid or MacDormand
MacDearmid MacDiarmond MacDermand MacDhiarmaid MacDermaid MacDarmid
MacDermont MacDairmid MacDairmint. MacDermot and other spellings
with a terminal `t' are most likely Irish and only individual research
can tell whether of an Irish or Highland origin. Some Highland families
took Irish spellings on moving to Ireland or emigrating to the Americas
or Australia
The MacDiarmids
of Kenknock may have had the best claim to being the leading family
of the name. According to the Rev. William A. Gillies, there were
three branches of the MacDiarmids in Perthshire;
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the
‘Royal’ MacDiarmids who had the right of burial in Cladh Dobhi,
Morenish |
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the
Dubh-bhusach (‘Black -lipped) MacDiarmids |
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the
Craiganie MacDiarmids who went by the name of the ‘Baron MacDiarmids’ |
The family is
noted as an subsept of Clan Campbell, and recognised as a full sept
of Clan Campbell of Breadalbane. Clan Campbell were often referred
to as ‘Clan Diarmid’ because they attributed their ancestory to
the mythical Diarmid O’Duine, slayer of the great Boar of Caledon,
who was of the royal Houses of Darriada and Pictland. However no
link has yet been found between the MacDiarmid name and the 17th
century re-naming of Clan Campbell as Clan Diarmid.
The MacDiarmids
are supposed to have been the earliest settlers of Glenlyon in Breadalbane.
It is believed that the sept were part of the Dalriadic tribe of
Loarn who went to Moray from which they were expelled in 1160. They
then moved to Strathtay and onto Glenlyon, Loch Tay and Killin and
into the lands of the Earls of Breadalbane in Perthshire. It is
to here that the great majority of the family can trace its roots.There
has never been any doubt as the MacDiarmids their being latterly
the people of the Campbells of Glenorchy and Breadalbane.
The progenitor
of Clan Campbell of the Breadalbane, was Sir Colin Campbell, the
third son of Duncan - the first Lord Campbell of Lochow. The estate
was settled on him by his father prior to his death in 1454. It
had formerly been the possession of the warlike MacGregor Clan and
had come into the Campbell family during the reign of King David
the Second by virtue of the marriage of Margaret Glenurchy to John
Campbell. It was here that Colin founded
the first house of the great family of the Campbells of Glenurchy,
Earls and Marquesses of Breadalbane.
Coat of Arms
& Crest - Clan Campbell
There
are over two hundred coats of arms of Clan Campbell. The two major
ones are
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The Arms
of the Chief - Mac Cailein Mor, the Duke of Argyll.
Quaterly,
1st and 4th, Gyronny of eight or and sable (Campbell); 2nd
and 3rd, argent, a lymphad sails furled, oars in action sable
(Lorne).
CREST:
A boar’s head feassways erased or, armed argent, langued gules.
MOTTO:
Ne Obliviscaris, which is Latin for Forget Not or Do not forget
LOWER
MOTTO: Vix ca nostro voco Translation: I scarcely call all
this mine own SUPPORTERS:
(Dukes of Argyll only) Two lions rampant guardant gules, armed
or.
CLAN
WARCRY - Cruachan (Pron. Croo a hn) From the hosting ground
accross Loch Awe, overlooking the original lands of the Campbells
in Argyll.
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The Coat
of Arms of the International Federal of Clan Campbell Societies.
Gyronny of eight
or and sable - A gyronny is a section divided into eight pieces
These arms are
commonly used with the badges of the major families accompanied
by the appropriate Clan badge
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Cawdor
- a Crowned Swan with motto, "Be Mindful" |
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Loudoun
- a Double Headed Eagle with motto, "I Bide My Time." |
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Breadalbane
Badge: A boar's head, erased ; Motto - : "Follow me"
(Below) |
Famous MacDermotts
There
are a number of very well known MacDermotts
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Brian
MacDermot (d. 1592), learned owner of the famous manuscript
"The Annals of Loch Ce" |
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Hugh
MacDermot (1834-1904), leading barrister and politician |
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Martin
MacDermott (1823-1905), Young Irelander and poet of The Nation |
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Hugh
Hyacinth O Rorke MacDermot (1834-1904) was Solicitor General
for Ireland, Attorney General and a member of the Privy Council. |
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Sean
Mac Diarmada (1884-1916) was executed in May 1916 for his part
in the Easter Rising. |
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Madam
Mary Fitzgerald MacDermot (1659-1739) wife of MacDermot Roe
noted for her patronage of O'Carolan the harper at the time
when aristocratic patronage of the bards was almost a thing
of the past. O'Carolan was buried in the MacDermot family vault
at Kilronan. |
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