Hi Sandy, Fh in the Gaelic languages is silent. At some point about the late Middle Ages or so there was a kind of grammatical movement that got started to change a name like Mac Ferchar to Mac Fherchar to indicate that Ferchar is in the genitive ('of Ferchar'). With the change to Fh, and Fh being silent, a next step would be to change the spelling or to spell it phonetically as Mac Erachar. Today, the tendency would be spell it as either Mac Fearchair (pronouncing the F) or Mac Fhearchair (with the silent Fh), thereby preserving the original patronym for all to see. Best, Jerry Cló an Druaidh / The Druid Press www.druidpress.com ________________________________ From: Sandy Paterson <equisand@equiformratings.com> To: dna-r1b1c7@rootsweb.com Sent: Wed, May 18, 2011 2:51:52 PM Subject: Re: [R-M222] MacFeachair I've seen someone claim that the first surname used was McErachar. I'm not sure how Ferchar/Fearchar becomes Erachar though. Then Laumnon (Ladhman/Lagman) was used for one generation and then changed to Lawmanson or Lawmonson until around 1480 or so. Then there was a period of using patrynomics until eventually Lamont prevailed. Having said that, there are still Lamonds around. There's a Downie, possibly a McIlduie in earlier days in the Clam Lamont DNA site, plus a good few Downie or variants on a rapidly growing site of its own. It may be informative to compare Downies with Farquharsons. Sandy -----Original Message----- From: dna-r1b1c7-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:dna-r1b1c7-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Bernard Morgan Sent: 18 May 2011 19:08 To: dna-r1b1c7 Subject: [R-M222] MacFeachair What was the original surname of the original Lamont? I read of a charter calling him called Lawemundu Mac Greghere (after his grandfather). I read to that Mac Greghere was confused by some with Mac Gregor. Which makes me wonder about reference to Mac Gregors in Cowall area. Then I find authors saying that the Lamonts original named MacFhearchar or MacErachar. Which make me wonder about the M'Gilligowie proximity to the Farquharsons (the MacFeachair). R1b1c7 Research and Links: http://clanmaclochlainn.com/R1b1c7/ ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to DNA-R1B1C7-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message R1b1c7 Research and Links: http://clanmaclochlainn.com/R1b1c7/ ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to DNA-R1B1C7-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message