I've had a couple of requests to list some of the Gaelic to English name changes in south Argyll, mainly Kintyre, so I'm summarising them here. A couple of cautions: this is by no means an exhaustive list - I would welcome additions and corrections; for some of these I have documentary proof of changes, and these are indicated by an asterix (*); for others, I am relying on others' research and anecdotal information from the area, which is where I was born and brought up. 1 SURNAME ANGLICISATIONS 1A Loss of Mac/Mc McStockair --> Stalker McIntyllour --> Taylor McVurrich --> Currie McCook --> Cook McKeith/McKeich --> Keith McMurchy --> Murchie or sometimes Murphy McNiven --> Niven 1B Simple Translation McTavish / McTamais --> Thomson (*) McMath --> Mathieson 1C Less Obvious Translations McSporran (ie purse bearer) --> Purcell McQuilkan --> Wilkison or Wilkie (*) McKendrick --> Henderson McFiggan (ie small son) --> Littleson (*) McVorran or McDorran --> Morrison (*) 1D Others Drain or O'Drain --> Hawthorn Brolachan --> Brodie Loynachan --> Lang (*) It is also worth noting that in conversation and in some written records, the Mac/Mc is often omitted from some surnames: eg John McShannon could be known as John Shannon or John Shennagh; Margaret McTaggart might be known as Maggie Taggart. 2 CHRISTIAN NAME ANGLICISATION OR CHANGES More / Mysie / Mirren --> Sarah (*) Jeally --> Julia Girzel --> Grace Neps --> Annabella (*) Hope that this is helpful. SARAH (or Morag, More, Maisie, Sadie) GALBRAITH (or Gilbreath, Culbreath etc)

I have been embroiled in a one name study on the McKINVEN surname and variants for some years now and would be interested in hearing from list members that may have instances of the surname appearing amongst their own research. I have a large amount of data on those carrying the name particularly from the Kintyre Peninsula and in some cases further afield. More than willing to share my resources. Dave MacKinven Christchurch New Zealand davidj1947@xtra.co.nz