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Ireland (Historical Counties) => Ireland => Westmeath => Topic started by: skill on Wednesday 27 May 09 13:36 BST (UK)
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Does anyone know anything about the origins of this townland near Multyfarnham, especially its original Irish name ?
Many thanks
skill
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It may be bi-lingual. I ahve often come across such placenames with a bit of Anglisized irish and English. Town may be just that town/Townland and Killin can be a small Church or monastic cell and it can also be a little wood. The answer to your query will be found in the Donovan Letters for Westmeath which can be viewed in a Westmeath library. I have not found an Irish version of this placename in any placename books.
Regards.
Tom.
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Thanks, Tom.
According to a search on the Irish Placenames Commission's web-site, the name is English and the Irish name has yet to be confirmed. However, I will check the source you recommend - does anyone else have access to this or offer a look-up ?
My great great great grandfather Thomas Killin was born in the parish of Mullingar near the market town of Mullingar around 1787. I have been through the RC birth records for Mullingar parish and the only likely entry that I found was a Thomas Killeen born to Hugh Killeen and Mary Stuart in 1785. I found many records of Killins/Killens/Killeens/Killians and Killions in the RC parish BMD index at Westmeath County Library going back to around 1740, as well as reference to a John Killinge having two houses and three garden plots, including the "black bakehouse" in the Civil Survey of Mullingar as at 23rd October 1641. I am trying to ascertain whether Killintown may have been the place of origin of the Killin family of Mullingar, Westmeath, like Ballykilleen was the seat of the Killeen or O'Killeen family in Mayo. I also found references to leases of land to one William O'Killin at Creevebeg in Ballyloughloe, Westmeath, in 1503. Any suggestions or advice would be much appreciated.
Kind regards
skill
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Hi,
Just came across your query about Killintown.
I found the following some time ago and it may be of interest to you.
"The name Killan or Killen or Killin comes from the Irish name O'Cilleain, descendant of Cillean, a diminutive of Ceallach, an ancient and once very common name. (Taken from Page 397 of "The Surnames of Scotland")"
I do not think the Scottish meaning of Killin has anything to do with out surname.
Regards,
Derek Killin
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Thanks, Derek.
Sorry about the slow reply. This is very helpful.
Kind regards,
skill
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Hi Skill, Have found out recently that after the McGregor Clan was proscribed, some of the McGregors may have taken the name of Killin from the village. Go to http://hal_macgregor.tripod.com/gregor/tree.html to see more.
Regards,
Derek
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nothing on logainm for it..
http://www.logainm.ie/en/52059?s=killintown
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Going back to the original post -
Dublin Evening Post 25 April 1797
"In Killintown, near Multifarnam, Mr W Gifenan, farmer, at the great age of 103n years - he wa married to his fifth wife, who brought him forth a son about 18 months ago"
The "f" in bold represents the long S as appears in the original article.
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mmmmmhh!
Could well be "f" not the long"s" I usually think of when I see "f" pre 1800!
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Northampton Mercury, 27 May 1797
"In Killintown, near Multifarnam, William Gifenman, farmer, at the great age of 109 years. He was married to his fifth wife, who brought him two fine boys, 18 months ago"