The
surnameMcGovern (
Irish: Mág Samhradháin), is of
Irish origin and is found predominantly in the counties of
Cavan (among the fifteen most common names),
Fermanagh and
Leitrim.
The
Irish name is Mag Samhradháin, meaning the Son of Samhradhán, and the clan or
sept takes its name from one
Samhradhán who lived c. 1100 AD descended from 7th-century Eochaidh, a descendant of
Brión mac Echach Muigmedóin. Eochaidh gave his name to Teallach Eochaid, modern day
Tullyhaw in Cavan. This was long the territory of the McGoverns. Their strongholds were at
Ballymagauran,
Bawnboy,
Coologe and
Lissanover in Cavan.[2][3]
There are many variations found in the spelling of the name, all of which are attempts at a phonetic spelling of the Gaelic Mag Samhradháin. The Mag part can be found as Mag, Meg, Mac, Mau, Mec, Mc, Ma or M'. The Samhradháin part (which may be attached to or detached from the Mag part and all its variations) can be found (the G being capitalised or not) as Samradhan, Shamhradhan, Shamhraghan, Shamradhan, Goveran, Govern, Govran, Gawran, Gawrain, Gawrene, Gawryne, Gauran, Gaurin, Gaurn, Gaurien, Gaurayn, Gaveran, Gaheran, Gahran, Gowran, Gouran, Gurn, Gurren, Guran, Guarayn.
Chiefs of the Clan
The following is a provisional list of the chiefs of the McGovern Clan, Barons or Lords of
Tullyhaw.
c.653-686 Eochaidh, son of Maonach (After whom is named Teallach n-Eachach or
Tullyhaw)
c.686-719 Oireachtach, son of Eochaidh
c.719-752 Dúnghal, son of Oireachtach
c.752-785 Cosgrach, son of Dúnghal (perhaps the Coscrach, son of Donn whose death is mentioned in AFM 794)
Brian Breaghach (d. 1298) = Maoilmheadha Mac Kiernan (d. 1323)
¦
Tomas (d. 1343) = Nualaidh Maguire
¦
Fearghal (d. 1393)
¦
Tomas na Feasoige (d. 1458)
¦
Tomas Og (d. 1494)
¦
Maghnus (d. 1497)
¦
Tomas (d. 1532)
¦
Brian
¦
Feidhlimidh (d. 20 Jan 1622)
¦
Brian (b. 1592, fl. 1626)
¦
Cathal (fl. 1655)
References
C. Maguire, "Bawnboy and Templeport- History Heritage Folklore" (1999)
Margo R. Griffin-Wilson, "Sidelights on History: The Book of Magauran and the Annals", in Proceedings of the Harvard Celtic Colloquium, Vol. 2 (1982), pp. 75-87.
L. McKenna, ed., tr. (1947), “The Book of Magauran”.
C. Parker, “Two minor septs of late medieval Breifne”, in Breifne Journal, Vol. VIII, No. 31 (1995), pp. 566–586
Seán MacBrádaigh, The Genealogy of MacGovern, in Genealogical Society of Ireland Journal, 2003, Vol. 4, No. 2, Page 122.
Seán MacBrádaigh, The genealogy of MagShamhradháin, in Breifne Journal 2010, Vol.XII, No.45, pp. 150–153.
J. H. McGovern (1890), “Genealogy and Historical Notices of the MacGauran or McGovern Clan”
M.V. Duignan (1934), "The Uí Briúin Bréifni genealogies", pp. 90–137, in JRSAI Vol. 4, No. 1, Jun. 30, 1934.
McCarthy, Judith. “The Importance of the Tower House in the Late Medieval Society of Breifne” in Breifne Journal vol. VIII, No.1 (1989–90), pp. 118–136.
F. J. McKiernan, “Hearth Money Rolls for the Baronies of Tullyhaw and Tullyhunco”, in Breifne Journal, Vol. I (1960), pp. 247–262
Salvador Ryan, ‘Wily women of God’ in "Cavan’s late medieval and early modern devotional collections", in Brendan Scott (ed.), Culture and society in early modern Breifne/Cavan (Dublin: Four Courts Press, 2009)
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