Source: Slaine typeface (which, for English use, adds
j, k, q, & v to z to the normal set) - James Shields.
L*nn*n: The early records
It should be noted in what follows that the the introduction of surnames in Ireland was probably only in the early tenth century. A further qualification is that genealogies in the manuscripts were often suited to benefactors. My earliest variety of something similar to the present surname is in fact neither Lennan or Lennon, but in the year 606 A.D. in the Annals of Inisfallen, written 1092-1326 A.D., "I 606.1 Colmán mc. Lénin quieuit, & Fintan mc. Echach & Laisren Mena Drochit." after the battle of Echros. (In the translation given: "AI 605.4 Colmán, son of Lénéne, rested, and Fintan, son of Eochu, and Laisrén of Min Droichit [AU 603; Tig.]."). The AU reference is to the Annals of Ulster, written c. 1489 A.D., where the battle is recorded. A 1703 translation of the Eoghanacht Genealogies, from the Book of Munster, records "It was Cairbre Crom who gave Cloyne to God and St.f colman mac Lenin (first bishop of diocese of Cloyne, d. 604)." In 780 A.D. the Annals of Ulster has "U780.6 M. Leinne, abbas Innse Bairenn, obiit.". (In the translation given: "U780.6 Mac Leinne, abbot of Inis Bairenn, died.")
In the same source in 896 A.D. there is a Lonáin "I 896.3 Guin Flaind meicc Lonáin, rí filed n-Erend, la h-Ú Fothaid Tíre" (translation: "AI 896.3 The slaying of Flann son of Lonán, king of the poets of Ireland, by the Uí Fhothaid Tíre."). However, probably Lonán, which occurs quite frequently, see several entries below, is unrelated to Lennán. Looking through the manuscripts the number of 'án' endings appears to be significant. There are many.
Also in the Annals of Inisfallen in 898-9 A.D. there is the first obvious rendering: " I 898.1-2 Mors Flaind meicc Cathrannaich, rí Corcu Bascind. Lennán mc. Cathrannaich i r-ríge dia h-éis. I 899.1 Quies Mescill meicc {folio 15f} Cummascaich, abb Imlecha Ibair, & Flann mc.Conaill do gabail abbdaine dia éis". (translation: "AI 898.1-2 Death of Flann son of Cathrannach, king of Corcu Bascinn. Lennán, son of Cathrannach, succeeded him in the Kingship. Repose of Mescell son of Cumascach, abbot of Imlech Ibuir, and Flann, son of Conall, took the abbacy after him"). Incidentally, Corcu Bascinn was in Co. Clare.
There is another Lonán in 1012 A.D. "I 1012.2 Quies Loingsich meicc Lonain, abb Ruis Chré." (translation: "AI 1012.5 Repose of Loingsech son of Lonán, abbot of Ros Cré.")
In 1119 A.D. "I 1119.2 Murchertach Ua Briain, rí Érend, fo buaid aithirgi quieuit, & in t-epscup Ua Lennain, airchinnech Inse Cathaig, quieuit in Christo, & epscup Lis Móir, Ua Daigthig, quieuit in Christo, & martra in fir dana U Buagellain cona da maccaib & cona mnai & cona muintir. Escuni De for cach n-oen daroni in gním!" (translation: "AI 1119.2 Muirchertach Ua Briain, king of Ireland, rested after a victory of repentance; and the bishop Ua Lennáin, erenagh of Inis Cathaig, rested in Christ; and the bishop of Les Mór, Ua Daigthig, rested in Christ; and the violent death of the poet Ua Baígelláin together with his two sons, his wife, and his train. The curse of God on those who did the deed!"). Inis Cathaig is Scattery Island, about a mile from Kilrush.
In 1252 A.D. we have a location named after Lonán: "I 1252.4 Mor ingean Concubhair meic Thoirdhealbhaigh I Bhriain, .i. bean Cormaic Me Charrthaigh, & ni raibhe acomaimsir ria bean dobearr anas, quieuit in Cristo a Cill Lonain, & a n-adhnacad innti & a taisi do breith go Lis na m-Brathar.{folio 47a}" (translation: "AI 1253.4 (Mór, daughter of Conchobar son of Tairdelbach Ó Briain [and] wife of Cormac Mac Carthaig,-and there was no woman in her time better than she-rested in Christ at Cell Lonáin. She was buried there, and her relics were brought to Les na mBráthar}."). For relevant transcripts in 'acrobat' format, see sub-page Inisfallen.
In the great sources from University College Cork on line, which include the Annals of Inisfallen above, searches for leannan etc. bring up many lovers, concubines, etc., as well as children and windmills, if shortened (if you try something similar, make sure to click in the table pane first).
Meanwhile, a Gregory Olannan in Kilkenny in c.1182 appears in the "Ormonde Deeds" Volume I, entry 4. There are two Olennans (Robert - entry 155 and William - entry 485), a David Olannan (entry 67) and a Lorcan Olonyn (entry 485), in 1305 in the "Calendar of the Justiciary Rolls, Ireland, Edward I", Volume II. There are a number of other early entries (Olonan in 1307, O'Lonnan in 1310, Lemman and Lemnan in 1311, O'Leynan in 1313 & Lannan in 1403) in the latter source (see Salt Lake page for details).
In the Annals of the Four Masters, written
1632-6 A.D., there are several early near misses in Volume
2. See Celt transcription
(or translation)
for the appropriate year.
Use the manuscript icon on the left
for pictures of original pages of text in the Annals of the
Four Masters in the Royal Irish Academy available from the
"collections" pane on Dublin
Institute for Advanced Studies site, starting with the
first which is a Lenae in 913 A.D.:
"M913.8 Lenae, mac Catharnaigh,
tighearna Corca Bhaisgind, do écc."
(translation: "M913.8 Lenae, son of
Catharnach, lord of Corca-Bhaiscinn, died.")
In 918 A.D. there is
"M918.14 Fland, mac Lonain,
Uirghil Sil Scota, file is deach baoi i n-Erinn ina aimsir,
do mharbhadh lá macaibh Cuirrbhuidhe, do Uibh
Fothaidh iaid-sidhe) i n-duine-taídhe occ Loch
Dá Chaoch i n-Déisibh Mumhan."
(translation: "M918.14 Flann, son of
Lonan, the Virgil of the race of Scota,
the best poet that was in Ireland in his time, was
treacherously slain by the sons of Corrbuidhe, who were of
the Ui-Fothaidh, at Loch Dachaech, in Deisi-Mumhan.")
In 920 A.D there is
"M920.15 Aodh, mac Lonáin
ui Guaire, tanaisi Aidhne, d'écc."
(translation; "M920.15 Aedh, son of
Lonan O'Guaire, Tanist of Aidhne,
died.")
One then has to skip to Volume 4 of
the Celt transcription
(translation)
to find closer matches. The first is an O'Lennan in the
Age of Christ, one thousand three hundred eighty, to be
found in M1380.1 "An t-abb Mac
Diarmata Ruaidh, .i. abb na Trionoide for Loch Cé,
& Domhnall Ua Lennáin
Prióir Leassa Gobhail do écc."
(translation: "M1380.1 The Abbot Mac Dermot Roe, i.e.
Abbot of the Monastery of the Blessed Trinity on Lough-Key,
and Donnell O'Lennan, Prior of Lisgool
in Fermanagh, died.").
Other Lennan references from this
source are also deaths: "M1430.1
"Giolla na Naomh Ua
Lennáin canánach &
Sacrita Lesa Gabhail d'écc."
(translation: "M1430.1 Gilla-na-naev
O'Leannain, Canon and Sacristan of
Lisgool, died").
"M1434.4
Lucas Ua Leannáin prióir
Leasa Gabhail, & Matha Ua Congaile aircindeach Rossa
Airthir d'écc." (translation:
"M1434.4 Lucas O'Leannain, Prior
of Lisgool, and Matthew O'Conghaile, Erenagh of
Rossory, died").
"M1445.1
Tomas Ua Lennain cananach & Sacrista
Leassa Gabail d' écc." (translation:
"M1445.1 Thomas O'Leannain, Canon
and Sacristan of Lisgool, died").
"M1446.1
Eóin Ua Lennain
prióir Mainistreach Leassa Gabhail do
ecc." (translation: "M1446.1 John
O'Leannain, Prior of the Monastery of
Lisgool, died").
"M1466.1
Brian mac Giolla Pattraicc Meg Uidhir abb Leasa Gabhail,
& Domnall Ua Leannan cananach do
muintir Leasa Gabail d'écc."
(translation: "M1466.1 Brian, the son of Gillapatrick
Maguire, Abbot of Lisgool, and Donnell
O'Leannain, a Canon of the family of
Lisgool, died").
Note: In the manuscript "e" represents a stem on the "e" - an ogonek or eogonek, still used in Polish and Navajo (where it involves the vowel being nasalized - the character is ą - character 261), Lithuanian, & Tutchone, plus according to some, Turkish, and is shown as ę. Pronunciation is suggested as "en", without completing the "n". It might explain the "e" and "ea" variations found in the manuscript, as well as the Lannan/Lennan variation.
Snippets should also be included from the O'Clery Book of Genealogies, translations from Sir William Betham's "Linea Antiqua" §230 Genelach Meic Gille Finnein, Toisech Muinntire Feodachain [Mac Lennon - Ua Canannan](Page 30). Genelach .H. Maoil Doraidh 229. (col. a). Maol ruanaidh m Muirchertaigh m Oenghusa m Maoil bresail m Mail doraidh (a quo .h. Mail doraidh) m Aenghusae m Mur- chadha m Mail bresail m Flaithbertaigh m Loingsig (.i. glun re talmain) m Aenghusa m Domnaill m Aedha m Ainmirech m Stena m Ferghusa cennfhoda m Conaill ghulban m Neill noighiallaigh. Genelach meic Gille Finnein, Toisech Muinntire Feodachain. 230. Enri crosach m Ragnaill m Uilliam meit (col. b) m Domnaill m Conchobair m Gille Patraicc m MicRaith m Gille finnein (a quo mic Giolla finnein) m Maol ruanaigh m Muircertaigh m Aenghusa m Mael bresail m Mail doraid (o tait .h. Mail doraidh). 231. Seaan mac Briain dorcha m Lochloinn oig m Lochlainn mhoir m Donnchadha mic Toirrdelbaigh m Enri crossaigh. 232. Flaitbertach m Loingsigh m Cuileoin m Loinccsicch m Mail foithbil m Canannan (o tait .h. Chanannain) m Flatbertaigh m Loingsigh m Aenghusa m Domnaill m Aedha m Ainmirech.
The Keating Genealogies show Muinntear Leannain (the Lennan clan) as being the progeny of Eochaidh Breac, son of Daithi, son of Fiacra (brother of Niall Naoighiallach - aka Niall of the Nine Hostages), third son of Eochaidh Muighmheadhoin.
In addition, Laud
610 has Incipit minigud senchasa Ceniuil Echdach.
Eochaid mac Eogain, a quo Cenel nEchadach in Chotaig, se
maic leis .i. Doe, Ciaran, Feidilmid, Maelfeirn, Assan,
Meinne. I. Doe chetus, is he ropo ri Hua Fiachrach uile 7
cheniuil Echdach, condorchair la Hiub Mic Carthind ic Ath
Guirt in chatha. Is uad atat Hui Lonan.
II. Ciaran immorro, a quo Sil Ciarain hile .i. Sil Hua
Fiachrach huile 7 Ciaran Duine da En i nDal Araide 7 Sil
Ciaran Hua nEchdach i nAirtheraib. III. Fedlimid, a quo Hui
Chellaig 7 Hui Charadain 7 Hui Thigernaig 7 Hui Drucain 7
Multi alii 7 Hui Ruissi secundum quosdam. and
Cenel Coelbad corice so. Cenel immorru Aeda asso sis.
Aed mac Fergusa, secht maic lais .i. Loegaire, Tautan,
Uanaind, Coman, Breccan, Lannan, Ubban. O
Loegaire tellach Cinaeda .i. Oe Branacain, Oe Gan, Oe
Mailmaige, Oe Cathalan 7 tellach Muredaig .i. Oe
Loingsechain, Oe Enaisc, Oe Berecdai, Oe Scurri, Oe
Mailfinn, Hoe Lannacain, Oe Firaiste. Oe Thuatain .i. Oe
Bruatair, Oe Murchadha, Oe Beoailb. Oe Uanainn .i. munter
Mellain. Oe Commain .i. Oe Dibnaid. O Brecan .i. O
Airisnig. O Hubban .i. cland Duban Hi Connachtaibh. O
Loegaire .i. Oe Chollai.
An instant Lennan genealogy (from Adam to circa 750 A.D.)
The Celt on line transcription of the Rawlinson genealogies, or the Book of Glendalough, written 1110-30 A.D., even allows the superficial researcher to get back on one line pretty far - in fact to the infamous abductor of St. Patrick - Niall of the Nine Hostages. Although no dates are there, no work is required: In Section 14 scroll down to p.167 GENELACH CLAINNE LUGDACH MEIC LÁEGAIRE. and you will find "996. Máel Maith m. Ciarhuidir {facsimile page & column 145b} m. Máel Pátric m. Lennáin m. Nárgusa m. Máel Rubae m. Rechtcride m. Moga m. Dóer m. Ultáin m. Rónáin m. Cellaich m. Faílbe m. Flaind Dubthaire m. Ailella m. Guaire m. Lugdach m. Láegaire m. Néill Noígiallaig" (where m = son of, and approximate dates are for Niall, High King of Ireland 378-405 A.D., Lóegaire son of Niall of the Nine Hostages, High King 429-458 A.D., and for Lughaidh son of Lóegaire, High King 479-503 A.D.). After Lughaidh, none of this branch from Niall were High Kings. Where not Northern Ui Neill, they were other Southern branches (Cholmáin, Cairpri, Cremthainni, Conaill or Aedo, see Denis Walsh). For relevant transcripts in 'acrobat' format, see subpage Rawlinson B.502. For more details on kings before Niall (allegedly the 126th Monarch of Ireland), from Linea Antiqua, see the Milesian legends
Click icon for the entry from Book of
Lecan (Genelach Clainne Ligdach Meic Láeghaire),
written c.1417 A.D., at
Folio 62V, column d, line 17. It is three below the
yellow "M" in the fourth column which looks like
an "N"!
Click icon for the corresponding entry
in the Book of Ballymote (in the Royal Irish Academy
collection on Irish Script
on Screen ), written 1384-1406 A.D., at
Folio 53r column b, line 32 (which corresponds to Folio
87 in the original facsimile publication). Here the
spelling is clearly Lendán. It does not figure in
the Celt database, but a transcription can be found at line
809 of Luke Stevens page of the
O'Neill genealogies.
Click icon for a second Lennán
from Book of Lecan at
Folio 108V, column b, line 40 (i.e. second column on
page, 40th line) , although it looks more like
lendáin, while the entry at top of column seems
fine.
Click icon for the corresponding
truncated tree from the Book of Leinster, written c.1160
A.D., on
Folio 325, column a, line 25, which is very clear in
the first column - even with a capital 'L' and red
shading.
Click icon for the corresponding entry
in the Book of Ballymote at
Folio 84r column b, line 28 (which corresponds to Folio
147 in the original facsimile publication). Here the
spelling is again Lendán. A transcription does not
figure in the Celt database and Luke has yet to reach this
page in his monumental work.
From Niall, you can get back another 38, or so, generations through GENELACH CLAINNE COLMÁIN, on the header of Section 14, just above p.160, to Úgaine Máir, i.e. "954] Murchad & Máel Sechnaill & Murcherdach & Diarmait cethri m. Domnaill m. Flaind m. Máel Sechnaill m. Domnaill m. Donnchada m. Flaind m. Máel Sechnaill m. Máel Ruanaid m. Donnchada m. Domnaill m. Murchada m. Dermata m. Airmedaich m. Conaill Guthbind m. Suibni m. Colmáin m. Diarmata m. Fergusa Cerrbéoil m. Conaill Cremthainni m. Néill Noígiallaig{facsimile page & column 144a} m. Echach (.i. Mugmedóin) [High King 357-365 A.D.] m. Muiredaich (.i. Tírich) [High King 357-365 A.D.] m. Fiachach Sraptene [Kigh King c.286 A.D.] m. Cairpri Liphechair [High King c. 268 A.D.] m. Cormaic Ulfhota [High King c.266 A.D.] m. Airtt Óenfhir [High King c.166 A.D.] m. Cuinn Chétchathaich [High King c.123 A.D.] m. Feideilmid Rechtada m. Tuathail Techtmair [High King 76-106 A.D.] m. Fiachach Findfolaid [High King d. 56 A.D.] m. Feradaich Findfechtnaich [High King 110-119 A.D.] m. Crimthaind Niad Náire m. Lugdach Riab n-Derg m. na Trí Find Emna m. Echach Feidlich m. Find m. Fintain m. Finguill m. Finloga m. Rotha m. Rigéoin m. Essemna Emna m. Bláthechta m. Beóthechta m. Labrada m. Énna Aignich ((s)unn trá deligit Úi Néill & (Ul)aid & Dál Fiatach & Dál Riata) m. Óengusa Turbig Temra m. Fir Cetharraid m. Fir Raith m. Fir Anaraith m. Fir Almaig m. Láebchuire m. Echach Altlethain m. Ailella Casfiaclaich m. Condlaíd m. h-Eirora m. Meilge m. Cobthaich Cóil Breg m. Úgaine Máir ((s)und condrecat Laigin (& O)ssairge & Leth Cuind archena)." By my reckoning, this brings us back to well before 300 B.C.!
If not content at 300 B.C, why not go back to Adam, via Noah? But don't forget that in addition to, perhaps, the bias that is inherent in giving powerful people important pedigrees (it is amazing how only kings, rather than peasants, seemed to have descendants!), the clerics may have had a particular interest in linking to Biblical sources (have yet to find the heroic leap).
Start on p.329 at the end of "1696 ...... m. Ailella Casfiaclaich m. Conlaíd m. h- Irero m. Meilge m. Cobthaich m. Úgaine Máir m. Echach Buadaig m. Duach Ladcrai &rl."
Then move back to page 3 of Section 1:
"35. Ladcrai Duach, deil flann,
Fiachra Tolcrai,
tuirn muirn, Muiridach borb Bolgcrai.
36. Buadach Senén én Ethén gluair
gargrí,
glass gléthach Nuadu, níthach
ardrí."
....passing to page 4, and, eventually,.......
"48. Meicc Dé aird aingil nimi
nélgel
Noe, Lamiach, Mathusalám érgel.
49. Enóc, Iaréth, Malalél
caínchlann,
Cáinán, Enos, Séth sóer
nanua.
50. Sóeriu Ádam athair
dóene dóengein
duine delbas Dia, án óengein.
51. Óengein Dé talman tréoin
trebthaig
trebann attreb treb domuin debthaig.
52. Dia tréda triar ardd óenda
óenrí amra nime nóediu nia
nóebda.
Nuadu"
Now all I have to do is to fill the gap between circa 750
A.D and 1840!
Return to Lennan home page, return
to "Lenn*n bits and
pieces" main page, or go to Irish language subpage
Or go
to data for the index to Lenn*n
entries.
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for Irish railway data
Or even, go to my railwayana auction price pages
