Odd Name?

[Phenmark]

Hello All!
Is anybody familiar with the name, "Abino?" At least that's what I see as the middle name of my great x2 aunt, Mary Magner (see attached). Her father was from Macroom, Cork. I see an "Abin" listed as a surname on rootsireland. I was hoping I might find it to be the maiden name of her mother. I've never run into it as a Christian name.
Thanks!

[heywood]

The name Abina has been discussed here before, I think and seems to be a Cork name if you google it.
I suppose Abino would be just a version of it.

[aghadowey]

There was this Kilkenny thread about it-
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=689434.0

However, a few other topics mention it was also used with Abigail- just use the search box at the top of the page and put in 'abina.'

[heywood]

It is reported to be the anglicised version of Gobnait.

http://www.libraryireland.com/names/women/gobnait-gobinet.php

You can read more about St Gobnait by searching.

[brianoleary85]

I did a bit of research regarding this before, but couldn't figure it out 100%. Abina is without doubt a name associated with Cork, specifically the area west of Macroom in nearby Ballyvourney. A female name, Abina seems to by a variant for Gobnait in the area (as pointed out by Heywood). Gobnait was a local saint and remains an important figure in the local community, and remains a popular girl's name in the area.

However, the name seems to come from a male - St Abbán, who was St. Gobnait's brother. Even in the below map of Ballyvourney, you will notice the shrines/wells dedicated to St Gobnait to be removed from that of St. Abban. (Gobnait's on the left of map, Abban on the right).
http://maps.osi.ie/publicviewer/#V1,520327,576713,6,9

But long story short, whatever about the origins, over the last couple of hundred years Abina is a girl's name most commonly associated with the Ballyvourney area of Cork, very close to Macroom.

[Phenmark]

As usual, my questions are no match for rootchatters!
Thank you all very much. All very interesting stuff. To have a name associated with a very specific  place is really something.
I've got a bottle of wine, it's Friday night-time to dig in!
Thanks again,
Steve

[annclare]

I have seen Gobnait Abina and Deborah used interchangeably in Kerry.
annclare

[hurworth]

I have seen Gobnait Abina and Deborah used interchangeably in Kerry.
annclare

Thank you.   Just as well I searched threads first as I've been wondering about this.

So, from that I gather if I'm looking for a woman whose descendants said was called Deborah, she could have been a Gobnait/Gubby/Gabby etc?

In the Irish Catholic parish records the chances seem rather high of being from Kerry if you are called Deborah.