Author Topic: the omey family and the war of independance in american I found this.  (Read 905 times)

Offline marcie dean

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the omey family and the war of independance in american I found this.
« on: Thursday 11 May 17 10:07 BST (UK) »
The Omeys
A. I. B. Stewart
One of the most interesting indigenous Kintyre surnames is Omey. Four hundred years ago there were a number of surnames here with the Irish Gaelic prefix "O". It seems Omey is the only one to survive. The Obrolochans dropped the "O" and finally became Brodies. By the same process the Oloynachans became Langs. The Odrains changed their names to Hawthorn and the Macoshenoigs became McShannons, while some who went to the Lowlands became plain Shannons. The Okaldies of Machrihanish and Knockhanty give rise to the Okellys who in due course became Kellys. What became of the Ocolchans and the. Obrenans the Ocholtans and the Ocoynes, the Odowans and the Odimans. mentioned along with the Obrianns (as well as Mcbrionns) in the 1636 list of tenants? None of these latter names are even mentioned in Black's "The Surnames of Scotland."

The name Omey is believed to be from the Gaelic Miadhaigh which means esteemed or honourable, the "O" implying descent. Prior to the 17th Century, it is only found in Kintyre. It is found spelt Ofey, Omay Omey, O'May and a branch which settled in Perthshire appears to have dropped the prefix.

Prior to the 17th Century written evidence of any sort is extremely scarce, especially in relation to remoter parts like Kintyre but the name occurs in the earliest Royal record of Kintyre tenants, made on the instruction of King James IV in 1505, where John Ofey is. noted as the occupier of the four merkland of Dalnaeccleis (now Dalimore) Crislag and Kilquhattan in Kilblaan Parish.

Andrew McKerral on whose work this article is almost wholly based suggests that Dalnaeccleis and Crislag (now Christlach) from their names were probably church lands and this is particularly interesting in view of the strong connection of the family with the church both before and after the Reformation.

In the rental of 1506 Gilchrist Ofey is shown as joint occupier of the lands with John. Master Duncan Omey was in 1531 appointed by King James V to the benefice of Kilberry vacant on the death of Sir Cornelius Omey, prebendary of Kilberry in Knapdale. This, as Andrew McKerral points out, cannot be the same Cornelius Omey who graduated at St. Andrews in 1528 and who was holding the Rectory of Kilblaan in 1560.

He suggested the following family tree (1)Sir Cornelius died 1531. (2)Master Duncan, the King's surgeon was his son. (3)Cornelius, Rector of Kilblaan 1560 son of Duncan. (4)Duncan who was granted a Charter of Kilcolmkill in 1622 being the son of Cornelius (3).
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