Ó Maol Fábhail
Encyclopedia
Ó Maol Fábhail, anglicised as Lavelle is an Irish surname. It can also be found as O'Mullawill, or rarely, as Mulfall or Mac Fall.
, particularly in County Mayo
, where Griffith's Valuation
of 1857 recorded 286 Lavelle households. Many were located on Achill Island
. It is found sparsely elsewhere in Ireland.
The Lavelles of Mayo and elsewhere in Connacht are believed by MacLysaght to be descendants of the clan
Ó Maol Fábhail, a surname phonetically anglicised as Lavelle.
On page 370 of Ruaidhrí Ó Flaithbheartaigh
's Iar Connacht, James Hardiman
quotes the manuscript
called Crichaireacht cinedach nduchasa Muintiri Murchada
, which states that O'Maelampaill of Donaghpatrick is the brehon
of O'Flaherty. Hardiman notes concerning this family states:
Of Donaghpatrick, Hardiman states:
The surname derived from the Gaelic personal name, Maol Fábhail, its form denoting descent from a person named in honor of a Saint Fábhail. Nineteen persons of the name are cited by Nollaig Ó Muraíle
(pp.479-480, volume V Leabhar na nGenealach
) but none seem to have been saints. Elsewhere, (pp.450-451, volume I) he has them as Ui Mhaoil Fhábhaill (or Maoil Ampuill). Based upon a variant manuscript
of Crichaireacht cinedach nduchasa Muintiri Murchada
, it also cites the family as the brehon
s or judge
s of the clan
Ó Flaithbheartaigh
, c. 1100.
. However, though the forms O'Lawell, O'Lowell and O'Lavell are recorded in the 17th-century Hearth Money Rolls for Armagh, they are believed to be unrelated to the Connacht family (Mac Lysaght p.144, 1996).
and were chiefs of Carrickbraghy
, in the barony of Inisowen. There, however, it has been widely corrupted to MacFael, MacFall and even MacPaul and Paul." He goes on to note that this makes it indistinguisable from the family of Mac Fall of Antrim (p.144, 1996).
The family would thus descend from Fergus Cendfota, son of Conall Gulban
. Fergus's grandson, Ainmuire mac Sétnai
, was King of Tara at his death in 569 (see Cenél Conaill
family tree). The eponym, Maol Fábhail, lived in the mid-9th century, and the surname not come into use till the time of his grandsons or great-grandsons, some one hundred years later (i.e., mid-to-late 10th/early 11th century. He is identified as Maol Fábhail mac Loingseach in the following note from the Annals of Ulster
:
The Annals of Inisfallen
, sub anno 1102, record that The son of Mac Lochlainn with the Cenél Eógain went into Ulaid, and their camp was attacked when unguarded, and the king of Carraig Brachide, namely, Ua Maíl Fhábaill, and the son of Conrach, son of Eógan, and many others were slain.
Thus it is confused with Mulfall of Donegal (see above). "The most distinguished of the name was Dr. James Augustine MacFaul
(1850-1917), Bishop of Trenton
, protagonist
of Irish Catholic causes in U.S.A."
:
Lavelle is found in France
and Belgium
as a surname but, being derived from a placename, has a different and unrelated origin to the Irish surname. Examples include
French people bearing the surname include:
In Spain
, it is derived from placenames such as La Vellés
.
Lavelle of Connacht
The surname Lavelle is found mainly in ConnachtConnacht
Connacht , formerly anglicised as Connaught, is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the west of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for...
, particularly in County Mayo
County Mayo
County Mayo is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the village of Mayo, which is now generally known as Mayo Abbey. Mayo County Council is the local authority for the county. The population of the county is 130,552...
, where Griffith's Valuation
Griffith's valuation
Griffith's Valuation was a survey of Ireland completed in 1868. -Griffith's background:Richard John Griffith started to value land in Scotland, where he spent two years in 1806-1807 valuing terrain through the examination of its soils...
of 1857 recorded 286 Lavelle households. Many were located on Achill Island
Achill Island
Achill Island in County Mayo is the largest island off the coast of Ireland, and is situated off the west coast. It has a population of 2,700. Its area is . Achill is attached to the mainland by Michael Davitt Bridge, between the villages of Gob an Choire and Poll Raithní . A bridge was first...
. It is found sparsely elsewhere in Ireland.
The Lavelles of Mayo and elsewhere in Connacht are believed by MacLysaght to be descendants of the clan
Clan
A clan is a group of people united by actual or perceived kinship and descent. Even if lineage details are unknown, clan members may be organized around a founding member or apical ancestor. The kinship-based bonds may be symbolical, whereby the clan shares a "stipulated" common ancestor that is a...
Ó Maol Fábhail, a surname phonetically anglicised as Lavelle.
On page 370 of Ruaidhrí Ó Flaithbheartaigh
Ruaidhri Ó Flaithbheartaigh
Ruaidhri Ó Flaithbheartaigh, King of Iar Connacht and Chief of the Name, fl. 1244-1273.-Biography:Ruaidhri was a brother of the preceding chief, Morogh...
's Iar Connacht, James Hardiman
James Hardiman
James Hardiman , also known as Séamus Ó hArgadáin, was a librarian at Queen's College, Galway. The university library now bears his name...
quotes the manuscript
Manuscript
A manuscript or handwrite is written information that has been manually created by someone or some people, such as a hand-written letter, as opposed to being printed or reproduced some other way...
called Crichaireacht cinedach nduchasa Muintiri Murchada
Crichaireacht cinedach nduchasa Muintiri Murchada
Crichaireacht cinedach nduchasa Muintiri Murchada is a tract concerning the medieval territory called Muintir Murchada, located in County Galway, Ireland.-Outline:...
, which states that O'Maelampaill of Donaghpatrick is the brehon
Brehon
Brehon is the term in Gaelic-Irish culture for a judge. The Brehons were part of the system of "Brehon Law". The Brehons wore yellow robes when delivering verdicts. Several dozen families were recognised as hereditary brehon clans.-See also:* Mac an Bhaird...
of O'Flaherty. Hardiman notes concerning this family states:
- O'Maelampaill. This name is written Ó Maol Fábhail in Dubhaltach Mac Fhirbhisigh's copy of this tract. The name is still extant, but pronounced O'Mullawill, and sometimes anglicised Lavelle. According to the tradition in the barony of MurriskMurriskMurrisk is one of the Baronial divisions of County Mayo and also a village in County Mayo, Ireland, on the south side of Clew Bay, about 8 km west of Westport and 4 km east of Lecanvey....
, or Iar-Umhall (UmaillUmaillUmaill was a kingdom or territory located in the west of what is now County Mayo, Ireland. It comprmised of the baronies of Burrishoole and Murrisk, essentially all the land adjacent to Clew Bay.-Description:...
) this family is of DanishKingdom of DenmarkThe Kingdom of Denmark or the Danish Realm , is a constitutional monarchy and sovereign state consisting of Denmark proper in northern Europe and two autonomous constituent countries, the Faroe Islands in the North Atlantic and Greenland in North America. Denmark is the hegemonial part, where the...
descent, but this tradition does not appear to be entitled to much credit.
Of Donaghpatrick, Hardiman states:
- Donaghpatrick, Domnaig Padraig, i.e., of St. Patrick's church. This is the name of a parish in the north of the barony of ClareClare-Australia:* Clare, South Australia, town in the Clare Valley* Clare Valley, wine region-Canada:* Clare, Nova Scotia, municipal district* Clare , electoral district-Ireland:* County Clare, one of the 26 counties of the Republic of Ireland...
. Its original church stands in ruins near the margin of Lough Hackett, which is the Loch Cime of the old Irish writers. (p.370) The parish of Donaghpatrick is between the towns of HeadfordHeadfordHeadford is a town in County Galway, located 26 km north of Galway city in the west of Ireland. The N84 national secondary route from Galway to Castlebar passes through the town. The R333 road travels from Headford to Tuam. There are many other 'boreens' and third-class roads on the...
and TuamTuamTuam is a town in County Galway, Ireland. The name is pronounced choo-um . It is situated west of the midlands of Ireland, and north of Galway city.-History:...
.
The surname derived from the Gaelic personal name, Maol Fábhail, its form denoting descent from a person named in honor of a Saint Fábhail. Nineteen persons of the name are cited by Nollaig Ó Muraíle
Nollaig Ó Muraíle
Nollaig Ó Muraíle is an Irish scholar. He published an acclaimed edition of Dubhaltach Mac Fhirbhisigh's Leabhar na nGenealach in 2004. He was conferred with the honour of admittance to the Royal Irish Academy in 2009.-Life and career:...
(pp.479-480, volume V Leabhar na nGenealach
Leabhar na nGenealach
Leabhar na nGenealach is a massive genealogical collection written mainly in the years 1649 to 1650, at the college-house of St. Nicholas's church, Galway, by Dubhaltach MacFhirbhisigh. He continued to add material until at least 1666, five years before he was murdered in 1671...
) but none seem to have been saints. Elsewhere, (pp.450-451, volume I) he has them as Ui Mhaoil Fhábhaill (or Maoil Ampuill). Based upon a variant manuscript
Manuscript
A manuscript or handwrite is written information that has been manually created by someone or some people, such as a hand-written letter, as opposed to being printed or reproduced some other way...
of Crichaireacht cinedach nduchasa Muintiri Murchada
Crichaireacht cinedach nduchasa Muintiri Murchada
Crichaireacht cinedach nduchasa Muintiri Murchada is a tract concerning the medieval territory called Muintir Murchada, located in County Galway, Ireland.-Outline:...
, it also cites the family as the brehon
Brehon
Brehon is the term in Gaelic-Irish culture for a judge. The Brehons were part of the system of "Brehon Law". The Brehons wore yellow robes when delivering verdicts. Several dozen families were recognised as hereditary brehon clans.-See also:* Mac an Bhaird...
s or judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
s of the clan
Clan
A clan is a group of people united by actual or perceived kinship and descent. Even if lineage details are unknown, clan members may be organized around a founding member or apical ancestor. The kinship-based bonds may be symbolical, whereby the clan shares a "stipulated" common ancestor that is a...
Ó Flaithbheartaigh
O'Flaherty
Ó Flaithbertaigh, Gaelic-Irish surname, anglicized as O'Flaherty-Overview:This Gaelic-Irish surname is written as "Ua Flaithbertach" or "Ua Flaithbertaig" in Old Irish and Middle Irish texts....
, c. 1100.
Lavelle of Armagh
Twelve Lavelle households were recorded by the same survey in County ArmaghCounty Armagh
-History:Ancient Armagh was the territory of the Ulaid before the fourth century AD. It was ruled by the Red Branch, whose capital was Emain Macha near Armagh. The site, and subsequently the city, were named after the goddess Macha...
. However, though the forms O'Lawell, O'Lowell and O'Lavell are recorded in the 17th-century Hearth Money Rolls for Armagh, they are believed to be unrelated to the Connacht family (Mac Lysaght p.144, 1996).
Mulfall of Donegal
This is a rare form of the surname Mulfall, who's original form is also Ó Maol Fábhail, but "is of different and distinct origin, being that of a family who descended from Fergus, grandson of Niall of the Nine HostagesNiall of the Nine Hostages
Niall Noígíallach , or in English, Niall of the Nine Hostages, son of Eochaid Mugmedón, was an Irish king, the eponymous ancestor of the Uí Néill kindred who dominated Ireland from the 6th century to the 10th century...
and were chiefs of Carrickbraghy
Cairrge Brachaidhe
Cairrge Brachaidhe, aka Carrickbraghy or Carrichbrack, a Gaelic-Irish medieval territory located in Inishowen.-Overview:Thought to have been named after, or by, Brachaidi mac Diarmata of the Cenél Fergusa , a kindred who held the territory from the early medieval period...
, in the barony of Inisowen. There, however, it has been widely corrupted to MacFael, MacFall and even MacPaul and Paul." He goes on to note that this makes it indistinguisable from the family of Mac Fall of Antrim (p.144, 1996).
The family would thus descend from Fergus Cendfota, son of Conall Gulban
Conall Gulban
Conall Gulban was an Irish king who founded the kingdom of Tír Conaill in the 5th century, comprising much of what is now County Donegal. He was the son of Niall Noígiallach....
. Fergus's grandson, Ainmuire mac Sétnai
Ainmuire mac Sétnai
Ainmuire mac Sétnai or Ainmire or Ainmere was a High King of Ireland from the Cenél Conaill branch of the Uí Néill. He was the great grandson of Conall Gulban , founder of this branch. He ruled from 566-569...
, was King of Tara at his death in 569 (see Cenél Conaill
Cenél Conaill
The Cenél Conaill is the name of the "kindred" or descendants of Conall Gulban, son of Niall Noígiallach defined by oral and recorded history. They were also known in Scotland as the Kindred of Saint Columba....
family tree). The eponym, Maol Fábhail, lived in the mid-9th century, and the surname not come into use till the time of his grandsons or great-grandsons, some one hundred years later (i.e., mid-to-late 10th/early 11th century. He is identified as Maol Fábhail mac Loingseach in the following note from the Annals of Ulster
Annals of Ulster
The Annals of Ulster are annals of medieval Ireland. The entries span the years between AD 431 to AD 1540. The entries up to AD 1489 were compiled in the late 15th century by the scribe Ruaidhrí Ó Luinín, under his patron Cathal Óg Mac Maghnusa on the island of Belle Isle on Lough Erne in the...
:
- 878/81: Maelfabhaill, son of Loingseach, lord of Carraig Brachaighe (or Chairrge Brachaighe), died.
The Annals of Inisfallen
Annals of Inisfallen
The Annals of Inisfallen are a chronicle of the medieval history of Ireland. There are more than 2,500 entries spanning the years between AD 433 and AD 1450, but it is believed to have been written between the 12th and 15th centuries...
, sub anno 1102, record that The son of Mac Lochlainn with the Cenél Eógain went into Ulaid, and their camp was attacked when unguarded, and the king of Carraig Brachide, namely, Ua Maíl Fhábaill, and the son of Conrach, son of Eógan, and many others were slain.
Mac Fall of Antrim
Writing of this family, Mac Lysaght states:- "Mac Fall (MacPhail and MacPhoil) which I think is of ScottishScottish peopleThe Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
origin. O'Mulfoyle is listed in the 1659 'census' as a principal Irish surname in the barony of Tirkeerran, which is contiguous to Inishown."
Thus it is confused with Mulfall of Donegal (see above). "The most distinguished of the name was Dr. James Augustine MacFaul
James Augustine McFaul
James Augustine McFaul was an Irish-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Trenton from 1894 until his death in 1917.-Biography:...
(1850-1917), Bishop of Trenton
Roman Catholic Diocese of Trenton
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Trenton is a diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in southern New Jersey, United States. Its ecclesiastic territory includes the counties of Burlington, Monmouth, Ocean, and Mercer ....
, protagonist
Protagonist
A protagonist is the main character of a literary, theatrical, cinematic, or musical narrative, around whom the events of the narrative's plot revolve and with whom the audience is intended to most identify...
of Irish Catholic causes in U.S.A."
Ua Maíl Fhábaill of Muscraige
Still another family of the name were located in MunsterMunster
Munster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the south of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial purposes...
:
- AI1208.3 Ua Maíl Fhábaill of MuscraigeMúscraigeThe Múscraighe were an important Érainn people of Munster, descending from Cairpre Músc, son of Conaire Cóem, a High King of Ireland. Closely related were the Corcu Duibne, Corcu Baiscind, both of Munster, and also the Dál Riata of Ulster and Scotland, all being referred to as the Síl Conairi in...
was slain by Mac na Sethar Ua B[...] through enmity.
Variations
Variations include Lawell, Melville, Mulville and MacFaul, though these are generally reckoned as separate, unrelated surnames.Lavelle is found in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
as a surname but, being derived from a placename, has a different and unrelated origin to the Irish surname. Examples include
- Velle-le-ChâtelVelle-le-ChâtelVelle-le-Châtel is a commune in the Haute-Saône department in the region of Franche-Comté in eastern France.-References:*...
- Velles, Haute-MarneVelles, Haute-MarneVelles is a commune in the Haute-Marne department in north-eastern France....
- Velles, IndreVelles, IndreVelles is a commune in the Indre department in central France....
French people bearing the surname include:
- Louis LavelleLouis LavelleLouis Lavelle was a French philosopher. His magnum opus is La Dialectique de l'éternel présent, a metaphysical work in four volumes: De l'Être , De l'Acte , Du Temps et de l'Eternité , and De l'Âme Humaine .Lavelle's other writings include La dialectique du monde...
, philosopher, 1883-1951.
In Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, it is derived from placenames such as La Vellés
La Vellés
La Vellés is a municipality located in the province of Salamanca, Castile and León, Spain. According to the 2004 census , the municipality has a population of 424 inhabitants....
.
Bearers of the name
Notable Lavelles include:- Patrick LavellePatrick LavelleFather Patrick Lavelle , was a priest and Irish nationalist.Lavelle was born in Mullagh, Murrisk, the son of a farmer. He was educated at the local hedge-school and St. Jarlath's, Tuam. He was ordained a Catholic priest at St. Patrick's, Maynooth, in 1851...
, priest and Irish nationalist, 1825-1886. - John Daniel Lavelle, United States Air ForceUnited States Air ForceThe United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
generalGeneralA general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
, 1916-1979. - John LavelleJohn LavelleJohn W. Lavelle formerly represented the 61st Assembly District in the New York State Assembly, which comprises much of the North Shore of Staten Island....
, Democratic party representative in New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, 1949-2007 - Michael Lavelle, S.J., PresidentPresidentA president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
of John Carroll UniversityJohn Carroll UniversityJohn Carroll University is a private, co-educational Jesuit Catholic university in University Heights, Ohio, United States, a suburb of Cleveland. The university was founded in 1886 by the Society of Jesus as Saint Ignatius College.The university was founded in 1886 by the Society of Jesus, as... - Caroline LavelleCaroline LavelleCaroline Lavelle is a British singer-songwriter and cellist who has created three solo albums and contributed vocals, music, and production help to many other artists and bands.-Career:Lavelle studied at the Royal College of Music in London...
, BritishUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
singer-songwriterSinger-songwriterSinger-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
and cellist, born 1969. - James LavelleJames LavelleJames Lavelle is a DJ, electronic recording artist and record label boss.-Early years:Born into a family with a strong tradition of music, Lavelle first began by learning the cello with his grandmother in Oxford....
, DJ, electronic recording artist and record labelRecord labelIn the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
boss, born 1974.
External links
- http://www.irishtimes.com/ancestor/surname/index.cfm?fuseaction=Go.&UserID=