IRISH-AMERICAN-L Archives

From: "Jerry Kelly" <>
Subject: THE HEREDITARY MARTIAL ARTISTS KNOWN AS McHALLEN / McHELLIN / McALLEN / McCALLEN
Date: Thu, 5 May 2005 12:52:26 -0400
References: <bf.56999ae8.2fa51351@aol.com>

Hi David,

McHallen, McHellin, McAllen, McCallen are, as you point out, Anglo phonetic attempts at Mac Ailín, the name of a family of gall-óglaigh who were brought to Tír Chonaill ('Donegal') by my ancestors the Uí Dhomhnaill kings of Tír Chonaill around the 15th century. So you and I go way back.

These were hereditary gall-óglaigh ('foreign young champions'), the Gaelic-speaking warriors of mixed Norse and Gaelic descent from the Western Isles of Scotland whose special martial art was the 'spar' or tua fada ('long axe'). Unlike the Irish and Scots Gaeil, whose culture traditionally regarded armor as a sign of fear and therefore a cause for disgrace or 'meth n-enech' (literally "loss of face') which resulted in loss of honor-price or status in Gaelic society, these Gaill-Ghaeil ('foreign Gaeil') embraced the armor-bearing tradition of their Norse ancestors, clothing themselves head to toe in chain mail. The Irish kings beginning as far back as the 13th century imported the gall-óglaigh to counter the heavily-armored Normans. By 1312, with the help of the gall-óglaigh, the Irish kings had turned the Norman tide at the battle of Deiseart Uí Dheághaidh ('Dysart O'Dea') and the Gaelic reconquista of Ireland had begun.

As a Mac Ailín (a variant spelling is Mac Cailín), your clan descent is as follows:

Mac Ailín, of the
Clann Choileáin ('Children of Coileán') or Caimbhéil ('Cambells'), of the
Ó Duibhne (an Irish family who moved to Scotland, say 10-11th century)

As far as I know, the earlier ancestry of the Ó Duibhne is not known, although the genealogies of saor-chlanna ('free clans') which remained in Ireland typically go back accurately to the 5th to 7th centuries, while their tribal genealogies go back further. [I make the distinction between the saor-chlanna ('free clans') and daor-chlanna ('unfree clans') because it was unlawful under Féineachas ('Brehon Law') to record, maintain, or transmit the genealogies of the daor-chlanna.]

The Ó Domhnaill kingship extended into what is now Co. Derry. Baile Mhic Ailín ('Ballymacallion') in Co. Derry is named after your family. I'll guess it's in western Co. Derry towards the Donegal border but I haven't checked.

As for Nicholson, there are English and Scottish families of this name in Ulster. But in your case, given that you're Boston Irish, note that Nicholson is also the usual anglicization (and direct English translation) of the Irish surname Mac Niocaill. Look for them next door to Donegal and Derry in Tír Eoghain, now also known as Co. Tyrone.

Hope that's helpful. Best, - Jerry


----- Original Message -----
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Sent: Saturday, April 30, 2005 12:58 PM
Subject: Irish Surname


Hello Jerry.... I note in your messages to the Irish-American roots web list that you seem to have much knowledge of Irish surname etymology. I have Boston Irish ancestors with the various Anglized surname of McHallen, McHellin, McHallam (gravestone name), McAllen, McCallen. These various spellings appear on birth, marriage and death certificates but I do not know where in Ireland the family originated or under what the birth name would have been in Ireland c. 1820. Would you have any advice? Many thanks for your time. Also seeking Irish birthplace of Nicholsons also Boston Irish who married other family's daughter.

David Nicholson

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