Ó Comáin

Ó Comáin
	; Ó Comáin in a Gaelic type.
Language(s)	Irish
Origin
Derivation	Kings of Déisi Munster; Kings of Uí Díarmata; Saint Commán of Roscommon; Saint Coman of Kinvara
Meaning	"noble"
Region of origin	Connaught, Munster, Clare

The Irish surname Ó Comáin is rooted in an Irish chiefdom.^[1] Its anglicised forms include Comain(e), Coman, Comeens, Comin(s), Commane, Comman(s), Commin(s), Common(s), Commyn, Comyn(e), Cowman(s), Cummane, Cumings, Cummin(s), Cumming(s), Cumyn, Cummyn, Kimmons, MacSkimmins, McCowman. It is sometimes incorrectly mistranslated as Hurley due to the superficial resemblance between the unrelated Gaelic words comán and camán, the latter referring to a hurling stick.^[2]^[3]

The names are derived from the Gaelic personal name Comán (meaning "noble" or "steadfast") or Commán ("companion" or "communion"), a name from early Irish history.

The surname is rooted in the provinces of Connacht (sept: Ó Cuimín) and Munster (sept: Ó Comáin), particularly in County Clare, and the 8th and 9th century chiefdom of Tulach Commáin.^[4]^[5] a burial and inauguration site for chieftains, and their capital Cahercommaun ("The Dwelling of Commaun/Commane")^[a]^[6]^[5] also in Clare.^[3]^[7]^[8]

The various spellings can largely be attributed to the lack of Standard Irish until 1948, and the historical practice of English-speaking officials transcribing Irish names phonetically, often based on how the names were pronounced. In many cases, English officials transcribed names they were already familiar with, for example writing down Comyn or Cumming, well-known Scottish surnames of Norman origin, despite having no connection to the Irish name Ó Comáin.

Chiefdom of Tulach Commáin

Tulach Commáin was a small Irish chiefdom, coexisting with the larger and more ancient chiefdom of the Corcu Mruad. It likely emerged from the disintegration of this larger polity, possibly forming part of the Dál Cais and Thomond's chiefdom confederacies.^[9] The chiefdom's capital, Cahercommaun (Cathair Commáin or "Commane's Residence"), served as the political and ceremonial centre of Tulach Commáin in the 8th and 9th centuries.^[10]^[11]

In the Gaelic nobility of Ireland, Tulach Commáin likely functioned as an autonomous túath or as part of a larger composite chiefdom.^[12] It served as a hub of political, social, and religious activity, with its elaborate structures and associated monastic sites indicating its importance as a regional power.^[9]

The identity and origins of Tulach Commáin

In the Anals of Innisfallen, the death of Colman mac Comáin on one of the Aran islands is recorded in 751 A.D, according to Gibson, likely son or descendent of Comáin chief of Tulach Commáin.

A possible brother is mentioned in the Anals of Innisfallen and Annals of Ulster, the demise of Célechair mac Commáin (son of Commáin) is recorded in the Battle of Corcmodruadh in either 704 or 705 A.D. Gibson identifies him as of the Eóganacht Uí Cormaic, a branch of the prominent Eóganacht dynasty. Gibson's work draws on references such as O'Brien's Corpus Genealogiarum Hiberniae and Byrne's Irish Kings and High-Kings, which outline the genealogical framework of the Eóganacht. According to Frost, the Uí Cormaic settled in what is now the Islands Barony, possibly on the territory of the Corcu Baiscinn, located directly east of Tulach Commáin. Gibson suggests that Cahercommane, associated with Tulach Commáin, may have been the centre of a short-lived Eóganacht chiefdom, or part of the larger mór túath (over-kingdom) of the Corcu Mruad.^[13]

Royal connection

Célechair mac Commáin, being of the Eóganacht Uí Cormaic, would directly link him by genealogy to the Eóganacht dynasty, which dominated Munster's rulership in early medieval Ireland. The Eóganacht trace their origins to Éogan Mór, a King of Munster and the progenitor of the dynasty, through notable figures such as Conall Corc, founder of the Eóganacht Chaisil. This connection would place Célechair mac Commáin's lineage within a royal framework, with ancestors likely holding the title of Rí (king) at various levels of the Eóganacht hierarchy.^[9]

In Séamus Pender’s Déssi Genealogies,^[14] Suibne mac Comáin (d. 658) is mentioned in the succession of Kings of Déssi Muman (old Irish for Munster). Also mentioned in the succession is his son or descendent Congal mac Suibne, king of the Déisi, died 701.

Other historical and ecclesiastical records

"Commán" also appears in various Irish historical and ecclesiastical records, such as "Commán mac ua Theimhne," associated with Temenrige and commemorated in early Christian calendars.^[15]

Loss of ancestral lands

In the 13th century the clan was dispossessed of their lands, following the Anglo-Norman invasion, by the "De Burgos" (Burke) invaders.^[16]

19th Century

As late as the 19th century, Tulach Commáin the burial and inauguration site for chieftains, was regarded as a supernaturally potent spot. A local told an archaeologist "it has more fairies that all the other forts of the hill".^[8]

Notable figures

Several historical and ecclesiastical figures may be associated with the name and variants:

Commán of Roscommon: (6th-century) Saint, bishop and founder of Roscommon (St. Comman's Wood).
Ferchess mac Commán earliest known mytho-historical figure in annals.^{[citation needed]}
Suibne mac Comáin (d. 658) King of Déssi Munster.^{[citation needed]}
Giolla Comáin mac Néill (died 991) was 2nd King of Uí Díarmata.^{[citation needed]}
Colmán mac Comán: (8th-century) one of the four sages of Ireland, the second abbot listed in the Irish annals.^{[citation needed]}
Pádhraic Ó Comáin: (19th-century) Irish writer and poet, known for his works in the Gaelic Revival movement.^{[citation needed]}
Gilla Cómáin mac Gilla Samthainde: (11th-century) a medieval Irish poet.

Notes

^ Also called Cahercommane and Cathair Chomáin - Irish spellings and names may use various spellings.

References

^ MacLysaght, Edward (1972). Irish families; their names, arms, and origins. is a Gaelic Irish surname... the number of variants in English is considerable... In one form or another the name appears in the roll of distinguished Irishmen from a very early date. In the sixth century, long before the introduction of surnames... St. Common founded Rosscomon
^ MacLysaght, Edward (1985). The Surnames of Ireland. Irish Academic Press. pp. 52-53. ISBN 0716523663. (O) Commane, Commons 'Ó Comáin' (in Munster) and 'Ó Cuimín' (in Connacht). Usually called Commons in Co. Wexford and Cummins in Co. Cork. 'Ó Comáin' has become Hurley in some parts of Cos. Clare and Cork, due to the mistaken belief that it describes from 'camán', a hurley. Woulfe says it is from 'cam', crooked, which is equally unacceptable [..] Comyn The name of a Norman-Irish family which is also used in Co. Clare as the anglicized form of Ó Cuimín, see previous entry
^ ^a ^b MacLysaght, Edward (1 December 1988). The Surnames of Ireland: 6th Edition. Irish Academic Press. ISBN 978-1-911024-64-4. mistaken belief that comán derives from camán a hurley
^ "Cahercommaun Fort, Co. Clare". www.mooregroup.ie. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
^ ^a ^b Gibson, D. Blair, ed. (2012), "Of Settlements and Boundaries:: Reconstructing the Chiefdom of Tulach Commáin", From Chiefdom to State in Early Ireland, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 139–165, doi:10.1017/CBO9781139059022.008, ISBN 978-1-107-01563-0, retrieved 7 January 2025
^ "The Burren: Cahercommane Triple Fort". www.clarelibrary.ie. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
^ Gibson, D. Blair (27 August 2012). From Chiefdom to State in Early Ireland. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-1-107-01563-0.
^ ^a ^b Gibson, David Blair Ph.D. (1990). Tulach Commain: A view of an Irish chiefdom. University of California. p. 242.
^ ^a ^b ^c Gibson, David Blair (1990). Tulach Commain: A view of an Irish chiefdom (PhD Dissertation). University of California. p. 392. Célechair mac Commáin was of the Eóganacht Uí Cormaic.
^ Gibson, D. Blair (27 August 2012). From Chiefdom to State in Early Ireland. Cambridge University Press. pp. 139–140. ISBN 978-1-107-01563-0.
^ Arnold, Bettina; Gibson, D. Blair (1995). Celtic Chiefdom, Celtic State. Cambridge University Press. p. 144. ISBN 978-0-521-58579-8.
^ "Tulach Commain: A view of an Irish chiefdom - ProQuest". www.proquest.com. pp. 370–372. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
^ Frost, James (1893). The History and Topography of the County of Clare: From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the 18th Century. author.
^ 1. Séamus Pender, Déssi Genealogies. Available online: PDF of the book. 2. Kings of the Déisi
^ "Commán macua Theimhne - Temenrige". CELT - Corpus of Electronic Texts. University College Cork. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
^ O'Hart, John (1881). Irish Pedigrees, Or, The Origin and Stem of the Irish Nation. M.H. Gill & Son. p. 209. bottom right of page 209 for quote

[6] Also called Cahercommane and Cathair Chomáin - Irish spellings and names may use various spellings.

[1] MacLysaght, Edward (1972). Irish families; their names, arms, and origins. is a Gaelic Irish surname... the number of variants in English is considerable... In one form or another the name appears in the roll of distinguished Irishmen from a very early date. In the sixth century, long before the introduction of surnames... St. Common founded Rosscomon

[MacLysaght1985_p5253-2] MacLysaght, Edward (1985). The Surnames of Ireland. Irish Academic Press. pp. 52-53. ISBN 0716523663. (O) Commane, Commons 'Ó Comáin' (in Munster) and 'Ó Cuimín' (in Connacht). Usually called Commons in Co. Wexford and Cummins in Co. Cork. 'Ó Comáin' has become Hurley in some parts of Cos. Clare and Cork, due to the mistaken belief that it describes from 'camán', a hurley. Woulfe says it is from 'cam', crooked, which is equally unacceptable [..] Comyn The name of a Norman-Irish family which is also used in Co. Clare as the anglicized form of Ó Cuimín, see previous entry

[:1-3] MacLysaght, Edward (1 December 1988). The Surnames of Ireland: 6th Edition. Irish Academic Press. ISBN 978-1-911024-64-4. mistaken belief that comán derives from camán a hurley

[4] "Cahercommaun Fort, Co. Clare". www.mooregroup.ie. Retrieved 7 January 2025.

[:3-5] Gibson, D. Blair, ed. (2012), "Of Settlements and Boundaries:: Reconstructing the Chiefdom of Tulach Commáin", From Chiefdom to State in Early Ireland, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 139–165, doi:10.1017/CBO9781139059022.008, ISBN 978-1-107-01563-0, retrieved 7 January 2025

[7] "The Burren: Cahercommane Triple Fort". www.clarelibrary.ie. Retrieved 7 January 2025.

[8] Gibson, D. Blair (27 August 2012). From Chiefdom to State in Early Ireland. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-1-107-01563-0.

[:02-9] Gibson, David Blair Ph.D. (1990). Tulach Commain: A view of an Irish chiefdom. University of California. p. 242.

[Gibson1990-10] Gibson, David Blair (1990). Tulach Commain: A view of an Irish chiefdom (PhD Dissertation). University of California. p. 392. Célechair mac Commáin was of the Eóganacht Uí Cormaic.

[11] Gibson, D. Blair (27 August 2012). From Chiefdom to State in Early Ireland. Cambridge University Press. pp. 139–140. ISBN 978-1-107-01563-0.

[12] Arnold, Bettina; Gibson, D. Blair (1995). Celtic Chiefdom, Celtic State. Cambridge University Press. p. 144. ISBN 978-0-521-58579-8.

[:2-13] "Tulach Commain: A view of an Irish chiefdom - ProQuest". www.proquest.com. pp. 370–372. Retrieved 6 January 2025.

[14] Frost, James (1893). The History and Topography of the County of Clare: From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the 18th Century. author.

[15] 1. Séamus Pender, Déssi Genealogies. Available online: PDF of the book. 2. Kings of the Déisi

[16] "Commán macua Theimhne - Temenrige". CELT - Corpus of Electronic Texts. University College Cork. Retrieved 6 January 2025.

[17] O'Hart, John (1881). Irish Pedigrees, Or, The Origin and Stem of the Irish Nation. M.H. Gill & Son. p. 209. bottom right of page 209 for quote

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