Catherine Czerkawska in her "God's Islanders" about the people of Gigha, mentions that "Graham" is a very old name on that Island. Well, Somerled McMillan, in HIS book (mentioned below) has a section on the Grahams in Knapdale:
"This very old family is of ecclesiastical origin, their name in the Gaelic language being MAC-GHILLE-MHEARNAIG, 'son of the servant of St Mernoc', but through fanciful etymology they imagined that it was derived from GILLE-BHEARNAIG, 'servant of the bite', or 'greim', hence the change of their surname to GRAHAM. Their lands were known as Oib-MacIlvernock, and latterly as Oib-Greim..... On 22nd June, 1946, the following notice appeared in a well-known Scottish Newspaper: 'By giving up New Danna Farm, Tayvallich, Argyll, Mr. Archibald Graham is said to be ending a tenancy held by his family since 1692."
Such local information is valuable, because this western highland area is simply not covered by the usual Scottish reference books. For example, George F Black's book, "Surnames of Scotland" speaks only of the Anglo Norman Grahams who settled in Dalkeith and Abercorn, etc. The Grahams whose ancestors lived in Knapdale and on the edge of the Celtic Sea were of quite a different people.
2 comments:
I have a great interest in the family and have many references to them.
Their main places were Oib Graham or Oib MacIIlvernock, and Ardnackaig.
From memory my earliest reference is from the very early 1600s awhen Iver MacGillvernock of Oib was witness to a Campbell/MacIver deed.
The name Iver was common in the family leading to a possible connection with above family, though I cannot give evidence of this.
Andy Morrison
I am a McVarnock and currently working back through my family line.
McVarnock was changed from MacIlvarnock in the 19th century in Northern Ireland. I am speculating that my family came here after 1848 and the Clearances which occurred in North Knapdale at that time.
I have no idea why some of the family persisted with McIlvernock and others went with Greim/Graham.
Loved this resource. Thank you!
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