Ó Rothláin ( ) is an Irish surname. The name is a

patronym A patronymic, or patronym, is a component of a personal name based on the given name of one's father, grandfather (more specifically an avonymic), or an earlier male ancestor. It is the male equivalent of a matronymic. Patronymics are used, ...

meaning "descendant of Rothlán." It is suggested that it is a possible variant of Ó Raghalláin, or Ó Roghallaigh. It is, according to O'Riain the pre-

anglicised Anglicisation or anglicization is a form of cultural assimilation whereby something non-English becomes assimilated into or influenced by the culture of England. It can be sociocultural, in which a non-English place adopts the English language ...

, Irish form of the names Rowlan, Rowland, Rowlands, Rollan, Rollin, Rolan and Rowley, although O'Donavn notes in 1844 that the name is "now always anglicised Rowley." The name can also be spelled as Ó Rothlán, Ó Rothlain, O'Rothlain, Rothlán, and Rothlan.

Overview

The Ó Rothláin families have a strong link with

County Mayo County Mayo (; ) is a Counties of Ireland, county in Republic of Ireland, Ireland. In the West Region, Ireland, West of Ireland, in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Connacht, it is named after the village of Mayo, County Mayo, Mayo, now ge ...

, and Country Sligo in the province of

Connacht Connacht or Connaught ( ; or ), is the smallest of the four provinces of Ireland, situated in the west of Ireland. Until the ninth century it consisted of several independent major Gaelic kingdoms (Uí Fiachrach, Uí Briúin, Uí Maine, C ...

, and belong to the Uí Fiachrach. Historically, the family held the role of

chieftain A tribal chief, chieftain, or headman is a leader of a tribe, tribal society or chiefdom. Tribal societies There is no definition for "tribe". The concept of tribe is a broadly applied concept, based on tribal concepts of societies of weste ...

(titled as "

Taoiseach The Taoiseach (, ) is the head of government or prime minister of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. The office is appointed by the President of Ireland upon nomination by Dáil Éireann (the lower house of the Oireachtas, Ireland's national legisl ...

").

History

Chieftains of the Principality of Coolcarney

Dubhaltach Mac Fhirbhisigh states in a poem written in 1417 that, Coolcarney "embraced the territory between Beel Lasa (or Foxford) and the Brosnach river in Castleconnor." William Gregory Wood-Martin wrote that the family territory included Cluain na gCliabhrach (anglicised as Cloonagleavragh). Mac Fhirbhisigh describes "O'Rothlain the Ready" as one of four chieftains in Coolcarney and states that they were a "festive party." of Coolcarney John O'Donovan stated: ''"These are its hereditary tribes, namely, O'Rothlain its chieftain, and Ua Cuinn, Ua Iarnain, and Ua Finain."''

References in Irish annals and scholarly works

Members of the Ó Rothláin sept are recorded in ''The Tribes, Customs and Genealogies of the Hy Fiachrach'' by O'Donovan. * The earliest reference is found in Irish annals dating back to 1208. According to the ''

Annals of the Four Masters The ''Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland'' () or the ''Annals of the Four Masters'' () are chronicles of Middle Ages, medieval Irish history. The entries span from the Genesis flood narrative, Deluge, dated as 2,242 Anno Mundi, years after crea ...

'', ''Auliffe (also spelled "Awlave") O'Rothlain, Chief of Calry of Coolcarney, was slain by O'Moran''. * The name Ó Rothláin appears again in the year 1337 in the ''Annals of Connacht'' (''Annála Connacht''),1337.9, stating that, "Master Ó Rothlain rested in Christ." This same event again appears in the ''Annals of the Four Masters'', M1337.3, "The Master ''Professor'' Ó Rothlain died."''Annals of the Four Masters''. M1337.3 (http://www.ucc.ie/celt/published/T100005C/index.html) * In 1340, during the reign of

Edward III of England Edward III (13 November 1312 – 21 June 1377), also known as Edward of Windsor before his accession, was King of England from January 1327 until his death in 1377. He is noted for his military success and for restoring royal authority after t ...

, it is stated that "O'Rothlain, chiefs of Coill Fothaidh, a district on the borders of

Roscommon Roscommon (; ; ) is the county town and the largest town in County Roscommon in Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It is roughly in the centre of Ireland, near the meeting of the N60 road (Ireland), N60, N61 road (Ireland), N61 and N63 road (Irelan ...

and Mayo; they are thus mentioned by O'Dugan: 'O'Rothlain of Coill Fothaidh let us not omit, Chief of the whitestoned goblets and spears.'"

References

External links