Though some of the personal names devised by our ancestors were less than attractive, by-andlarge they were complimentary. Whereas on one hand we had Banbhan, "a piglet, a suckingpig", and Cinneide (Kennedy), "ugly-headed, rough-headed", on the other there was Caomhnait, "beautiful girl", Caoimhseach, "beautiful, beloved girl", Caoinlean, "beautiful shape", Caointiarn, "gentle lady". Male names included Cathasach, "vigilant in war", Cathal, "strong in battle" and Cathach, "warlike". But which category was the feminine name Be Teite? Irish Per- sonal Names (Corrain and Maguire) says that Teite means "luxury" or "wantonness", and the name may well mean "wanton lady".
Of the heroic sort was Murchadh, "sea-battler", a favourite name among the O'Briens, O'Flahertys, O'Donovans, and other families. From this derived O Murchadha (modern O Murchu), anglicised Murphy, and Mac Murchadha (modern Mac Murchu). This latter was anglicised Morrogh, MacMorrough, and MacMorrow, and with the "Mac" omitted - Morrogh, Morrough and Morrow. This is generally found in Ulster, as well as being the royal house of Leinster. "The name MacMorrough is one of the most illustrious in Ireland," notes MacLysaght in Irish Families. On the downside was Dermot MacMorrough (11101171), King of Leinster who was responsible for the Anglo-Norman invasion, leading to his being scathingly known as Diarmuid na nGall, "Dermot of the foreigners". This sept divided into several sub-septs, the Kavanaghs, the Kinsellas, the O Morchoes and the MacDavie Mores.
Annala Rioghachta Eireann/ Annals of the Four Masters lists Mac Murchadha an impressive 38 times between the years 1137 and 1599, among which were a number of kings of Leinster. Of 24 deaths listed, 10 were "slain" and two were executed. One was blinded.
A number of the 58 listings of M'Morrogh in The Irish Fiants of the Tudor Sovereigns from 1566 to 1603 are in Munster. Mayors of Cork city were Thomas Morrough in 1411; John Morrough in 1435, 1437, 1441 and 1444; Thomas Murrough in 1460 and 1473, and James in 1629. Thomas Murrough was one of two city sheriffs in 1688. Mac Murchadha was listed a number of times in Connaught, and at least 20 times in the province of Leinster.
The largest number of this surname in any one fiant, however, was in Co Galway, listed in a "pardon" in 1585. Here was Teig O Flahertie m'Morough, Ballynonaghe, gent; Donell roe O Flahertie m'Morough, Island, gent; Hugh buoy m'Moroghe, Sellerne; Edmund Owery M'Morogh, the Krege; Moyler oge more m'Moyler, Clonemasse, and Richard m'Edmund M'Morrogh, Tolokynan. Though we have been unable to locate most of the place-names, the fiant appears to relate to Co Galway. Another grouping of the name is in a 1587 "pardon", wherein Tyrelagh M'Moraghe, Morrnyn, Cornock oge and Bryan reogh M'Morrogh, of Kilmachanry, all in Co Longford. Among the listed "pardoned" persons of Cos Carlow and Wexford in a fiant of 1566 were Creffin mac Morogh, Donell mac Morogh, and Tyrrolagh Mac Morrow. A fiant of 1594 notes that Thade or Teig M'Morrogh, late of Ballemcgilleboy, Co Galway, had been slain in rebellion. One of the earliest fiants (1552) was one pardoning Patrick m'Damore (?Mac Davie More) M'Morrough, captain, Clondonaghnakille, and Donald m'Moroghe, rector of Kilthenyll. We have not identified the first of these, but the second is now Kiltennell, from Cill tSinchill, "St Senchell church".
The Census of Ireland 1659 lists Morroghs among the principal Irish names in the Co Wexford baronies of Bargy, Forth, and Shelmaliere, and the country south-east of Enniscorty is still known locally as "The Murroughs". M'Moroughs were among the principal Irish names in Co Tipperary's Lower and Upper Ormonds; in the Co Clare baronies of Bunratty and Clonderlaw; in Co Limerick's Connello, and Co Longford's Moydow. Thomas Murrough was one of the listed Tituladoes of Mallow, Co Cork, and may have been ancestor of the man who owned 2,057 acres at Oldcourt, Doneraile, Co Cork, in 1876, as noted in Owners of Land of One Acre and Upwards. The other five Morrogh, Co Cork holdings noted were much more modest. The 318 Co Kerry acres and the 173 Co Tipperary acres were the property of a Cork Morrogh. Leonard Morrogh, Sleedagh, Murnstown, Co Wexford, owned 1,230 acres there. There were 19 modest Morrow holdings in six of Ulster's nine counties
Morrow is an English surname, meaning "row of houses on a moor", though were found in Co Fermanagh it is usually for MacMorrow. Current telephone directories list 10 Morroghs, of which four are in the Cork area; two Morroughs in Co Monaghan and 11 MacMorroughs, seven in the Cork area and three in Galway. The phone book of the six counties lists 650 Morrows and 16 McMorrows.