Mo- in the names of mediaeval saints?

baeris · **Joined:** Mon 17 Oct 2022 4:51 pm **Posts:** 27

I've noticed that many mediaeval saints' names contain this element 'Mo' which is sometimes treated as a separate word. Maybe this practice extended to given names generally but I've only personally seen this in the names of saints such as:

baeris · **Joined:** Mon 17 Oct 2022 4:51 pm **Posts:** 27

(sorry I didn't mean to submit the post prematurely)

some examples are
-Molaise/Laisrén of Leighlin
-Mo Chutu/Mochuda of Lismore
-Mo Lua/Molua of Killaloe
-Moling/Moling of Ferns
-Mo Ecca (St Fechin) of Fore
and others

Does anyone know what this is or how I could find out more?
Thanks

djwebb2021 · **Joined:** Thu 27 May 2021 3:22 am **Posts:** 1751

baeris wrote:

(sorry I didn't mean to submit the post prematurely)

some examples are
-Molaise/Laisrén of Leighlin
-Mo Chutu/Mochuda of Lismore
-Mo Lua/Molua of Killaloe
-Moling/Moling of Ferns
-Mo Ecca (St Fechin) of Fore
and others

Does anyone know what this is or how I could find out more?
Thanks

It means "my" and is used as a term of endearment. E.g. Cill Míde - the church of "my" Ita.

St Mocheallóg - also St Cellog.

St. Molua of Killaloe was really Lua (=Lughaidh), but the people called him "Mo Lua" (my Lughaidh). See http://www.patrickcomerford.com/2019/02 ... small.html

So the possessive stuck as part of the name of many saints.

Labhrás · **Joined:** Sat 03 May 2014 4:01 pm **Posts:** 1972

Do- ("your") was used as well, also written Da-, e.g. Dabheog, also called Mobheog.

tiomluasocein · **Joined:** Thu 01 Sep 2011 11:36 pm **Posts:** 687

Interesting in that in the slightly different situation of direct address, "a" (or it's older forms) is used. Are there any cases of that, where "a" or even "ár" is used for saints' names?

baeris · **Joined:** Mon 17 Oct 2022 4:51 pm **Posts:** 27

oh i didn't expect that
thank you

CaoimhínSF · **Joined:** Sun 04 Sep 2011 11:02 pm **Posts:** 1581

This practice led to some odd names when the anglicizing of names came about (18th-19th century). In County Wexford, some families have (or at least had for a while) a tradition of naming their sons Moses, but it had no connection with Judaism or the Bible. The Irish form of the name was Maodhóg, which was created from mo + Aodhán + óg [the last part being a diminutive ending]. Some children with that name had it anglicized as Aiden, but some priests apparently decided that Moses was the right way to go.

djwebb2021 · **Joined:** Thu 27 May 2021 3:22 am **Posts:** 1751

CaoimhínSF wrote:

This practice led to some odd names when the anglicizing of names came about (18th-19th century). In County Wexford, some families have (or at least had for a while) a tradition of naming their sons Moses, but it had no connection with Judaism or the Bible. The Irish form of the name was Maodhóg, which was created from mo + Aodhán + óg [the last part being a diminutive ending]. Some children with that name had it anglicized as Aiden, but some priests apparently decided that Moses was the right way to go.

How did they pronounce that in Co. Wexford? /me:'o:g/?

CaoimhínSF · **Joined:** Sun 04 Sep 2011 11:02 pm **Posts:** 1581

Quote:

How did they pronounce that in Co. Wexford? /me:'o:g/?

I don't actually know. I only learned the origin of the name when helping someone with genealogical research.

baeris · **Joined:** Mon 17 Oct 2022 4:51 pm **Posts:** 27

stuff that like that is/was common across the country as far as I understand
I think there are still a good few people with the first name 'Moling' from around Kilkenny/Carlow

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