Cathal
Encyclopedia
Cathal is a masculine given name
in the Irish
, Scottish Gaelic and English
languages. The name is derived from two Celtic elements: the first, cath, means "battle"; the second element, val, means "rule". The Gaelic name has several Anglicised forms, such as Cathal, Cathel, and Kathel. It has also been Anglicised as Charles
, although this name is of an entirely different origin as it is derived from a Germanic
element, karl, meaning "free man".
As is obvious from the list below, the name was in medieval times most popular in Ireland's two western provinces, Munster
and Connacht
.
Given name
A given name, in Western contexts often referred to as a first name, is a personal name that specifies and differentiates between members of a group of individuals, especially in a family, all of whose members usually share the same family name...
in the Irish
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
, Scottish Gaelic and English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
languages. The name is derived from two Celtic elements: the first, cath, means "battle"; the second element, val, means "rule". The Gaelic name has several Anglicised forms, such as Cathal, Cathel, and Kathel. It has also been Anglicised as Charles
Charles
Charles is a given name for males and is borrowed from the French form of the Latin Carolus Charles is a given name for males and is borrowed from the French form of the Latin Carolus...
, although this name is of an entirely different origin as it is derived from a Germanic
Germanic peoples
The Germanic peoples are an Indo-European ethno-linguistic group of Northern European origin, identified by their use of the Indo-European Germanic languages which diversified out of Proto-Germanic during the Pre-Roman Iron Age.Originating about 1800 BCE from the Corded Ware Culture on the North...
element, karl, meaning "free man".
As is obvious from the list below, the name was in medieval times most popular in Ireland's two western provinces, Munster
Munster
Munster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the south of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial purposes...
and Connacht
Connacht
Connacht , formerly anglicised as Connaught, is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the west of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for...
.
People with the name
- Cathal mac ÁedoCathal mac ÁedoCathal mac Áedo Flaind Chathrach was a King of Cashel in Munster from the Glendamnach sept of the Eoganachta. He was the son of Áed Fland Cathrach and grandson of Coirpre Cromm mac Crimthainn a previous king of Cashel...
(d. 627), king of Munster - Cathal Cú-cen-máthairCathal Cú-cen-máthairCathal Cú-cen-máthair mac Cathaíl , often known as Cú-cen-máthair, was an Irish King of Munster from around 661 until his death. He was a son of Cathal mac Áedo Flaind Chathrach and belonged to the Glendamnach sept of the Eóganachta dynasty...
(d. 665), king of Munster - Cathal mac MuiredaigCathal mac MuiredaigCathal mac Muiredaig Muillethan was a King of Connacht from the Uí Briúin branch of the Connachta. He was the son of Muiredach Muillethan mac Fergusso , a previous king and brother of Indrechtach mac Muiredaig Muillethan . He was of the Síl Muiredaig sept of the Uí Briúin...
(d. 735), king of Connacht - Cathal mac FinguineCathal mac FinguineCathal mac Finguine was an Irish King of Munster or Cashel, and effectively High King of Ireland as well. He belonged to the Eóganacht Glendamnach sept of the dominant Eóganachta kin-group whose members dominated Munster from the 7th century to the 10th...
(d. 742), king of Munster - Cathal mac MurchadhCathal mac MurchadhCathal mac Murchadh was 29th King of Uí Maine, died – 816.Cathal mac Murchadh was killed at "The battle of Rath Fhearadh by the chieftains of Ui Briuin, Diarmaid, son of Tomaltach, and Maelcothaigh, son of Fogartach in Dealbhna Nuadhat, between the Suca and the Sinnainn, where Cathal and many...
(d. 816), king of Uí Maine - Cathal mac ConchobairCathal mac Conchobair-Family background:Cathal was the third son of Conchobar mac Taidg Mór to rule Connacht, following his older brother Áed mac Conchobair and youngest brother Tadg mac Conchobair. There may have been a fourth brother, Máel Cluiche mac Conchobair, who died in battle in 913.They belonged to the Síl...
(d. 925), king of Connacht - Cathal mac TadgCathal mac TadgCathal mac Tadg was King of Connacht, 973.Cathal only briefly succeeded his brother. Murchadh Glunillar ua Flaithbheartach, King of Aileach, invaded Connacht and gave battle to Cathal at Ceis Corran...
(d. 973), king of Connacht - Cathal mac DonnubáinCathal mac DonnubáinCathal mac Donnubáin is the second known son of Donnubán mac Cathail, king of Uí Fidgenti and an ancestor of the medieval and modern O'Donovan family. He may have succeeded his brother Uainide mac Donnubáin as King of Uí Chairpre Áebda at his death in 982, no ruler being known after that until 1014...
(fl. 1014), king of Uí Chairpre Áebda - Cathal Crobhdearg Ua Conchobair (d. 1224), king of Connacht
- Cathal mac Conchobair Ruadh Ua ConchobairCathal mac Conchobair Ruadh Ua ConchobairCathal mac Conchobair Ruadh Ua Conchobair was King of Connacht in Ireland. He was a member of the Clan Muircheartaigh Uí Conchobhair lineage.-References:* Annals of Ulster at at * Annals of the Four Masters at at * Chronicum Scotorum at at...
(d. 1288), king of Connacht - Cathal mac Domhnall Ua ConchobairCathal mac Domhnall Ua Conchobair-References:* Annals of Ulster at at * Annals of the Four Masters at at * Chronicum Scotorum at at * Byrne, Francis John , Irish Kings and High-Kings, Dublin: Four Courts Press, ISBN 978-1-85182-196-9...
(d. 1324), king of Connacht - Cathal Óg Mac MaghnusaCathal Óg Mac MaghnusaCathal Óg Mac Maghnusa was the principal compiler of the Annals of Ulster.-References:*Cathal Óg Mac Maghnusa and the Annals of Ulster, by Aubrey Gwynn, in Clougher Record, 2/2 pp.230-43 and 2/3 , pp. 370-84. Ed...
(d. 1498), main compiler of the Annals of Ulster - Cathal Buí Mac Giolla GhunnaCathal Buí Mac Giolla Ghunna-Biography:Along with Peadar Ó Doirnín, Art Mac Cumhaigh and Séamas Dall Mac Cuarta, Cathal Buí Mac Giolla Ghunna one of the four most prominent of the south Ulster and north Leinster poets in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries...
(d. 1756), poet - Cathal BrughaCathal BrughaCathal Brugha was an Irish revolutionary and politician, active in the Easter Rising, Irish War of Independence, and the Irish Civil War and was the first Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann.-Background:...
(d. 1922), revolutionary - Cathal Coughlan (politician)Cathal Coughlan (politician)Cathal Seán Coughlan was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann in a 1983 by-election caused by the death of his brother, Clement Coughlan. His tenure as a Teachta Dála for Donegal South West was short as he died suddenly in June 1986...
, (1937–1986) - Cathal Ó SearcaighCathal Ó SearcaighCathal Ó Searcaigh is an Irish poet who writes in the Irish language .Ó Searcaigh was born in Gort a' Choirce, a town in the Gaeltacht region of Donegal, and lives at the foot of Mount Errigal...
(b. 1956), poet - Cathal Coughlan (singer)