398
ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
form and an etymology; this, however, should naturally be De Bello-campo as Norman-French idiom and Latin demand—a form we have in Beau-champ and Beecham. De Campello or De Campellis (little plain) has been suggested; but unfortunately for these derivations the earliest forms show no de: Cambell was an epithet, not a place-name.
Carmichael, G. M'Gillemhicheil, Son of the gille of St Michael, M. G. Gillamichol (1467 MS.), O.G. Gillemicel (B. of Deer). The name Carmichael is really Lowland—from the Parish name of Carmichael in Lanark (Michael's caer or cathair, q.v.).
Cattanach, Chattan, G. Catanach, M. G. plural Cattanich (D. of L.), "belonging to Clan Chattan," Clann Gillacatan (1467), which claims descent from Gillacatain (1467 MS.), servant of St Catan, whose name denotes "little cat" (see cat).
Charles, G. Tearlach, M. Ir. Toirrdhealbhach (Maclean Genealogy), Englished as Tirlagh and Turlough, E. Ir. Toirdelbach, Latinised and explained as Turri-formis, "Tower-shaped," but the toir in Gaelic took the phonetics of the prefix tair, super, and hence the modern G. form. Hence M'Kerlie.
Chisholm, G. Siosal, Siosalach, De Chesholme (thirteenth century documents), De Cheseholme (1254), a Border name, the placename Chisholm being in Roxburgh: Ches-holm (a holm, but Ches?).
Clark, G. Cleireach; see cléireach in Dict. Also M'A'-Chléirich, whence Galwegian M'Chlery.
Coll, G. Colla, M. G. Colla (M'V., 1467 MS.), E. Ir. Colla: *Col-navo-s, from col, cel, high, as in Celtæ (see above).
Colin, G. Cailean, M. G. Callane (D. of L.), Cailin (1467 MS.), Colinus (Lat. of 1292). This is a personal name, once more or less peculiar to the Campbells, the Chief being always in Gaelic M'Cailein. Its relation to Eng. and Continental Colin is doubtful. Cf. Coileán, "whelp," and personal name; the G. is a dialectic form of old coileán (see Fol.), cuilean, whelp.
Crerar, G. Criathrar, the name of a Lochtay-side clan who regard themselves as Mackintoshes, explaining the name as "riddler," from criathar (which see in Dict.): the derivation is right, but for the meaning compare the Eng. noun and name Sieve(w)right. See Celt. Mag.6, 38.
Cumming, G. Cuimein, Cuimeanach, earliest Eng. form Comyn, a Norman family dating from the Conquest, belonging to the Norman house of De Comines, a territorial designation.
