Commane

The Irish surname Commane (Irish Gaelic: Ó Comáin or Ó Cuimín, or reduced from Mac Comáin, Mac Cuimín; the prefix signifies "descendant") is of Gaelic Ireland origin, rooted in an early medieval chiefdom and associated with two patron saints of Ireland.
Variants of the name include Comain, Comaine, Coman, Comeens, Comins, Comman, Commins, Common(s), Comyn, Cowman(s), Cummane, Cummin(s), Cumming(s), Cumyn, McCowman. Sometimes incorrectly 'translated' to Hurley camán a hurley. Standardised form: Ó Comáin.
The name is derived from the Gaelic personal Comán (meaning "noble" or "steadfast") or Commán ("companion" or "communion"), a name from early Irish history, reflecting virtues of early Irish saints and aristocratic chieftains. The surname is rooted in the province of Connaught (sept: Ó Cuimín) and Munster (sept: Ó Comáin), particularly in County Clare, and the 8th and 9th century chiefdom of Tulach Commain ("The Mound of Commane") a burial and inauguration site for chieftains, and their capital Cahercommane ("The Dwelling of Commane")
The surname is mentioned throughout the Irish annals, for example Part 15 of the Annals of the Four Masters: "1052 AD, Echthighern Ua hEaghráin, successor of Ciaran of Cluain-mic-Nois and of Comman, died on his pilgrimage at Cluain-Iraird".
The surname Ó Comáin is attested in 17th-century genealogical compilation, Leabhar Mór na nGenealach (The Great Book of Irish Genealogies), a key source for tracing Irish lineages.
The various spellings of Commane can largely be attributed to the lack of Standard Irish until 1948, and the historical practice of English-speaking officials transcribing Irish names phonetically, often based on how the names were pronounced.
Chiefdom of Commane
Irish chiefdoms of old established their claims to rule through territories divided among aristocratic, multi-lineage social units (known as ramages), which were governed by a leading chiefly ramage. Each chiefdom contained a capital site, comprising the chief residence of the chieftain, the church, and a mound which was inauguration site of chieftains.
Tulach Commáin was a small indigenous chiefdom, coexisting with the larger and more ancient chiefdom of the . It likely emerged from the disintegration of this larger polity, possibly forming part of the Dál Cais and Thomond's chiefdom confederacies.
According to historian D. Blair Gibson, in his dissertation Tulach Commain: A view of an Irish chiefdom, Cahercommane exemplifies the hierarchical structures of early medieval Irish chiefdoms, featuring evidence of both settlement and ritualistic activity.
In the Gaelic nobility of Ireland, Tulach Commáin likely functioned as an autonomous túath or as part of a larger composite chiefdom. It served as a hub of political, social, and religious activity, with its elaborate structures and associated monastic sites indicating its importance as a regional power.
Royal connection
Célechair mac Commáin, being of the Eóganacht Uí Cormaic, would directly link him by genealogy to the Eóganacht dynasty, which dominated Munster's rulership in early medieval Ireland. The Eóganacht trace their origins to Éogan Mór, a King of Munster and the progenitor of the dynasty, through notable figures such as Conall Corc, founder of the Eóganacht Chaisil. This connection would place Célechair mac Commáin's lineage within a royal framework, with ancestors likely holding the title of Rí (king) at various levels of the Eóganacht hierarchy.
According to the 9th-century text by O'Daly, The Story of Moshaulum and Mac Con and Luigith, Ailill, son of Mag Nuadat, was the King of the southern half of Ireland in the 3rd century. The text recounts that Ailill sent a message to Ferchess, son of Commán, described as an old fían warrior and an ancient member of Ailill's household.
A related narrative, The Death of Mac Con, further highlights the role of Ferchess mac Commán in early Irish mythology. In this text, Ferchess is tasked by King Ailill to avenge the death of Éogan, Ailill's son, by slaying Lugaid Mac Con, a High King of Ireland and Ailill's stepson. Ferchess carries out the task, killing Lugaid with a spear, an act commemorated in the naming of the "Rapids of Ferchess".
"Commán" also appears in various Irish historical and ecclesiastical records, such as "Commán mac ua Theimhne," associated with Temenrige and commemorated in early Christian calendars. However, this figure appearrs distinct from the Commán associated with the 3rd-century narrative of Ailill Ólom.
19th Century
As late as the 19th century, Tulach Commáin the burial and inauguration site for chieftains, was regarded as a supernaturally potent spot. A local told an archaeologist: "it has more fairies that all the other forts of the hill" Referred to interchangeable in variant spellings throughout book Comáin, Commáin, Comain (different spellings and names are common in Ireland).
Loss of ancestral lands
During the 13th century, the family were dispossessed of their ancestral lands. In 1225, following the Anglo-Norman invasion of Connaught, the Lordship of Connaught was granted by King Henry III of England to the De Burc (Burke) family.
No connection between Irish Comyn and Scottish Comyn
The Scottish surname "Comyn" (or "Cumming") and the Irish surname "Comyn" (Gaelic origin: O'Comáin) share linguistic roots but evolved separately in distinct cultural and historical contexts.
* Similar origins: Both names derive from the Gaelic root "Coman", meaning "companion" or "communion."
* Scottish context: The Comyn family in Scotland descended from Robert de Comines, a Norman noble who came to England with William the Conqueror. His descendants, the Comyns, became a prominent and powerful clan in Scotland, particularly during the Wars of Independence in the late 13th and early 14th centuries.
Patron Saints of Ireland
# Commán of Roscommon: (6th-century) Saint, bishop and founder of Roscommon (St. Comman's Wood), one of the 12 founding saints of Ireland.
# Coman of Kinvara was an early Medieval Irish Saint.
Notable figures
Several historical and ecclesiastical figures are associated with the name and variants:
* Colmán mac Comán: (8th-century) the second abbot listed in the Irish annals
* Pádhraic Ó Comáin: (19th-century) Irish writer and poet, known for his works in the Gaelic Revival movement.
* Gilla Cómáin mac Gilla Samthainde: (11th-century) a medieval Irish poet.
* Andrew Commins (19th-20th century) Irish lawyer and politician.
* Ashleigh Cummings is an Australian actress.
* Maria Susanna Cummins was an American novelist. She authored the novel The Lamplighter (1854).
* Linus B. Comins was a Massachusetts politician and member of the United States House of Representatives.
* Richard Blundell Comins was an English Anglican priest.
* John Commins (hurler) is an Irish retired hurler who played as a goalkeeper for the Galway senior team.
* Alan Cumyn is a Canadian novelist.
* Dick Cowman is a former rugby union international who represented England from 1971 to 1973
* Roz Cowman is an Irish poet and critic.
Variants and distribution
Ó Comáin and its variants have evolved over centuries, shaped by regional differences in spelling and pronunciation, as well as the influence of linguistic changes over time. These variations provide a glimpse into the surname's history and geographic spread:
* Comaine: Found primarily in County Clare and parts of Connacht, this variant reflects the traditional Gaelic roots of the name and is often associated with early historical records.
* Comain: A shortened variant frequently seen in medieval texts and official records, reflecting both phonetic simplification and anglicisation.
* Coman: A modernised version of the name, Coman is more commonly used outside Ireland, particularly among descendants of Irish emigrants in English-speaking countries.
* Cumyn: A historical spelling variation, often found in early Scottish and Irish records.<ref name="Douglas19963" />
* McCowman: A specific variation tied to Waterford and the southeastern regions of Ireland, reflecting its Gaelic origins.
The surname's dispersal beyond Ireland occurred during the 19th and 20th centuries, driven by waves of emigration caused by famine, economic hardship, and global opportunities. Today, significant populations bearing these variants can be found in the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom, where the surname continues to evolve and adapt to local linguistic environments.<ref name"MacLysaght19853" /><ref name"Woulfe19233" />
Further reading
* "Annals of Innisfallen." CELT Project. University College Cork.
* "Annals of Ulster." CELT Project. University College Cork.
* "From Chiefdom to State in Early Ireland." Gibson, D. Blair. Cambridge University Press.
* "The History and Topography of the County of Clare." Frost, James. Internet Archive.
* "Corpus Genealogiarum Hiberniae." O'Brien, M. A. Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies.
* "Irish Kings and High-Kings." Byrne, F. J. Four Courts Press.
* "Irish Pedigrees: Or, The Origin and Stem of the Irish Nation." O'Hart, John. M.H. Gill & Son.
* "Leabhar Mór na nGenealach." Mac Fhirbhisigh, Dubhaltach. Edited by Nollaig Ó Muraíle. De Búrca Rare Books.
* "Cahercommaun Triple Ring Fort." Academia.edu. Academia.edu.
* "CELT: The Corpus of Electronic Texts." CELT Project. University College Cork.
* Gibson, D. Blair. From Chiefdom to State in Early Ireland. Cambridge University Press, 2012.Cambridge University Press
* Gibson, D. Blair. Tulach Commain: A view of an Irish chiefdom.
* "Cahercommaun Triple Ring Fort." Academia.edu. Academia.edu
* "Discover Cahercommaun with Archaeologist, Michael Lynch." Burrenbeo. Burrenbeo

Main Menu

See Also

Main Menu