MacCool/McColl

G.Love · Post by **G.Love** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 4:28 pm

Someone on Genes Reunited got in touch with me and it turned out we had the same g-grandfather. (McColl). I said I'd been having problems with these McColls and he said that their real name back in Ireland was MacCool and when they moved to Greenock in the 1840s they changed it to McColl, in order to fit in more and avoid anti-Irish feeling.
Can anyone verify this? Would someone called MacCool change their name to McColl when they reached Scotland?
Shame really, as "MacCool" is - well, kinda cool really ...

Post by **Ina** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 4:37 pm

Hi Georgia,

According to Black's Surnames of Scotland book, the name MacCool is one of the many corrupt forms of MacDougall.

When I go to work today I'll see what the Irish surname book says about the name.

Regards,

Ina

Thrall · Post by **Thrall** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 9:19 pm

Hi Georgia, I have a gr.gr.grandfather who changed his name in the 1820s from Patrick Campbell to Peter Campbell. He was a grieve in the slate mines on Seil, so in a minor position of authority, and later a clerk on an estate at Lochmelfort. One suspects he was from Ireland, but no way of confirming his origins so far. Perhaps there were prejudices even then.
To cloud the issue, there were plenty of other Patrick Campbells around in the area who were not from Ireland.....................

....... needless to say, I´ve looked at their pedigrees!

Guid hunting,

Thrall

Post by **AndrewP** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 11:28 pm

Thrall wrote:I have a gr.gr.grandfather who changed his name in the 1820s from Patrick Campbell to Peter Campbell.

Peter and Patrick are used interchangeably. It is not uncommon to find a Patrick, later known as Peter, still to show up as Patrick on some later documents. Best to regard it as the same name.

All the best,

AndrewP

Thrall · Post by **Thrall** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 12:37 am

Hi Andrew, yes once I worked out the "interchange" I sorted that corner - apart from finding the origins of stated Peter/Patrick. Total wall.

BTW, did this ever go the other way, christened Peter, but used name Patrick?

If not, what does that tell us?

Guid hunting,

Thrall

Post by **Ina** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 7:22 am

Georgia,

The Irish book of surnames states: MacCool = MacGiolla, Comhghaill (devotee to St. Comhghail) or MacComghaill. This name has been made Cole in the Glenties area. In Scotland it is a varient of MacDougall. The name originated in Donegal.

Not sure if this is very helpful to you.

Regards,

Ina

Post by **AndrewP** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 7:29 am

Thrall wrote:BTW, did this ever go the other way, christened Peter, but used name Patrick?

I can't think that I've seen Peter (at birth) changed to Patrick, but that certainly doesn't mean that it didn't happen. In general Patrick was the Irish variation of the name. I could envisage the interchanging being used if father and son were both of that name, and to make life easier in the home one would be known as Patrick and the other known as Peter.

All the best,

AndrewP

G.Love · Post by **G.Love** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 11:32 am

Thanks Ina. I think I might put that info to one side for now!
Regarding Patrick/Peter, when I first started this my g-grandfather drove me mad, appearing as Patrick on one thing and then Peter on another, so I was never sure if was the same person. However, once I saw that all the other boxes were ticked I realised it was. I spoke to an expert on the migration of the Irish to Scots in the 19th century, and he said, particularly if they came from Donegal, that if they were giving a verbal reply to the question "what's your name?", that to the Scots ear "Patrick" could sound very like "Peter", as the Irish "Padraig" got a bit swallowed in the Donegal accent.

Post by **Ina** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 3:28 pm

Hi Georgia.

Regarding McColl and MacCool, you might consider emailing Andy Keogh, he is an expert on the Irish. I haven't seen him on this site lately but he still frequents the other site we visit.

Regards,

Ina

maddymoss · Post by **maddymoss** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 6:09 pm

Hi,

My g.g.grandfather was called variously Patrick and Peter. Tracing him through the years led me a merry dance and not a little frustration until I twigged onto it. I subsequently learned that it was quite a common occurrence.