Irish formMac Diarmada
Meaning'son of Diarmaid' (an ancient and very common Irish personal name, anglicised Dermot, Darby and Jeremiah)
CountiesRoscommon, Sligo, Donegal, Dublin
Other spellings8
Origin of the McDermott name
Woulfe: the MacDermotts of Moylurg were a branch of the Sil-Murray, clan-name Clann Mhaoilruanaidh, from Maolruanaidh, son of Tadhg O'Connor, King of Connacht. They took the surname from Diarmaid, grandson of Maolruanaidh, who died in 1159. Woulfe also gives Ó Duibhdhíorma, a Cinel Eoghain family, anciently lords of Bredach in Inishowen and 'still numerous in Donegal', as 'anglicised MacDermott'.[1][5]
- 1159Diarmaid, son of Tadhg Ua Maelruanaidh, lord of Magh-Luirg, died.[11][1]
- 1187Rock of Lough Key burned by lightning; wife of Conor Mac Dermot, Lord of Moylurg, died.[12]
- 1235Cormac Mac Dermot took the Rock of Lough Key back from English warders.[13]
- about the middle of the 14th centuryThe MacDermotts divided into three septs, each with its own chief.[1]
- 1592Death of Brian MacDermot, Chief of Magh Luirg; owner, restorer and continuer of the Annals of Lough Cé.[14]
- 1690'MAC DERMOT' appears in Sir James Terry's list of Irish septs.[9]
- 1737Torlough O'Carolan, 'the last of the bards', died in MacDermottroe's house at Alderford.[3]
- 1890189 birth entries including spelling varieties (176 spelled McDermott); 87 in Connaught.[7][10]
McDermott surname: questions
What does the surname McDermott mean?
Woulfe gives MacDermott as the anglicised form of Mac Diarmada, 'son of Diarmaid', an ancient and very common Irish personal name that was anglicised Dermot, Darby and Jeremiah.[1]
Where in Ireland is the McDermott name from?
Woulfe places the MacDermotts of Moylurg in Connacht, with their fortress at the Rock of Lough Key near Boyle, and says the baronies of Boyle and Frenchpark represent their patrimony. In 1890 McDermott births were principally found in Roscommon, Dublin, Donegal, Galway and Tyrone, and half of those in Connaught were in Roscommon.[1][7]
Are the McDermotts related to the O'Connors?
Woulfe says the MacDermotts of Moylurg were a branch of the Sil-Murray, named Clann Mhaoilruanaidh from Maolruanaidh, son of Tadhg O'Connor, King of Connacht, and are 'therefore, of the same stock as the O'Connors'.[1]
Who is the Prince of Coolavin?
Woulfe says The MacDermott 'is still known as Prince of Coolavin', after property the family held at Coolavin, Co. Sligo. The Dictionary of National Biography says Hugh Hyacinth O'Rorke MacDermot became 'The MacDermot' and titular 'Prince of Coolavin' on his father's death in 1873.[1][15]
What were the three MacDermott septs?
Woulfe says that about the middle of the 14th century they divided into MacDermott of Moylurg, overlord of all; MacDermottroe, the Red MacDermott, chief of Tir-Thuthail with a residence at Alderford; and MacDermott Gall, the English or Anglicised MacDermott, chief of Artagh.[1][6]
Macdermot Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap$42.45
Mcdermot Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap$42.45
Macdermot Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap$33.45