Re: Orange Co. McArdles 1854 to Present
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In reply to:
Orange Co. McArdles 1854 to Present
12/12/00
I have a book on Scots-Irish Family names.Under "Macardle" it says:
This name, which was found to be twelfth most numerous in the homeland of Co. Monaghan in 1970, is almost exclusive to the south of that county, Armagh and Louth.The name in Gaelic was Mac Ardghail, from ardghal, meaning 'high valor'.
They are a branch of the MacMahons of Oriel, first noted as Sliocht Ardghail Mhoir Mhic Mathuna, 'the stock of Ardghal Mor MacMahon' who was chief of the MacMahons from 1402-1416.They were based originally in thebarony of Monaghan and a branch became sub-chiefs in Armagh under the O'Neills of the Fews.
The early-eighteenth-century Gaelic poet James MacArdle was of the Fews district.He was a contemporary of poet Patrick MacAlinden who was married to the poet Siobhan Nic Ardghail (Johanna MacArdle).
That's all my book says.Hope it helps.