Castleaverry, County Down
Origin
Ir. Caisleán Éibhire ‘Éibhir’s castle or stone ring-fort’
Background
Castleaverry is recorded as Ballycaslanevaragh in 1605 and the most satisfactory interpretation of the place-name appears to be Caisleán Éibhire ‘Éibhir’s castle or stone ring-fort’. The personal name Éibhir (in the Old Irish form Éber) was borne by legendary and pseudo-historical characters, including Éber son of Míl, leader of the Goidelic conquest of Ireland. It was also used by the later medieval O’Neills and McMahons and survived among the Magennis family of Co. Down up until the nineteenth century (Ó Corráin & Maguire 1981, 82). There is no now no trace of a castle or ring fort in the townland.
References
P. McKay, 2009Additional Information
Historical name form
| Old Form | Ref. Date | Reference |
|---|---|---|
Caiseal Aibhearaigh ""Avery''s stone fort"" | 1834c | J O'D (OSNB) E 19 |
| Ballycaslanevaragh | 1605 | CPR Jas I 73a |
| Balle-Castlenevarie | 1623 | Ham. Copy Inq. [1623] xxxiii |
| Balle-Castlnevarry | 1623 | Ham. Copy Inq. [1623] xlv |
| Ballecaslanevery | 1623 | Ham. Copy Inq. [1623] xxxiv |
| Castlenevary | 1659c | Census 1659 87 |
| Ballecastlenevarry | 1661 | BSD 121 |
| Castlenevarry als Ballycastlenevarry | 1679 | Montgomery MSS 268 n.37 |
| Castleavery | 1745 | OSNB: gen. sources E 19 |
| Castlenavery | 1810 | Wm. Map (OSNB) E 19 |
| Castlenaverry | 1830c | Treas. Warrant (OSNB) E 19 |
- Barony
- Castlereagh Lower
- Parish
- Comber
- Parish in 1851
- Comber
- Townland
- None
- Place name ID
- 11954
- Place name type
- T