Bangor, County Down
Origin
Ir. Beannchar, perhaps meaning 'place of points'
Background
17km NE of Belfast
bar: Ards Lower
A number of Irish-language sources offer origin legends and meanings for the name Bennchor, later Beannchar. The Old Irish text Táin Bó Fraích (TBF 15-16) contains an explanation for Trácht Bennchoir “Bangor strand”. The Connaught warrior Fróech and the Ulster warrior Conall Cernach were returning to Ireland from the Alps with Fróech's cattle when Conall's servant, Bicne mac Láegaire, died at the place which then came to be known as Inber mBicne, today Bangor Bay. When they came to shore, the cattle shed their horns, thus giving rise to the name Trácht mBennchoir, “the strand of the horn-casting”. Here Bennchor is taken to derive from benn “horn” + cor “casting”. There are similar stories which account for the name in the Metrical Dindsenchas and in the Martyrology of Oengus (Fél. Óeng.).
By and large, more recent scholars have not been convinced by these explanations. There is a consensus that the name contains the word beann which can mean ‘horn’, ‘point’ or ‘peak’ but its exact significance in this place-name is uncertain. Nor is the exact structure of the name clear. P.W. Joyce suggested that Beannchar contains the word beann “horn” which “signifies horns, or pointed hills or rocks, and sometimes simply peaked hill” (Joyce i 385). Joyce seems to be suggesting a compound beannach + ar, where the first element consists of beann + adjectival suffix -ach, followed by the suffix -ar. Joyce also mentions Banagher in Co. Offaly, which he claims was named from the sharp rocks in the adjacent River Shannon. It is also possible that Bangor, Co. Down, was named from sharp rocks around the shore. However, most recent attempts to explain the name have taken it to refer to the monastery of Bangor founded by St. Comgall in AD 555 or 559. Its site is marked by the present Church of Ireland church (the Abbey Church) at the head of the town, in the modern townland of Corporation.
There are a number of townlands in various parts of Ireland which have been anglicized Banagher and derive from an original Beannchar. It seems strange, however, that Beannchar in North Down should be anglicized as Bangor. Perhaps it was influenced by the name Bangor which is commonly used as the name of ecclesiastical sites in Wales. The two names may share some common attributes. Bedwyr Lewis Jones draws some interesting parallels between the name Bangor in Wales, and Bangor in Co. Down (Ainm 5: 59-65). Alfred Neobard Palmer has suggested that Bangor in Wales normally meant “high choir” (Palmer 1990), however, he also states (ibid.) that bangor is found in the Welsh laws meaning “wattling”. Ifor Williams derives Welsh Bangor from ban “a band used to strengthen something” + côr “a plaiting” (Williams 1990). Melville Richards takes Welsh Bangor to mean “a cross-bar in a wattled fence”, which referred to either the wattled construction of the monastic cell, or to a fence surrounding it (Richards 1970). This suggests another possible derivation for Irish Beannchar. One meaning for the first element benn is “prong” (DIL s.v.); the second element could be cor “act of putting, placing; setting up”. If this etymology is accepted, it could be argued that beannchar refers to a type of fence constructed with prongs surrounding the monastic site, and that it subsequently came to mean the area within the enclosure.
References
Hannan R. J. (1992): Place-Names of Northern Ireland vol. 2 p. 141-50; McKay P. (1999): A Dictionary of Ulster Place-Names 19-20.Additional Information
T., 1851 Census
Historical name form
Old Form | Ref. Date | Reference |
---|---|---|
Beannchair, natiuitas Comgaill | 0516 | AU (Mac Airt) 62 |
Bendchair, eaccluis | 0552 | AFM i 188 |
Bennchuir, eclesia | 0555 | AU (Mac Airt) 78 |
Bendchair, iascaire Comhgaill | 0559 | AFM i 202 |
Benncair, eclesia | 0559 | AU (Mac Airt) 80 |
Bendchair Uladh, abb | 0600 | AFM i 224 |
Bendchair, S. Comhgall | 0600 | AFM i 224 |
Bennchair, Quies Comghaill | 0602 | AU (Mac Airt) 100 |
Bennchoir, abbatis | 0610 | AU (Mac Airt) 104 |
Bennchair Uladh, ecclas | 0611 | AFM i 236 et passim |
Benncoir, abbas | 0613 | AU (Mac Airt) 106 |
Benncoir, combustio | 0616 | AU (Mac Airt) 108 |
mBendchair Uladh, hi | 0666 | AFM i 278 |
Benncuir, abbas | 0728 | AU (Mac Airt) 180 |
mBennchoir, for altóir | 0739 | AFM i 340 |
Bennchuir, abb | 0742 | AFM i 342 |
Bendchuir, abb | 0800 | AFM i 410 |
Bendchor | 0800c | Triads of Ireland 2 |
Bendchuir, abbdaine | 0800c | Triads of Ireland 4 |
Bennchur, oc | 0800c | TBF 16 |
Trácht mBennchoir | 0800c | TBF 16 |
o Bennchor | 0824 | AU (Mac Airt) 280 et passim |
Bendchair, ab[bas] | 0830c | Mart. Tal. Jun 12 p49 et passim |
Bennchair, ab[bas] | 0830c | Mart. Tal. Apr 8 p31 |
Bennchair, ab[bas] | 0830c | Mart. Tal. Feb 28 p19 |
Bennchoir, hi féil Silláin | 0830c | Fél. Óeng. Feb 28 p63 |
Bennchuir, Cenn-faelad ab | 0830c | Fél. Óeng. Apr 8 p105 |
Bennchuir, Comgall buadach | 0830c | Fél. Óeng. May 10 p123 |
Bennchuir, comarbai búain | 0830c | Fél. Óeng. Dec 15 p251 |
a mBennchar | 1065 | AU (Mac Airt) 502 |
Bennchair, co amsir Comgaill | 1100c | LU 3093 |
Bendchur, Mobae ó | 1125c | CSH 707.803 151 |
Bennchair, Comgall | 1125c | CSH 16, 97 |
Bennchoir, Comgall | 1125c | CSH 712.11 161 |
Bennchuir, Mochoemoc | 1125c | CSH 707.740 150 |
Bangowre | 1306c | Eccles. Tax. 12 |
Beandehar | 1429 | Annates Ulst. 295 |
Bennchoir, abb | 1453 | Fél. Óeng. Feb 28 p63 et passim |
Bennchor | 1453 | Fél. Óeng. Mar 30 p102n |
Bangor, Mon. de | 1454 | Annates Ulst. 117 app |
Beannchor | 1470 | Annates Ulst. 110 |
Bengor | 1500 | Annates Ulst. 113 |
Bangor | 1510 | Annates Ulst. 114 |
Bangar | 1567 | Goghe's Map |
Bangar | 1570c | Nowel's Ire. (1) |
Bangor Ca[...] | 1570c | Early Chart B'fast Lough |
Bang[a?r] | 1573 | Ortelius Map |
Banger Abbay | 1580c | SE Ulster Map |
Bangar | 1585 | Fiants Eliz. $4788 |
Bangor | 1590 | Dartmouth Map 5 |
Bangan | 1591 | Hondius Map |
Bangor ab | 1595 | Mercator's Ire. |
Bangor abb | 1595 | Mercator's Ulst. |
Bangor abb | 1595 | Mercator's Ulst. |
Banchorie | 1598 | CSP Ire. 676 |
Bancor | 1603 | Bartlett Maps (Esch. Co. Maps) 1 |
Bangor al Banger | 1603 | Ex. Inq. (Dn) 2 Jac. I |
Bangor | 1605 | Inq. Ult. (Down) $2 Jac. I |
Bangor al val Angloru | 1605 | Inq. Ult. (Down) $2 Jac. I |
Bangor otherwise Banger | 1605 | CPR Jas I 72b |
Mc Banger | 1610 | Speed's Ulster |
Mc Banger | 1610 | Speed's Antrim & Down |
Bancher monasterium | 1610 | Mercator's/Hole's Ire. |
M. Banger | 1610 | Speed's Ireland |
Bancor | 1610c | Norden's Map |
Bangor | 1615 | Terrier (Reeves) 49 |
Bangor | 1615 | Terrier (O'Laverty) 326 |
Bangor | 1620 | Ham. Patent [1620] xx |
Bangor | 1622 | Ulster Visit. Reeves 47 |
Bangor | 1625c | Raven Map Clandeboye 11 |
Bangor | 1627 | CPR Chas I 225 |
Bangor | 1630 | Ham. Patent [1630] x |
Beannchair | 1630c | Céitinn iii 138 |
Beannchuir, Cuimmein, abb | 1630c | Mart. Don. Sep 17 p250 |
Beannchuir, Reghuil | 1630c | Mart. Don. Jun 11 p166 |
Bendchai, Saran, abb | 1630c | Mart. Don. Aug 1 p208 |
Bendchair, Cas | 1630c | Mart. Don. April 26 p110 |
Bennchair Uladh, abb | 1630c | Mart. Don. Feb 28 p58 |
Bennchair, Cronán, abb | 1630c | Mart. Don. Nov 6 p298 |
Bennchair, Daniel, epscop | 1630c | Mart. Don. Sep 11 p244 |
Bennchair, Ruiffine, epscop, Glinne da loch acus | 1630c | Mart. Don. April 22 p108 |
Bennchair, Seighin, mac Ui Chuinn, abb | 1630c | Mart. Don. Sep 10 p242 |
Bennchair, Torannan, abb | 1630c | Mart. Don. June 12 p166 |
Bennchair, abb | 1630c | Mart. Don. April 21 p106 |
Bennchair, abb | 1630c | Mart. Don. Apr 8 p98 et passim |
Bennchair, an tan do fagaibh Mochua | 1630c | Mart. Don. June 24 p178 |
Bennchair, in abdaine | 1630c | Mart. Don. Nov 25 p316 |
Bennchuir, Beoghna abb iar cComhgall | 1630c | Mart. Don. Aug 22 p226 |
Bennchuir, Colum abb | 1630c | Mart. Don. Oct 3 p264 |
Bennchuir, Fland, abb | 1630c | Mart. Don. Dec 15 p336 |
Bennchuir, Mac laisre, abb | 1630c | Mart. Don. May 16 p130 |
Bennchuir, abb | 1630c | Mart. Don. May 10 p122 et passim |
Bennchuir, ceallóir Comhgaill | 1630c | Mart. Don. Sep 16 p250 |
Magh Beannchair | 1630c | Céitinn iii 138 |
Beannchair | 1633c | Céitinn iii 138 |
Magh Beannchair | 1633c | Céitinn iii 138 |
Beanchor | 1645c | MacCana's Itinerary 55 |
Benchor | 1645c | MacCana's Itinerary 55 |
Bangor | 1657 | Inq. Down (Reeves1) 137 |
Bangor Corporacion | 1659c | Census 1659 93 |
Bangor | 1661 | Trien. Visit. (Bramhall) 13 |
Bangor | 1661 | Trien. Visit. (Bramhall) 13 |
Bangor | 1664 | Trien. Visit. (Margetson) 22 |
Bangor | 1679 | Trien. Visit. (Boyle) 44 |
Beannchuir, eó | 1680c | LCABuidhe 260 l.73 |
Bheannchuir, ó bhaidhbh | 1680c | LCABuidhe 107 l.171 |
mBeannchuir, fa iath mbraonsholus | 1680c | LCABuidhe 106 l.132 |
Bangor | 1693 | Collins B'fast Lough |
Bangor | 1743 | Maxwell Rent Roll fol. 2 |
Beanchor | 1744 | O'Neill Fun. Oration 267 |
Bangor | 1810 | Wm. Map (OSNB) No. 54 |
Bangor | 1830c | Bnd. Sur. (OSNB) No. 54 |
Beannchair "little peaks, cows horns" | 1834c | J O'D (OSNB) No. 54 |
Beannchar Árd Uladh | 1905 | Post-Sheanchas 33 |
Beannchar | 1969 | AGBP 114 |
Beannchar | 1988 | Éire Thuaidh |
Beannchar | 1989 | GÉ 118 |
Beannchar "exact meaning uncertain" | 1999 | Dict. Ulst. PN 19 |
- Barony
- Ards Lower
- Parish
- Bangor
- Parish in 1851
- Bangor
- Townland
- None
- Place name ID
- 17106
- Place name type
- M:V:Y