Ballynavally, County Down
Origin
perhaps Ir. Baile Uí Mhaolbhallaigh ‘(O’)Mulwally’s townland’
Background
The name of this townland is recorded as Ballyomulvalleh in 1605 and the weight of the historical evidence suggests that the final element is a surname. The surname in question does not appear to be attested in the standard books on the subject but a tentative suggestion is that it is Ó Maolbhallaigh which may be represented by Mulwally which occurs once in the east Belfast district of Cregagh in the BT Telephone Directory of 2001. Ó Maolbhallaigh would signify ‘grandson/descendant of Maolbhallaigh’, the forename Maolbhallaigh signifying ‘servant of Maolbhallaigh’or ‘servant of the freckled fellow’.
References
P. McKay, 2009Additional Information
Historical name form
| Old Form | Ref. Date | Reference |
|---|---|---|
Baile na Fáile ""town of the slope or precipice"" | 1834c | J O'D (OSNB) E 126 |
| Balliomulvalegh | 1605 | CPR Jas I 73a |
| Ballyomulvalleh | 1605 | Inq. Ult. (Down) $2 Jac I |
| Balle-Ivullvaly al Balleomulvally | 1623 | Ham. Copy Inq. [1623] xxxiv |
| Ballyvolvally in ye Slught Neales | 1632 | Magennis Paps (O'Sullivan) 68 |
| Ballemulvalie al. Balleomulvally | 1644 | Inq. Ult. (Down) $104 Car I |
| al. Balleomulvally | 1644 | Inq. Ult. (Down) $104 Car 1 |
| Ballynavally | 1810 | Wm. Map (OSNB) E 126 |
| Ballynavalley | 1830c | Bnd. Sur. (OSNB) E 126 |
- Barony
- Castlereagh Upper
- Parish
- Drumbo
- Parish in 1851
- Drumbo
- Townland
- None
- Place name ID
- 17427
- Place name type
- T