McCaul, also spelt MacCawell is an Irish surname, derived from the Gaelic Mac Cathmhaoil, meaning the "son of Cathmhaol", descendant of being implied. The name Cathmhaoil itself is derived from cath mhaol meaning "battle chief". The Mac Cathmhaoil were the leading family of Cenél Fearadhaigh, of the Uí Néill, and were based around Clogher in modern-day County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. They were one of the seven powerful septs that supported the O'Neills. Mac Cathmhaoil is now rare in Ulster as it has been Anglicised under various different forms such as, Campbell, McCawl, Caulfield,Connor, Bernard. 1808. Dublin. "Clan Cathmhaoil or Caulfield Family"Colby, Thomas. Larcom, Thomas. 1837. "Ordnance Survey Of The County Of Londonderry, Volume 1"MacLysaght, Edward. "More Irish Families"MacLysaght, Edward. "The Surnames Of Ireland" McCall, Alwell, Callwell, McCowell, Cowell, McCuill, Howell, MacHall, and McQuade.Mac Giolla Domhnaigh, Pádraig "Some Ulster Surnames"
The height of their power was in the 12th century where their territory covered most of modern County Tyrone, and deep into County Fermanagh. By the mid fourteenth century their power in Fermanagh, was broken by the rise of the Maguires. Having controlled the seat of power of the diocese of Clogher, the MacCawells provided many abbots, deans, canons etc. to it and mostly neighbouring dioceses including six bishops and two archbishops. By the end of the sixteenth century there appears to have been a large migration of the sept into the modern counties of Down and Armagh.
History The MacCathmhaoils took their patronymic name from Cathmhaol in the 12th century, descended from Feradhach (or Fearadhaigh), grandson of Eoghan son of "Niall of the Nine Hostages" a 5th-century Irish King . They were the leading sept of Cenél Fearadhaigh, sometimes called Cenél Fearadhaigh Theas or Cinel-Farry, based in the barony of Clogher, to distinguish them from the offshoots of Cenél Fearadhaigh who remained in Inishowen or thereabouts. After this expansion into mid Ulster with Cenél nEoghain, the MacCathmhaoils were fixed in the Clogher area of County Tyrone, the former capital and inauguration site of Airgíalla. As Cenél Fearadhaigh, it was their function to hold a bastion for Cenél nEoghain against Cenél Conaill on the northwest and the descendants of the Three Collas on the south-west and south.
In the Annals of the Four Masters, under 1185 (16 years after the Norman invasion of Ireland), the second mention is made of a MacCathmhaoil with "Gillchreest MacCathmhaoil, head chieftain of the Cineal Fereadaidh being "the chief of the councils of the north of Ireland", who was slain by Teag O'hEighnigh (O'Heaney) from Tir-Manach (Fermanagh), aided by Muintir Chaonain (O'Keenan). This Gillchreest MacCathmhaoil, was also head chieftain of clan Aongusa (Magennis? McCann?) of eastern Ulster, clan Dubhinreacht (O'Dubhin? Devaney), clan Fogarty O'Ceannfhoda (Tirkennedy in Fermanagh),Changed from Cíneal Fógartaígh – Mac Artán (MacCartan) in Down http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~irlkik/ihm/tribe_index.htm and http://dnausers.d-n-a.net/dnetcRrI/index.html and clan Colla of Fermanagh." The townland name Druim Mhic Cathmhaiol (Cathmhaoil's Ridge) on the border of Armagh and Louth might attest to a regional leadership role (in the "Councils of the North") organizing the defenses of Ulster against the Normans.Drummuckavall and Image http://www.borderroadmemories.com/images/bc035/now/bc035_img003_thumb.jpg The family name, in a much truncated form, is also preserved in the townland name Clonmakate in north Armagh adjacent to Maghery, (near Lough Neagh and the Blackwater); the original form was Cluain Mhic Cathmhaoil 'Mac Cathmhaoil's meadow'.12 MacKay, P/Muhr, K: Lough Neagh Places, 82 The inauguration of the Cineal Fereadaidh Chiefs probably happened at ancient royal site of Clochar Mac nDaimhín.
They receive mention in Ceart Ui Néill being one of the three, along with MacMurchaidh and O'Devlin, classed as "fircheithearna" (select fighting men or foot soldiers i.e. "true kerns") of Ui Néill. A Kern (soldier) was a Gaelic soldier, specifically a light infantryman of Gaelic Ireland during the Middle Ages. From Ceart Ui Néill 14. "it is their duty to take and to guard hostages; and they are bound by their office to keep watch for the first three nights in camp and on a hosting..." and elsewhere "In his time, it was usual to for victorious conquerors to take captives, usually of exalted rank, as hostages for the good (i.e. subservient) subsequent behaviour of the vanquished".
Later they became an important church family. They were also Brehons (judges of Irish law) in Cenél nEoghain (Tyrone), are famous in Irish history for their learning and the many dignitaries they supplied to the church. In Cenél nEoghain about this time, 1300, the Mac Cathmhaoils were the hereditary advisers of the king, being one of the seven main septs of the Cenél nEoghain Ui Neill. The family's importance is obvious from a glance at the events listed in connection with them under MacCathmhail in the index to the Annals of Ulster.
Family tree This is one version of a list of male descendants from Niall of the Nine Hostages to Raghnall MacCathmhaoil who is claimed as being the first to use the Mac Cathmhaoil surname, seven generations removed from the ancestor whose name he chose to bear:
Niall of the Nine Hostages; Eógain (son of Niall); Muiredach mac Eógain; Fearach (or Feradach), a brother of Muircheartach, brother of Muirchertach mac Muiredaig (Mac Ercae) and Fergus Mor; Fiachra; Fichna; Suibne Menn (or Suibne mac Fiachnai); Edalach; Donchar; CuGabhana; Conan; Donachar; Cathmhaoil; Breasal; Murtogh; Fogartach; Maoilcolum; Suibhneach; Colla; Raghnall MacCathmhaoil; Cu Uladh; and Giollachrist (died 1185).
The annals Below are some entries from the annals, the Annals of Ulster and The Annals of the Four Masters regarding the MacCathmhaoil (anglicized as MacCawell) the leading sept of Cenél Fearadhaigh. Note: Alternative spelling found are listed after name. 967, Cionaedh Ua Cathmhaoil, airchinnech Dhoire Chalgaigh, d'ecc in aen-mi. Meaning Cionaedh descendant of Cathmhaoil, erenagh of Dhoire Chalgaigh (the early name of the ecclesiastical center at Derry) died this year. Note: Cionaedh means born of fire, and was also the name of the first King of the Scots and Picts Kenneth MacAlpin. 1180, the son of Niall Ua Coemain (O' Keenan) was killed by Donnchadh Mac Cathmail and Donnchadh himself was killed therein. Note: The Hui Caeman (Muinter-Caemhain) ruled Magh Leamhna (Plain of Elm river), the area around Clogher, until about 1180 when they were ousted from the lordship of that region by the MacCathmhaoil.Families of medieval Clones, Ó Dufaigh, S., Clogher Record, 2 (1957–59) http://peterspioneers.tripod.com/medievalclones.pdf 1185, Gillchreest MacCathmhaoil, royal chief of the Cineal Fereadaidh, clan Aongus (Mac Cana), clan Dubhinreacht (Mac Ualgharg or McGoldrick Lords of Hy Dubhinreacht in Clogher), clan Fogarty O'Ceannfhoda (Ó Daimhín Lords of Tirkennedy in Fermanagh), and clan Colla (of Tir-Manach), and head of counsel of the North of Érinn, was slain on the 2nd of Nones (6th) of May by O'hEighnigh (O'Heaney) chiefs in Fermanagh (and Arch Kings of Airgíalla) before the Maguire ascendence in 1202, aided by Muinter-Caemhain (O'Keenan); and they carried off his head, which was obtained from them at the end of a month afterwards. Note: Fogarty O'Ceannfhoda was a 5th-century Airgailla chieftain Fergus Cennfhota 'long-head' of Ui Chrimhthain who had descendants known as Ui Chennfhota and the kingdom of Tir Cennfhota, later anglicized to Tirkennedy. 1216, Murchadh Mac Cathmail, royal chief of Cenel- Feradhaigh, died through miracle of St. Colum-cille. 1238, Flaithbertach Mac Cathmail, arch-chief of Cenel-Feradhaigh, crown of championship and generosity of the Gaidhil (Irish Gael) and arch-chief, moreover, of Clann-Conghaile (Connelly) and Ui-Cennfhoda (Tirkennedy) in Tir-Manach (Fermanagh), was killed by Donnchadh Mac Cathmail, his own kinsman, in treachery. 1252, Conchobur Mac Cathmhail, royal Chief of Cenel Feradhaigh and of many territories besides, tower of hospitality and valour of the North of Ireland, peace-maker of Tirconnell, Tír Eoghain (Tyrone), and Airgíalla, was killed by the routs of the people of Brian O'Neill, while defending his protegees against them, he himself being under the safeguard of O'Gormly and O'Kane. For older translation found in British Museum see reference. Mac Cathmhaoil chiefs of Kinel-Farry (Cineal Fereadaidh), slain: Murrough 1215, Flaherty 1238, Donough 1251 (slain by the people of Airgíalla), Conor 1252, Donslevy 1262 (slain by Yellow Hugh Buidha O'Neill), Gillapatrick 1370. 1261, A great victory was gained by O'Donnell (Donnell Óg) over Niall Culanagh O'Neill in a battle, in which many of the chiefs of Kinel-Owen, under the conduct of Mac Cawell, Chief of Kinel-Farry, and many other chiefs not mentioned here, were killed or taken prisoners. AFM 1262 DonnSléibhe (Donslevy) Mac Cathmhaoil was slain by Yellow Hugh Buidha O'Neill. Mac Cathmhaoils slain: Cu-Uladh 1346, Cu-Uladh, son of Gillapatrick 1370, Donough 1346, Donough son of Edmund (died of wounds) 1518. 1355, a Cattle Raid example and a battle between O'Donnell and O'Neill (with Mac Cathmail) from 1366 Brian Mac Cathmhaoil (Bernard MacCamoeil), Bishop of Clogher (1356–1358). He died of the plague in 1358. 1362, Ruaidhri, son of Domnall Ua Neill, was killed by Maelechlainn (Mac Cathmaoil), with one shot of (a bow) an arrow. Note: An earlier Domnall Ua Neill was grandson of the 10th century O'Neill Clan founder Niall Glúndub. The name Maelechlainn means "Devotee of St Sechnall" who is thought to be a 5th-century Italian bishop that preceded St Patrick. 1365, when Malachy of the Mac Cathmhaoil, the ruling house of Clogher, Tyrone, slew an O'Neill of Tír Eoghain, Malachy was known as 'Maelechainn Mac in Ghirr meic Mac Cathmhaoil'. Translated his name is 'Malachy the son of the Short-Fellow Mac Cathmhaoil'. This feat of slaying an O'Neill warranted a change of name so he became Malachy mac in ghirr or simply Malachy MacGirr. Later this family survived the Ulster Plantation, receiving a number of grants of lands at the time. They are to be found later in the 1660s as taxpayers in the Clogher Valley and elsewhere in Tyrone. Today the family is generally found as McGirr, McGerr, McKerr and in the English version as Short. Cu-Uladh Mac an Ghirr Mac Cawell (died 1368), chief of his own tribe and a son of his, who was a learned and illustrious professor of Sciences, died in England. 1370, Gillapatrick Mac Cawell, Chief of Kinel-Farry; Cu-uladh, his son, and his wife, the daughter of Manus Mac Mahon, were treacherously slain by the sons of Hugh Mac Cawell. Murrough, his Gillapatrick's brother then became Chieftain of Kinel-Farry. 1376, Richard Mac Cathmail (Mac Cawell) was slain by Philip Mag Uidhir (Philip Maguire), the king of Fir-Manach and Domnall Ua Neill (Donnell O Neill). 1403, Cú Uladh mac Giolla Patraicc Meic Cathmaoil (Cu Uladh Mac GillaPatrick McCawell) was treacherously slain at an assembly by his own people. Donough Mac Cawell, Chief of the two Kinel-Farrys, was slain by Maguire in 1404.