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barony
civil parish
townland
Explanatory note
- English
This English place-name is a compound containing the surname Randall. The relatively early historical examples, coupled with the townland’s location in the southern barony of Forth, indicate that the name is most likely of Anglo-Norman origin.
Randall is derived from a pet-form of Randolph (see Reaney, 1970 p.267). Although it is unattested in early Wexford records, a ‘John Rendale’ is found among the Anglo-Normans in Waterford (CJR Edw.I ii p.520). The Waterford townland name Ballyrandle/Baile an Randalaigh contains a gaelicised form of the surname (see logainm.ie).
The same surname is also apparently the eponym of Randalstown in Meath (*c.*1540 ‘Randalston’, Ir. Mon. Poss. p.112) [also referred to in 1541 as ‘Rendulffeston’ CPCR (Morrin) 161, demonstrating the connection with Randolph stated above]. In contrast, Randlestown in Antrim is derived from an anglicisation of the first name of Raghnall Mac Dónaill (Randal MacDonnell) (see McKay, 1999 p.123).
The Irish form here is a translation based on Ballyrandle/Baile an Randalaigh in Waterford. (Cf. RANDALSMILL (#53723), par. Tikillin)
[There is no reason to believe that this place-name is from Old Norse ‘Ragnaldr-staðr’, as recently suggested ([details to be added]). The surname Randall is attested among the Anglo-Normans in Ireland and Randalstown, a place-name of the standard Anglo-Norman construction ‘surname + (ə)s + -town’, could have been coined at any point after their arrival. In the absence of unambiguous evidence to indicate earlier derivation it would clearly be methodologically unsound to infer Norse settlement from such a name.]
[Excerpt from Logainmneacha na hÉireann IV: Townland Names of County Wexford, 2016, with additional material in square brackets [ ].]
Centrepoint
Historical references
1539 |
John Nott of Randelyston
|
Hore Imleabhar: V, Leathanach: 144
|
1545 |
Randolston
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Forth Bar. Leathanach: 76
|
1545 |
Randolyston (Walt Keating)
|
Forth Bar. Leathanach: 76
|
1619 |
Randalstown (John...)
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Forth Bar. Leathanach: 99
|
1622 |
Randalstowne
|
Inq. Lag. Leathanach: 34
|
1622 |
Randalstowne (Rob. Rawcetter)
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Inq. Lag. Alt: 34 J I
|
1625 |
Randalstowne (Rob. Rawceter)
|
Inq. Lag. Alt: 9 C I
|
1638 |
Randlestowne (John Waddinge)
|
Inq. Lag. Alt: 128 C I
|
1638 |
Randlestowne (Ric’ Rawceter)
|
Inq. Lag. Alt: 131 C I
|
1639–40 |
Randlestowne (Thom. Keogh)
|
Hore Imleabhar: III, Leathanach: 232
|
1641c |
Randalstown (Walter Nutt)
|
Wexford Rebel List 1641 Leathanach: 41
|
1654-6 |
Randallstowne
|
CS (LG) Leathanach: 201
|
1654–6 |
Lands of Whitty & Randlestowne
|
CS (LG) Imleabhar: IX, Leathanach: 128
|
1655-7 |
Randallstowne
|
|
1659 |
Randelstowne
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Cen. Leathanach: 534
|
1659 |
Nort Randelstown
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Cen. Leathanach: 534
|
1659 |
Sough Randels towne
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Cen. Leathanach: 534
|
1660c |
Randallstowne (Wm. Rosseter, Rich. Wadding, Walt. Nutt, Garret Browne)
|
BSD (LG) Leathanach: 76 (301)
|
1660c |
Randlestowne (Nuttes)
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BSD (LG) Leathanach: 77 (302)
|
1660c |
South Randallstowne (Rich. Whittee)
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BSD (LG) Leathanach: 76 (301)
|
1667 |
North Randalstowne
|
ASE Leathanach: 105
|
1667 |
South Randalstowne (Rich. Ously)
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ASE Leathanach: 105
|
1690c |
Rannellstowne (Rich. Owesly)
|
Quit Rent (LG) Leathanach: 29
|
1830c |
Randlestown
|
TAB Leathanach: 5
|
1840 |
Randallstowne
|
DS Ref.:AL Imleabhar: 1, Leathanach: 40
|
1840 |
Randals' town
|
|
1840 |
Randalstown
|
|
1840 |
Randalstown
|
|
1840 |
Randalstown
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OD:AL Imleabhar: 1, Leathanach (AL): 40
|
1840 |
Randestown
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GJP:AL Imleabhar: 1, Leathanach: 40
|
1840 |
Randlestown
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BS:AL Imleabhar: I, Leathanach: 40
|
1840 |
Randlestown
|
|
1840 |
Randlestown
|
|
1840 |
Randllstown
|
|
1840 |
Rendalstowne
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DS Map:AL Imleabhar: 1, Leathanach: 40
|
Please note: Some of the documentation from the archives of the Placenames Branch is available here. It indicates the range of research contributions undertaken by the Branch on this placename over the years. It may not constitute a complete record, and evidence may not be sequenced on the basis of validity. It is on this basis that this material is made available to the public.
Archival and research material provided on this site may be used, subject to acknowledgement. Issues regarding republication or other permissions or copyright should be addressed to logainm@dcu.ie.
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