Re: McCallion founder Ireland
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In reply to:
Re: McCallion founder Ireland
6/20/01
The information that I have about the name McCallion is that means 'son of Colin'. The family name of teh Dukes of Argyll is McCallion-Mor (MacCallean-Mhor) (don't know why it appears to be in the female form) and Miss Marion Campbell, author of The Dark Twin, was certainly happy that the name McCallion has strong associations with theCampbells of Argyll.
Colin, as in 'son of', was a Campbell chieftain in medieval times, probably in Scotland but there is no certainty of this as the Campbells themselves were know as O'Duine as late as the 13th century. The Duine was Diarmuid O'Duine, in legend the closest friend of Fhionn MacCumhail (Finn McCool). In the stories, he filled the role that is taken by Lancelot in the Arthurian legends - only Grainne, the Guinevere character, was a bit of a strumpet, it would appear.
(As an aside, Gwenhwyfar is Welsh for White Shadow - Grainne means Grace).
My branch is from the Buncrana area of Donegal. Grandfather was Felix who, I think, emigrated to Dumbarton, Scotland in the early 20th Century. He had brothers. One of them was Capt Frank McCallion, awarded the MC during WW1 and was killed in action. Died without issue, I believe.
My father's brother emigrated to Canada c.1948. we followed in 1957 but returned after 6 months.
We (lots of us) now live in the UK.
The legend of small fighters could figure: every McCallion I've come across from the Derry/Donegal area is small (5'6" or less)(happy to say, I'm much taller). I have to keep my temper under control, so did my father, as does my brother and even my older daughter is prone to emotional outbursts (mind you, she is a teenager, so I guess it's her job to have emotional outbursts).
I read the ancient descriptions of Cuchulain, with his neck muscles standing out in knots as big as babies' heads, and I think 'yep, seen that'.
Being a mercenary (see 'the Fighting McCallions' thread) was not dishonourable and carried no pejorative implications until the 20th century. If you were good at your job, you got paid for it. If the entire family was assumed to be good enough to be paid to fight , they must have been very skilled (in tactics and strategy as well as in martial arts) indeed! Those medieval lords didn't throw their money about, you know.
The word 'freelance' originates from the unbonded mounted fighters (free lances) of the Middle Ages.
Oddly enough, I'm a freelance now - but a writer, not a fighter!