MacAskill

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MacAskill, also spelt Macaskill and McCaskill is a surname. It is an Anglicisation of the Gaelic Mac Asgaill, meaning "son of Asgall". The Gaelic name Asgall is a reduced form of the Old Norse personal name Ásketill, son of Torquil. Asketil was the last Viking King of Dublin, Ireland. He died circa 1171-2, resisting the English invaders of Ireland under King Henry II. He had placed his family under the protection of the Norse King of Man, and his grandson, Gilbert MacAsgaill, led a party sent by the King of Man to occupy and hold Dunscaith Castle, on the Sleat Peninsula, Isle of Skye. These are the first members of the name we can find in Scotland.[1][2] The name is borne by a noted family on Skye, the MacAskills of Rubha an Dùnain, who historically followed the MacLeods of Dunvegan, possibly serving them as early as the fourteenth century (although documentation is lacking).[3] In Gaelic the MacAskills are known as Clann t-Ascaill,[4] and Clann t-Asgaill.[5] In Scottish Gaelic, the surname is rendered MacAsgaill.[6] In Irish, the surname is rendered Mac Ascaill.[7] Early forms of the name on record in Scotland are Mackaiscail (in 1766), Mackaiscal (in 1769), and Macaiskill (in 1790).[8] An early form of the name in England is Mac A skil (in 1311).[9]

Notable persons with the name include:

See also[edit]

Citations[edit]

  1. ^ "Time to Upgrade!".
  2. ^ MacAskill (n.d.); McCaskill (n.d.).
  3. ^ Martin (2014).
  4. ^ de Bhulbh (1997) p. 258.
  5. ^ Black (1971) p. 454.
  6. ^ Mark (2003) p. 720.
  7. ^ de Bhulbh (1997) p. 258.
  8. ^ Black (1971) p. 454.
  9. ^ Reaney; Wilson (1995) p. 290.
  10. ^ "A Real Life Giant is Buried in Nova Scotia, He Lived Here Too | Nova Scotia Buzz". 25 January 2021.
  11. ^ "Home". giantmacaskillmuseum.com.
  12. ^ "Giant to be honoured at his island birthplace". 20 July 1992.
  13. ^ "ANGUS MACASKILL the Cape Breton Giant". 18 March 2009.
  14. ^ "Giant Angus MacAskill Museum".

References[edit]