Clan MacMiadhachain (The Scottish Era)
Corc MacMaccon (Maoihtain) - circa 330 AD – 375 AD
Denied successorship to the kingdom by his grandfather, he was given chieftanship of three branches of the kingdom in Tipperary along with the title “Maoth Miadhach”. The three royal residences in Tipperary were Caher, the old name of which was Caher-Dun-Isga; the present castle, on the rock in the Suir, occupies the site of an old circular stone fort or caher, which was destroyed in the 3d century; and that caher was erected on the site of a still older dun or earthen fort. Another was Dun-Crot, which is now marked by the old castle of Dungrod (mentioned above), a comparatively modern edifice, built on the site of the old dun. A third was Knockgraffon, about 3 miles north of Caher, which was the residence of Fiacha Mullehan, king of Munster in the 3d century. The remains of this old palace are still standing, consisting of a very fine high mound; it is celebrated in legend, and the surrounding parish still retains its name—Knockgraffon
He occupied Knockgraffon and his descendants were named Miadhachain. From him the city Cork was supposedly named. To shun the unnatural love of his stepmother, he fled in his youth to Scotland where he married the daughter of the King of the Picts.
He took a large number of Miadhachain with him when he migrated to Ayrshire and Carrick on the southwest of Dalraida (Scotland) around 360 AD. As referenced they took unto themselves the surname “MacMiadhachain” so as to distinguish them from the Miadhachain of Ireland.
During the arrival of St Patrick in the region around the fifth century AD, many of the Miadhachain migrated to County Clare (Clare). Most of the clan, however, settled north in an area known as Ballaghmeighan in County Leitrim, which is now Ballymeehan. This is the beginning of Clan Meehan which survives to this day. The majority of those who settled in County Clare eventually made their way across the Irish Sea to the lands of Scotland which was ruled by Dal Raida at the time. Those that settled in Ballymeehan took the surname O’Miadhachain, while those who migrated to Scotland took the surname MacMiadhachain. In literal terms, both mean “children of Maidhachain”.
The migration of the Miadhachain involved a cross country journey which met with not a few skirmishes along the way. It was actually Corc MacMaccon ur Miadhachain, Fiachaidh’s great grandson, who led this expedition which initially settled on the east coast of Ireland in the region of modern day Dublin. It is from this area that the Miadhachain crossed the Irish Sea to Scotland, but not all at once and not in a short time. The clan took several years to totally migrate to the new land during which many did not wait and travelled westward and southward in Ireland and settled in villages in different communities. This could explain why some O’Miadachains living in Ireland today trace their ancestry through Corc Mac Lughaidh (of whom was named the city of Cork) while others trace their ancestry from Nathfraoch who was Corc Maccoon’s nephew who never left Ireland.
Maen (Main) Leamhna MacMaoihtain – circa 365 – circa 444 AD
Son of Cork Maccon Maoihtain. Brother of Nathfraoch of Ireland. He ruled the MacMiadachain with ruthlessness and was responsible for the building of several communities in the region of Carrick, mostly to the south and east toward Ayrshire and Wigtonshire and even into Britian (England). One of his descendants was “Mor Mhoar Leamhna” the ancestor of the Kings of Scotland and the Kings of England from the Stewart (Stuart) Dynasty.
O’Meheen MacLeamhna (Nochmehen) – circa 403 AD – circa 471 AD
The second of fifteen children of Main Leamhna. He settled Colmonell. One family record indicates he had several mistresses and fathered many children whom he “discarded”. He seized much land formerly under control of the Romans who had abandoned them.
Maheaidh Mhor MacMeheen (Nocheen) – circa 441 AD – circa 500 AD
Died during a battle with rival clans. Folklore refers to this battle as “The Battle of Miadhach” where much “blood was shed in victory”. It is possible that this may be the battle that spurred the introduction a the Clan McMicking motto “We Hae Dune”, which literally could be translated “We have done IT”. The MacMiadhachain apparently bragged about this victory in battle and mocked other Clans in the region. It could be also when the Family Crest bearing that name was conceived which supposedly bore “three mailed fists drenched in blood” because it was a practice to send a severed fist to an opposing clan as both a warning and a symbol of victory.
Lughils Maheane – circa 463 AD – circa 521 AD
Richard Lester claims Lughils was Maheadh’s brother and not the father of Gilfachaid. This could explain why Maheadh MacMeHeen’s recorded grandson is referred to as Gilfachaid MacHeen.
Gilfachaid MacMaehen (MacLughils) - circa 490 AD – circa 555 AD
Maheune MacMaoihtain (MacMiadhachain) - circa 524 AD – circa 602 AD
This is the first known record of MacMiadhachain as a surname. It appears he lived and owned a large amount of land near Colmonell in Ayrshire, Scotland, 6th century
Aucrhtud MacMaheune (Aurchtud MacMiadhachain) - circa 565 AD – circa 622 AD
Machunmichdh MacAucrhtud (MacArthur) – circa 609 AD – circa 680 AD
Referred to in some family records as Machun Leamrum
Gilhriun MacMiadhachain - circa 655 AD – circa 722 AD
Mahun (Mahun MacMiadhachain) – circa 767 AD – circa 850 AD
Accompanied Alpin (father of King Kenneth Alpine I) when he invaded Galloway circa 823 AD. He is referenced as a leader of his people which signifies he was similar to a Clan Chief. According to Alistar McMicking, Mahun aligned himself and his people with the Albans of the north.
Ian MacMicking’s “The Origin of Clan McMicking” introduced an individual named “Maykhine” as a possible brother of Mahun. He states that Maykhine and Mahun (whom he referred to as Maehuan) where desecendants of Miadheah. Maykhine was leader of the Clan Miadhachain (O’Maidhachain) in Ireland and Maehuan was the individual who took a remnant to Scotland (MacMiadhachain) . Although there is a record of a Miadheah living around 500 and 640 AD, any connection to Clan MacMiadhachain is obsure at best.
Denied successorship to the kingdom by his grandfather, he was given chieftanship of three branches of the kingdom in Tipperary along with the title “Maoth Miadhach”. The three royal residences in Tipperary were Caher, the old name of which was Caher-Dun-Isga; the present castle, on the rock in the Suir, occupies the site of an old circular stone fort or caher, which was destroyed in the 3d century; and that caher was erected on the site of a still older dun or earthen fort. Another was Dun-Crot, which is now marked by the old castle of Dungrod (mentioned above), a comparatively modern edifice, built on the site of the old dun. A third was Knockgraffon, about 3 miles north of Caher, which was the residence of Fiacha Mullehan, king of Munster in the 3d century. The remains of this old palace are still standing, consisting of a very fine high mound; it is celebrated in legend, and the surrounding parish still retains its name—Knockgraffon
He occupied Knockgraffon and his descendants were named Miadhachain. From him the city Cork was supposedly named. To shun the unnatural love of his stepmother, he fled in his youth to Scotland where he married the daughter of the King of the Picts.
He took a large number of Miadhachain with him when he migrated to Ayrshire and Carrick on the southwest of Dalraida (Scotland) around 360 AD. As referenced they took unto themselves the surname “MacMiadhachain” so as to distinguish them from the Miadhachain of Ireland.
During the arrival of St Patrick in the region around the fifth century AD, many of the Miadhachain migrated to County Clare (Clare). Most of the clan, however, settled north in an area known as Ballaghmeighan in County Leitrim, which is now Ballymeehan. This is the beginning of Clan Meehan which survives to this day. The majority of those who settled in County Clare eventually made their way across the Irish Sea to the lands of Scotland which was ruled by Dal Raida at the time. Those that settled in Ballymeehan took the surname O’Miadhachain, while those who migrated to Scotland took the surname MacMiadhachain. In literal terms, both mean “children of Maidhachain”.
The migration of the Miadhachain involved a cross country journey which met with not a few skirmishes along the way. It was actually Corc MacMaccon ur Miadhachain, Fiachaidh’s great grandson, who led this expedition which initially settled on the east coast of Ireland in the region of modern day Dublin. It is from this area that the Miadhachain crossed the Irish Sea to Scotland, but not all at once and not in a short time. The clan took several years to totally migrate to the new land during which many did not wait and travelled westward and southward in Ireland and settled in villages in different communities. This could explain why some O’Miadachains living in Ireland today trace their ancestry through Corc Mac Lughaidh (of whom was named the city of Cork) while others trace their ancestry from Nathfraoch who was Corc Maccoon’s nephew who never left Ireland.
Maen (Main) Leamhna MacMaoihtain – circa 365 – circa 444 AD
Son of Cork Maccon Maoihtain. Brother of Nathfraoch of Ireland. He ruled the MacMiadachain with ruthlessness and was responsible for the building of several communities in the region of Carrick, mostly to the south and east toward Ayrshire and Wigtonshire and even into Britian (England). One of his descendants was “Mor Mhoar Leamhna” the ancestor of the Kings of Scotland and the Kings of England from the Stewart (Stuart) Dynasty.
O’Meheen MacLeamhna (Nochmehen) – circa 403 AD – circa 471 AD
The second of fifteen children of Main Leamhna. He settled Colmonell. One family record indicates he had several mistresses and fathered many children whom he “discarded”. He seized much land formerly under control of the Romans who had abandoned them.
Maheaidh Mhor MacMeheen (Nocheen) – circa 441 AD – circa 500 AD
Died during a battle with rival clans. Folklore refers to this battle as “The Battle of Miadhach” where much “blood was shed in victory”. It is possible that this may be the battle that spurred the introduction a the Clan McMicking motto “We Hae Dune”, which literally could be translated “We have done IT”. The MacMiadhachain apparently bragged about this victory in battle and mocked other Clans in the region. It could be also when the Family Crest bearing that name was conceived which supposedly bore “three mailed fists drenched in blood” because it was a practice to send a severed fist to an opposing clan as both a warning and a symbol of victory.
Lughils Maheane – circa 463 AD – circa 521 AD
Richard Lester claims Lughils was Maheadh’s brother and not the father of Gilfachaid. This could explain why Maheadh MacMeHeen’s recorded grandson is referred to as Gilfachaid MacHeen.
Gilfachaid MacMaehen (MacLughils) - circa 490 AD – circa 555 AD
Maheune MacMaoihtain (MacMiadhachain) - circa 524 AD – circa 602 AD
This is the first known record of MacMiadhachain as a surname. It appears he lived and owned a large amount of land near Colmonell in Ayrshire, Scotland, 6th century
Aucrhtud MacMaheune (Aurchtud MacMiadhachain) - circa 565 AD – circa 622 AD
Machunmichdh MacAucrhtud (MacArthur) – circa 609 AD – circa 680 AD
Referred to in some family records as Machun Leamrum
Gilhriun MacMiadhachain - circa 655 AD – circa 722 AD
Mahun (Mahun MacMiadhachain) – circa 767 AD – circa 850 AD
Accompanied Alpin (father of King Kenneth Alpine I) when he invaded Galloway circa 823 AD. He is referenced as a leader of his people which signifies he was similar to a Clan Chief. According to Alistar McMicking, Mahun aligned himself and his people with the Albans of the north.
Ian MacMicking’s “The Origin of Clan McMicking” introduced an individual named “Maykhine” as a possible brother of Mahun. He states that Maykhine and Mahun (whom he referred to as Maehuan) where desecendants of Miadheah. Maykhine was leader of the Clan Miadhachain (O’Maidhachain) in Ireland and Maehuan was the individual who took a remnant to Scotland (MacMiadhachain) . Although there is a record of a Miadheah living around 500 and 640 AD, any connection to Clan MacMiadhachain is obsure at best.