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Question

"Cornig mc Airt vic Chuinn Cheudchathchich" - names like this drive me crazy.  Many alternate spellings make matching and merging a real headache.  There must be a way to have a default setting for this type of name, or at least a way to search for alternate spellings at the same time; perhaps I just have not found it.  

If there isn't a default spelling list for this kind of names, it would simplify wikitree greatly if one were created. Many, many more people could be quickly merged.  As I understand it now, the way to do matches and searches only allows for one or two alternate spellings at a time, and that is very time-consuming.

Is there such a list?  If not, would anyone like to create one and a link to the list when entering such a name?

Comments

What is the profile for this person Sheri? I don't recognize the language - it's not Scottish Gaelic as there is no 'v' in their alphabet unless there is a spelling mistake. 'BH' together name the 'v' sound.

This style of naming looks somewhat like a two generation patronymic byname which is quite common with Scottish Gaelic . In other words the first name of the person "Cornig"  followed by his father, "Airt" (Arthur?) followed by his grandfather, "Chuinn". I'm not sure what "Cheudchathchich" is but it could be a location.celtic naming practices Here is a great explanation of Celtic names with some great links http://medievalscotland.org/scotnames/quickgaelicbynames/

Regarding "Cornig mc Airt vic Chuinn Cheudchathchich": this would not be what Wikitree considers a "Proper First Name"  that would be just "Cornig".  I know the euroaristo project has already decided on a name protocol but I'm not so sure it works the same way in the Scottish clans project. It is likely one of the first things we should discuss. Personally, I would tend to place a name like this in the nickname category and use the English equivalent as the "Preferred Name".

One of the issues with early documents in Scotland and Ireland, such as much of the sources found in  the Medieval lands website is that it is written in Latin. It was the language of the church and likely the courts. Very few documents were written in Gaelic so the writer had to translate the name into Latin and often the results were less than successful.

I think a synonomy chart of common names would be helpful too. I can do the Scottish Gaelic if there are others who can do other languages.

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1. Eugene, that would be FANTASTIC!  The name I showed is (according to one source) the father of Grain O'Neill wife of Dhiarmid O'Dwibhne (a million spellings of this one)  the assumed progenitor of many Scottish clans,including Campbells, MacDonalds, MacTavish and others who are prominent in Scottish history.  The bookI found this name in gives an explanation of some of the nomenclature relating to parentage and lineage and is of some use.  I don't know much about these tribes' naming customs.  I have used Burke and the Baronage of England, as well as other sites.  Again, there are multiple spellings, even within books and documents, as you pointed out due to the fact that few people wrote at that time and we are dependent upon oral sources dictated to a third party.  

2. I have also had a thought that a format such as the "soundex' of some other websites would be very helpful here.

3. Another help would be to show the wiki id when displaying descendant and ancestor outlines.  Then, I would be able to immediately know that the William Livingston I have put in one generation also shows up as his own grandfather (something not known without going into each of the profiles.)

4. I have a Master's in French and have studiend ancient French and Medieval French, and as such I could be of help in "French Connections"  and names based on French tradition, locations, relationships, etc.  For example, it is believed that Fitz is a derivaion of the midieval term modernized into "fils" meaning "son."

Answer 1

I don't intend to be impertinent, but I always use the style that's in Burke's Peerage, as he covers all of Great Britain and Ireland. He will frequently include alternate spellings and stylings and does include the many cadet lines.  Also handy is Dugdale's  The Baronage of England  and the many studies of J. Round.