Does anyone know the translation of Gaelic phrase "Hea Mar"?

Question

It is used on an 1891 Scotland Census and describes the relationship of William McAdam to the household head.

Answer 1

 

No As-Irish

 

As Hea-Scottish

Comments

I'm sorry, Frank. I don't understand what you mean. How does that become a relationship to the household?

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I looked up Hea Mar in an Irish Gaelic translation to English and a Scottish translation to English and those were the result. I don't understand it either and don't know where else to look. My g grandfather could speak Scottish Gaelic. Maybe someone else on this board could clarify the meaning.

Answer 2

"hea mar" doesn't mean anything in Gaelic, as spelled. Just looking at it, and knowing it's supposed to answer the "relation to head of household" question, brings to mind seanair and seanmhair, "grandfather" and "grandmother" respectively, pronounced roughly "shenner" and "shennever". Would either of those make sense?

Answer 3

Looking at a copy of the census entry in Ancestry I think it is just a typo.  The whole entry is in English so I don't think it's gaelic.     Could it be two households at the one address perhaps and he is head of second household.

Comments

Yes, he is obviously head of a second household, but I wondered if anyone knew the meaning of the peculiar designation, however I have always thought it might be grandfather or grand uncle.