Kewish

Background

• Pronounced Q-ish.
• A contraction of MacCuis, McCuish, MacKewsh or one of several variations of MacUais, "The Noble's Son". Colla Uais was the 121st Milesian Monarch of Ireland. The name in this original form is first noted in Scotland, including The Uists, where Colla Uais was expelled with 300 followers by Muireadhach Tireach in 327 AD.
• It is speculated that descendants of this family either migrated between Scotland and Northern Ireland and finally settled in the Isle of Man, or later moved there directly when both Uist and Mann were parts of the Kingdom of the Isles.
• In its original form, the name has been recorded on the Manx Manorial Roll since its inception in the 15th century.
• It is first seen in its current form in the late 16th to 17th century when the "Mac" patronymic prefix disappeared from most Manx surnames. Kewishe, Kewish, Kevish, Kewesh.
• The MacCuish name continued to be present in North Uist at least until the 19th century.
• The Kewish name is currently found mainly in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and Canada.
• Perhaps the most notorious bearer of the name was John Kewish, the last person to be executed in the Isle of Man.

  Tracing of Manx Homesteads "Balla"

• Traditionally, Manx homesteads were named after their landholder and passed from generation to generation. Over time family names can be seen to change.
• Ballakesh : 1515 M.R. - Moris MacComas, 1643 M.R. - Ballakewish, 1777 Diocesan Register - Ballakesh; "Kewish or MacCowis farm."
• Ballakewish : 1703 M.R. - Ballakewish ; "Kewish farm."