Comments on: The Curious Case of Dubh Sith

By: Cynthia McCurry Putman

Cynthia McCurry Putman — Fri, 11 Sep 2015 18:21:03 +0000

I am descended from Malcolm McCourry who was born on Islay in the mid 1700s. I have read elsewhere that the family name indicates they were the bards of the MacDonald clan. Does anyone have any knowledge or references that may show this to be true or not? Thank you!

By: Susan C

Susan C — Wed, 09 Sep 2015 13:46:55 +0000

Islay people (Illich) still know and tell the battle of Traigh Ghruinneart story, in both English and Gaelic, and including the part about the Dubh Sith. Maybe ask one of them? Ionad Chaluim Chille Ìle is the Gàidhlig cultural centre in Islay.

Susan C

By: Teresa Hall

Teresa Hall — Fri, 18 Oct 2013 15:48:25 +0000

Andrew Duffy my Granny was Myrtle McAfee-Vaden. She taught me about the faery folk from an early age. We always made them a garden to play in and I carry on that tradition. It is so interesting the more about the McAfee’s I learn I feel they are who I am most like. Her Dad Luther (Boney) McAfee could talk with the animals and was a root doctor on the mountain here in NW Alabama. I believe this was passed to me. I have always “healed” others. Sometimes I feel as if I step aside and some else takes over. Great Grandpa I hope. Thank you for providing more info. I found some from The Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs.

Teresa Vaden-Hall (McAfee)

By: Andrew DUFFY

Andrew DUFFY — Mon, 19 Aug 2013 19:27:42 +0000

Dear Nadine,

As a Clan MacFie Commissioner and as Chairman of the Clan MacFie Nomenclature Committee I thought I should send you the following :-

The source of the family name MacFie with it’s multiple spellings and derivations is believed to be from the Gaelic Mac Dhuibshithe or Mac Dhubhsith, which means son of Dhuibshithe or Dhubhsith which can be translated as black or dark ( Dubh ) and peace or fairy ( sith ). In Scottish Gaelic the name MacFie with its’ different spellings is pronounced as ‘Macaphi’.

Dr. George F. Black’s book The Surnames of Scotland states name Macfie is ‘one of the oldest and most interesting personal names we possess’. Dr. Gillies in Place-names of Argyllshire states, about the name Macfie that ‘Its plan and concept go far away beyond those of even our old names’.

Also there is reference that ‘the Gaelic MacDubhSithe means ‘Son of the Dark Fairy or Elf’ and that this stems from the tradition that the Macfies had been in touch with the fairy folk that lived under the hills and that in many countries the remnants of the original bearers of the name have been conferred with mystic powers’.

Now since the Clan MacFie hails from the island of Colonsay, not a great distance from Islay, could one of our Clan members be your ‘Fairy’ ?.

Andrew DUFFY
or should that be
Anndra Dhubhsith.