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MacAlpin

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It is said that the founder of this famous family was named Halfpenny, and lived in Dublin in the 18th century. Having prospered in business, he called himself Mr. Halpen. The family, still prospering, dropped the H, and added Mac (son of), making Mac Alpen; and Kenny MacAlpen called himself Kenneth MacAlpin, the “descendant of a hundred kings.” True or not, the metamorphose is ingenious.

 

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Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.

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M
M
M
M
M or N
M.B. Waistcoat
M.D
M.P
MS., manuscript; MSS., manuscripts;
Mab
MacAlpin
MacFarlane’s Geese
MacFlecknoe
MacGirdie’s Mare
MacGregor
MacIntyre (Captain Hector)
MacIvor (Fergus)
MacPherson
MacTab
MacTurk (Captain Mungo or Hector)
Macaber