Cronebane 1237
Sowney, according to Mac Lysaght's The Surnames of Ireland, is an agnomen type surname used by a branch of the Mac Carthys in Co Cork. (It is not listed by Woulfe's Sloinnte Gaedheal is Galls (1923) nor de Bhulbh's 1997 Sloinnte na hEireann/ Irish Surnames). It had been written Samhnai says Mac Lysaght, suggesting that it may be a corruption of na Samhain (the beginning of the winter season during which troops were quartered). He acknowledges that this is not fully accepted. An Inquisition held at Senkelle (Shankill, Co Dublin) some time between 1257 and 1263, heard a case where Kilchrist M Soynne was accused of murder. M Soynne? Betimes the final `e' was voiced. (Mac) Sowney?
Herewith the names of the jurors at an Inquisition taken at St Sepulchre during that same period: Alexander Baker (pistor), Robert Dispensator, William de Lacy, Richard Seerman, John le Taillour, William Turnure, Nicholas Pellipare, Walter son of Stephen, William son of Richard, John of the Abbey (de Abbacia), Adam Catelyna, Henry Baker (pistor), Roger Carter (Caractar), Thomas son of William, William son of le Turnure, Randulph Cissor (ie shearman, that is draper), Richard son of William. Among those known by their trade was Nicholas Pellipare (also Pelliparius) ie the skinner. Skinner is listed in Mac Lysaght's Irish Families among the 84 Anglo-Norman surnames formed from trades, employments, personal characteristics and nationality. De Bhulbh gives the Irish as Scineirs. The Dublin Guild Merchant Roll, c.1190-1265 (Editors Philomena Connolly and Geoffrey Martin 1992) lists the occupation of Skinner around 20 times, mainly as Pelliparius.
There are 18 entries of the name Skinner in the Northern Ireland phone book, and 36 south of the Border. Twenty one of the latter are in the Dublin area, and one of the scattered remainder is in the Co Tipperary town of Clonmel. Interesting because among those charged in Tipperary in 1314 with the unlawful detention of a person was Jack le Skynner of Clonmel. Around 1422 Walter Skinner was one of two chaplains listed in an inquisition regarding land in (Seatown in the parish of Swords), as well as in Swords (Co Dublin).
A description of the Pageant on Corpus Christi 1498 informs: "Skynners, House-Carpynders, and Tanners, and Browders: for the body of the camell, and Oure Lady and hir chile well aperelid with Joseph to lede the camell, and Moyses with the children of Israell, and the Portors to berr the camell. Peyn XL.s. and Skyners and Peyntors to peynte the hede of the camell (Peyn) XL.s". The Company of Skinners was first mentioned in 1577, and in 1767 it was joined in the Guild of Saint Mary by the Glovers, Guild colours being brick and green.
In 1548 the house of the petty canons within the close of the late cathedral of St Patrick was granted the right to be converted to a hospital for 12 poor men, one of whom was Henry Skynner (another was Thomas Oo), who had served the king's father in the wars and `become impotent', each to receive a pension of £5.
One of three Tituladoes listed in the 1659 Census for Crusheen, Co Clare was Shervington Skinner, gent, while William Skinner, gent, was Titulado for Rosgarland, Co Wexford. And one wonders if William Skinner who took the oath of supremacy in 1662, was aware of the occupational origin of his name, for here he is listed with the Guild of hammer-men.
In 1772 James Skinner enlisted in the Quaker school in Ballytore, Co Kildare, and in 1774 David Skinner followed him there. And though he subscribed to Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of Ireland, Mr M Skinner, Cronebane, and Tigronymines, Co Wicklow, he does not feature in the item on the parish of Ballymacadam,in which this townland is situated.
Liam Price in his The Place-Names of Co Wicklow registers his doubt that Cronebane derived from the suggested Cronl Bans `whsite hollow', there being no hollow there, and proffers cruadhan (now cruan) `hard ground'.