Govern

Govern
Recorded invarious spellings including MacGovern, McGovern, McGowran, Govern, and the original Magauran, this is an Irish surname of some history and reputation. It derives from the ancient Gaelic Mag Shamhradrain, translating as "the descendant of the summer person" "samhra" meaning summer. Quite why anybody should have such a nickname is unclear, but it is claimed that the first name holder was one "Samhradan" who lived about the year 1100. Certainly the clan held lands for many centuries in what is now County Cavan, at a place called Tullylaw, and also at the village of Ballymagauran. They seem to have had a long love-hate relationship with the Maguires. It is reported that in the year 1481 the Maguires descended upon the village and burnt it to the ground, in response to a "dishonourable act" by a McGovern. The wording suggests events leading to breach of wedding vows or similar. Amongst the early nameholders were Edmund Magauran, the archbishop of Armagh in the years 1588 - 1159, and Hugh McGovern, an 18th century poet who helped to awaken the interest in Gaelic literature. The name is also famous in the Argentine, the McGovern family being one of the largest land owners in that country, whilst Senator McGovern in the USA has twice stood for the presidency. The first recording of the surname may be that of Teag Magauran, the bishop of Armagh from 1588 to 1595.

Surnames reference. 2013.

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  • govern — gov·ern / gə vərn/ vt 1: to exercise continuous sovereign authority over; esp: to control and direct the administration of policy in 2: to exert a determining or guiding influence in or over the testator s assets are govern ed by will substitutes …   Law dictionary

  • govern — govern, rule are comparable when they mean to exercise power or authority in controlling or directing another or others, often specifically those persons who comprise a state or nation. Govern may imply power, whether despotic or constitutional,… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • Govern — Gov ern, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Governed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Governing}.] [OF. governer, F. gouverner, fr. L. gubernare to steer, pilot, govern, Gr. kyberna^n. Cf. {Gubernatorial}.] 1. To direct and control, as the actions or conduct of men, either… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • govern — gov‧ern [ˈgʌvən ǁ ərn] verb 1. [intransitive, transitive] to officially and legally run a country and make decisions about taxes, laws, public services etc: • the politicians who govern the country • A small military elite has been governing for… …   Financial and business terms

  • govern — [guv′ərn] vt. [ME governen < OFr gouverner < L gubernare, to pilot (a ship), direct, guide < Gr kybernan, to steer, govern, prob. of non IE orig.] 1. to exercise authority over; rule, administer, direct, control, manage, etc. 2. to… …   English World dictionary

  • govern — late 13c., from O.Fr. governer (11c., Mod.Fr. gouverner) govern, from L. gubernare to direct, rule, guide, govern (Cf. Sp. gobernar, It. governare), originally to steer, a nautical borrowing from Gk. kybernan to steer or pilot a ship, direct (the …   Etymology dictionary

  • govern — [v1] take control; rule administer, assume command, be in power, be in the driver’s seat*, call the shots*, call the signals*, captain*, carry out, command, conduct, control, dictate, direct, execute, exercise authority, guide, head, head up,… …   New thesaurus

  • Govern — Gov ern, v. i. To exercise authority; to administer the laws; to have the control. Dryden. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • govern — ► VERB 1) conduct the policy and affairs of (a state, organization, or people). 2) control or influence. 3) constitute a rule, standard, or principle for. 4) Grammar (of a word) require that (another word or group of words) be in a particular… …   English terms dictionary

  • govern — verb ADVERB ▪ effectively, well ▪ directly ▪ The colony was governed directly from Paris. VERB + GOVERN ▪ be fit to, be unfit …   Collocations dictionary

  • govern */*/ — UK [ˈɡʌvə(r)n] / US [ˈɡʌvərn] verb Word forms govern : present tense I/you/we/they govern he/she/it governs present participle governing past tense governed past participle governed 1) [intransitive/transitive] to control and manage an area, city …   English dictionary

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