McClay

Article summary

McClay is a Scottish surname. It is derived from Gaelic Mac an Léigh, or possibly a Highland adaptation of the Irish Gaelic Mac Duinnshléibhe (anglicised Donlevy) where the Scots aspirated the “D” and then dropped the final “e” from the Irish language form of the name. When the north-eastern Irish kingdom of Ulaid fell to John de Courcy in 1177, many of the MacDonlevy dynasty sought asylum in the Highlands of Scotland. Their MacDonlevy surname evolved there first to Maconlea, also, MacConloy, McCloy and, then, to MacALeavy, MacAlea, MacLea, MacLay, McClay and, even, Leevy, Levy (surname) and Leavy. Some sources contend that the surname McClay, like the surname MacKinley, arises instead from a Gaelic language nickname given the MacDonlevy in both the Scottish Highlands and elsewhere. That nickname is Mac an Leigh, translating to English as leech, but meaning a physician. Leeching (medical) was in Gaelic Ireland, Scotland and elsewhere for millennium a pervasive medical therapy. The MacDonlevy were also one of Ireland’s ancient hereditary medical families.…

Key claims

1. date of birth: 1984 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
2. date of birth: 1951 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95

Discussion questions

1. Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
2. The record states that the date of birth is "1984". What evidence would count against this claim?
3. The record states that the date of birth is "1951". What evidence would count against this claim?
4. Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
5. If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?

Bibliography

1. Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1356475501