Glen is rich in old Irish surnames, of which the following are a few:

Aongus was a favourite Irish name, which was Latinised Eneas, but has ceased to be used. As we have seen, the Magennises were the ruling family in ancient Iveagh. This name, both at present and in old documents, is spelt more variously than that of any other Irish family. In the Birth Indexes for 1890 there are no less than sixteen varieties of the name. The principal representative of the Magennises of Glen is Heber Magenis of Iveagh Lodge, who is a lineal descendant of Murtagh McEnaspicke Magenis, who owned the Manor in 1611.

Cranny-Maggranna. This family belonged to Meath, where the name is written ‘MacGrane.’ It has in most cases (in Ireland) been exchanged for the Scotch name Grant, and in a few others for the English surname Green. Principal representative: Luke Cranny, J.P., of Ringclare House.

Larkin-O’Larcain.

Larcon or Lorcan was an old Irish Christian name, which is now rendered Laurence, simply because both names commence somewhat alike. The O’Larcains were located in Armagh, Galway, and Wexford. Patrick Larkin of Ballylough is the present representative.

Murtagh-Omuircheartaigh.

The O’Murtaghs were a Meath family. There are several of the name residing in Glen-Denis, James, John, and Patrick Murtagh.

MacAvoy-Macgiollabuidue.

The MacEvoys were formerly located in Armagh, Westmeath, and Queen’s County. The family is represented by Arthur McEvoy, J.P., of Drumiller, who takes a keen interest in farming pursuits, and in the Newry Agricultural Society.

McIlroy-Macgiollaruaidh.

The MacGilroys are a Monaghan family. There are at least two families of the name in Glen-James of Dromantine and Hugh McIlroy of Derrycraw.

McCourt-MacCuarta.

The MacCourts belonged to County Tyrone, while another branch resided in Leitrim, where the name was known as ‘MacGourty.’ The present representative is Lawrence McCourt, of Corgary Lodge, one of our oldest and most respected inhabitants, and who for eighteen years faithfully represented Glen as a Poor Law Guardian. He is a son of Hugh McCourt, who married Miss Savage, a sister of Dr. Mark Savage.

McConville-MacConmhaoil.

The MacConvilles are a Lower Iveagh family. The only person bearing the name in Glen at present is the parish priest, the Rev. Patrick McConville, not a native of the district.

McGrory-MacRuadhrigh.

The MacRorys were formerly located in Tyrone and Down. MacRory has been exchanged for the English surname Rodgers, and the Christian name Rory for Rodger. Ruadhri, or Rory, which signifies ‘the red-haired King,’ was a favourite Irish name. Patrick McGrory, the present representative, resides in Ballylough.

The name is splt in a variety of ways both in Irish and English. All, however, are derived from the one we have given, which is the most ancient form of the name O’Hara, of which O’Hare is a variant. Eadhra, owing to its similarity in sound to Harry, was translated Henry, and in this form remains a favourite Christian name in the several branches of the family. The O'Haras were located in Antrim, Londonderry, Mayo, and Sligo, while there were O’Heirs in Armagh and O’Hehirs in Clare. The name is spelt’O’Hir’ in the Topographical Poems of John O’Dugan, who mentions the family in this district in the earlier part of the fourteenth century. The name is still well represented in Glen, there being about twenty rated occupiers or inhabitant householders bearing it. The principal representatives are: James, ‘The Rock’ (Knockanarney); John and Patrick (Corgary): and James and Patrick (Derrycraw).

The Rices are a Lower Castlereagh family. The learned historian of Down and Connor (Monsignor O’Laverthy, P.P.) says: ‘The Omulcreevys, who have strangely contrived to translate their name into Rice, were located along the County Down side of the Lagan.’ The original name is better preserved as ‘Mulgrew,’ Amongst the Rices of Glen are: John (Dromantine) and Patrick (Derrycraw).

The Rooneys are an old family of the County of Down, and in past times have frequently figured in its history. The family is represented in Glen by Patrick and James Rooney, J.P., of The Mount Mills (Drumiller).

Savage. This family takes its name from the French Sauvage.

The Savages were among the earliest Anglo-Norman settlers in Ireland. They were for many centuries Lords of the Ardes, where they settled (in the twelfth century) under John de Courcy. They also owned a large portion of Lecale, for we find it recorded (‘Public Records’)’ that Raymond (Savage) should have the Chieftainship and Superiority of his Sept in the Territory of the Savages, otherwise called Lecale, as principal Chieftain thereto, and that Raymond should give the (Lord) Deputy, for acquiring his favour and friendship, 100 fat able Cows, and a Horse, or 15 marks Irish money in lieu thereof at the pleasure of the Deputy.’ (Dated 31^st May, 28 Hen. VIII.) The principal seat of the Savages was Portaferry Castle, completed in 1686. The resident in 1744 was Andrew Savage.

A member of this ancient family settled in Glen about the middle of the eighteenth century, a few of whose descendants still reside in the district and neighbourhood, of whom the following are the principal representatives: viz. James Savage of Glen House, and Mrs. Savage (widow of Patrick Savage) and Miss Anne Savage (late of Lurganare House), Newry, daughters of Dr. Mark Savage (of Newry) by his wife, Mary, daughter of Bernard Rice.

Dr. Mark Savage (whose mother was Mary, daughter of Arthur Magennis0 was brother of Dr. John jSavage, who for about fifty years was a well known physician in Newry, and whose son, the late Dr. Matt Burke Savage, was an eminent member of the medical profession, residing in Rutland Square, Dublin. He died September 19, 1912. The Savages owned the half townland of Carrickrovaddy (recently sold to the tenants) and a small property in the County Armagh, viz. The townland of Enagh

Irish surnames date from about the beginning of the eleventh century-when Brian Boru (who commenced to reign 1001) made an ordinance that every family and clan in Ireland should adopt such. Each family was permitted to choose a particular surname, and that generally taken was the name of some distinguished ancestor of Chief of their tribe, to which they prefixed ‘Mac,’ which signifies son; or ‘Hy,’ ‘Ua,’’Ui,’’O’-each of which means grandson, or a descendant of.

It may be noted, however, that our surnames do not always indicate the nationality of the original bearers, as many of the Danish settlers and the Anglo-Normans took Irish surnames, while on the other hand not a few Irish families adopted English surnames.

From J. Davison Cowan book titled "Donaghmore, An Ancient Irish Parish, Past & Present" published in 1914.