Cusack

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For other uses, see Cusack (disambiguation).
The Cusack Family Crest
The Cusack Family Crest

Contents

[edit] Name history

Irish (of Norman origin): habitational name from Cussac in Guienne, France, named with the Romano-Gallic personal name Cucius or Cussius + the locative suffix -acum. The surname died out in England, but is common in Ireland, where it was imported at the time of the Anglo-Norman invasion in the 12th century. It has been Gaelicized as de Cíosóg. Citation required

Cusack is a French [possibly Royal] name introduced into Ireland following the invasion of 1172, which has become completely Irish. The name itself is derived from a place in Guienne, in France, and was first anglicized as "de Cussac" and rendered "de Ci'omhso'g" in Irish. In the fourteenth century Thomond deeds in the Irish language, printed by Hardiman in the R.I.A. Transactions for 1826, the name is given as MacIosog and Mac Isog: which suggest that, in Clare at any rate, the Cusack's became hibernicized in fact as well as in name.

[edit] Origin

[[Image:Cussacmap.gif|thumbnail|right|Cussac (South-West Dordogne)or Vieux Cussac, Medoc. south of Cussac Fort Medoc. A plaque on a Knights Grave in Killen Chauntry Church by the side entrance shows a knight with Fesse Ordinare, and an inscription which reads Ciusak quonda Dme Killeen MCL AD, es Ch-Jsu et maron Natus, ???Milities Galfridus Pa???. Cusack Laird Killeen 1150AD, is of Ch Jse and Marion born, Knight Geoffrey Fa[ther].This needs modern Archeological research to bring out the worn lettering.

According to M Laine' book cited below. The first Cusacks, Geoffrey and Andre de Cusack, who came with King John in 1211, obtained lands in Meath and other counties of the Pale where they held a prominent position down to the seventeenth century, when their continued and uncompromising support of the Catholic cause brought about their ruin as a leading family. They were then in possession of extensive estates not only in Meath and Kildare but also in Clare and Roscommon, practically all of which were lost in the 1691 attainders and the forfeitures of 1701.

Geoffrey de Cussac [younger brother of Richard de Cussac] and his wife Marie or Matilda may instead have come to Ireland as possible Carolingian Refugees in 1170 or before. They served as lairds of Killeen, and Tirawly in Mayo. They fought in the Battle of Dundalk and later the Sir Thomas Cusack as a lancer at Agincourt. The family also held land in Stanton Ludlow and Essebourne Midhurst Sussex last seized by King John From Willam 2nd son of Geoffrey who had paid 200 marks to have Stephen de Essenbaum his cousin's Widow Alicia in marriage. Cussington [a Cusack perhaps using his Manor name] also served with the Black Prince's French Expedition. Cussac today (2005) has a population of 1207 residents, covers an area of 31.7 km² (6,340 acres), and is at 360 metres above sea level.Archives Noblesse de France publiees par M Laine MDCCCXXVIII. a Paris, Chez L'Arthur Rue du Paon St Andre Des Arcs, No1 Vieux Cussac in the Medoc may have been an administrative centre for Royal Burial Works in The Estury nearby.

[edit] Famous historical Cusacks

During the period of Catholic resurgence under James II the name appears frequently not only, as might be expected, in King James's Army list, but also in the parliamentary and municipal rolls. In preceding centuries Cusacks are prominent in all spheres of activity: for example, Nicholas Cusack was Bishop of Kildare from 1280 to 1300: Thomas Cusack was Mayor of Dublin in 1409; and Sir Thomas Cusack (1490-1571) was Lord Chancellor.[citation needed] The last named, though in no sense an Englishman, was prominent in his efforts on behalf of the English interest both in the legal and military spheres. Sir Thomas Cusack of Cussington (in Meath) was a lay founder of the Church of Ireland under Henry VIII. As Speaker of the Irish Commons he passed the bill ending the Papal Lordship in Ireland and declaring A'rd Ri'ogh King Henry as Rex Totius Hiberniae. This Act was passes in Gaelic and English and the Irish Chieftans are recorded as hearing the Gaelic Version containing the term "A'rd Ri'ogh" 'to their Great Contentment,'for this underpinned the Breton Law power of the Irish Parliament to appoint the King. Because of Lord Grey's four-year genocidal campaign to put down the rebellion in Munster (1579) the family became recuscant and Christopher and Ralph Cusack, Laird of Cussington, one grandson of Sir Tom, founded the Irish Colleges in Spanish Flanders selling lands in Ireland as initial funding. On the other hand a Nicholas Cusack was beheaded for his part in the resistance to Elizabethan aggression [doubtful], and Patrick Cusack was a leader of the Confederate Catholics in the Cromwellian war. Laine Paris Noblesse de France James Cusack Laird of Grenanstown, Co., Meath KC Middle Temple, and M.P. for Leighlin Carlow and Ballyshannon Co., Donegal. 11 Nov 1642 resident member for Leinster of supreme Council of the Catholic Confederation sitting at Kilkenney. Attorney General; Judge of Admiralty; [6 Nov 1649.]Commissioner of Public Revenue. Supported Truce with Lord Inchiquin. Issued [with others] the Oath of Association June 1648 against Papal Nuntios Excommunications. Excepted from pardon by Cromwell's 1652 Ordinance for setteling Ireland but may have been let return and live privately after some years. Died 27 June 1659 Dublin[?]. After the disasters of the seventeenth century Cusacks continued abroad to distinguish themselves as soldiers; the most famous of these was General Chevalier Richard Edmond de Cusack (1687-1770), who had a brilliant military career under Louis XIV and Louis XV. These and other prominent individuals were Meath or Kildare men, as was Dr. James William Cusack (1788-1861) the famous Dublin surgeon.[citation needed]

Lt Col Nicholas Cusack [Ir Gds] [in Aug 1678 commissioned Lieutenant in Queen's Tangier Regt., under under William, Earl of Inchiquin]. Dec 1685 transferred cavalry Regt Earl of Tirconnell, Capt 1686, Major Dec 1690, July 1691 signed an Intelligence Report [against Sir Donagh O'Brien in Co Clare, who sent the enemy information via his housekeeper] as a Colonel. signed the Treaty of Limerick (Dec 1691) as Lt Colonel and helped agree the articles [as lodged In England's parliament but not implemented by the English and Scottish Government], on behalf of the Kingdom of Ireland. Nicholas died a Major General[?] on a 2nd Lt's pay in the Guards at St Germaine Christmas Day 1721[?]. His lands held in right of his wife Katherine Keating as widow of Adam Cusack Laird of Rathgar were confiscated.[1] A Nicholas Cusack [age 45 years, possibly their son] an officer of the Household of The MONSIEUR died 1 July 1731. Buried in St Germaine en Laye. There may have been further issue.

Colonel George Cusack. In Cromwell's day,[2] George Cusack brought a regiment previously called Cusack's Guards, out of Innisboffin off Connaught to Flanders, which was taken by Lorraine as Papal Protector of Ireland, and took part in the Frond but later joined Charles Stuart's exile army in Spanish Flanders commissioned 6 July 1656. Cusack's Regiment was disbanded the Spanish Flanders Service April 1662, recommissioned by King Charles II April 1662, and marched across England under Lt Col Flower to enter Dublin 28 May 1662 with band as The Kings Royal Irish Regiment of Foot Guards. George, insufficiently rewarded, remained in Flanders where he got a Scottish regiment on 26 May 1675 (this may have been the antecedent of The Royal Highland Fuseliers). He died in service before 27 Aug 1677.[3]

Although the Cusacks are not closely associated with Connaught in modern times, a branch of the Killeen (Co. Meath) family established itself in Co. Mayo at an early date. MacFirbis, spelling the name simply Ciosog, mentions them as one of the four Norman tribes which wrested the territory of Tirawley from the Ui Fiachrach chiefs, and the Annals of the Four Masters record a sanguinary battle there between the Cusacks and the Barrets in 1281; three centuries later the "Composition Book of Connacht" mentions them as landowners in the barony of Tirawley (Co. Mayo). It is somewhat strange, therefore, to find the name now more numerous in Munster than elsewhere - though it is nowhere very common.

A Nicholas Cusack served the exiled Monsieur later the restored Roi Louis XVIII as almoner.

Peter Cussac, palfringer of Stanislaus Leweneshski, King of Poland, Duke of Llorraine, was a possible grandson of Peter Cusack who lost Trubly parish land of [988 acres] to Hugh Trevor Earl Dungannon. There was also one "Phillip Joseph Marie Cussac consiller au Parliament de Toulous, ne a Tolouse 1727 execute le 1er floriel AN 2. place de la Revolution a Paris. inhume au cimeteire des Erranus a Paris".

[edit] Cusacks 19th century to modern day

John Cusack valet de Corps or Guarde de Corps returned to England & Scotland with King Charles 10 of France August 1830 and is the forebear of the modern line [by marriage to Bridget Wrafter, a Huguenot Lady in Durrow Church of Ireland by Tullamore 1835 AD], including possibly the actors.[4] No Cusacks born to a John Cusack are listed in the Official Scottish OPR up to 1854.[5] The family had refuge from the English in St Germaine en Laye; St Mihel sur Meuse; and St Cloud also Roderig Parish and Toulouse and other parts of France and the Holy Roman Empire and Spain.[6] Michael Cusack (1847 - 1906), co-founder of the Gaelic Athletic Association, was born in Carron, Co. Clare. The best known connected with that province was Margaret Anne Cusack (1832-1899), or Sister Mary Francis Clare, of a Dublin family, a convert who after being famous for her good works - she was popularly known as "the Nun of Kenmare" - reverted to her former faith possibly as a result of inside knowledge at Knock Shrine, and spent the rest of her life attacking Catholicism. One of the best known actors on stage and screen of recent days was Cyril Cusack (b. 1910), formerly of the Abbey Theatre. His daughters carry on as worthy inheritors of his career.

[edit] External links

[edit] Further reading

  • M F Cusack (1871). Cusack's History of the Kingdom of Kerry, 1871. Eneclann. ISBN 1-84630-044-4. 

[edit] Notable Cusacks

Sir., Francis Cusack,dob 30 Nov 1688 Trim co Meath dispossed age 7 of Kirbally Porter Co Meath. Dillons Regt Chev St Louis. Fontinoy and Culloden. POW England. Died 24/4/1756 St Mihel Meuse. George Cusack. Colonel proprieter Cusack's Regt which was dissolved Dunkirk Flanders April 1662 to form 28 May 1662 Irish Guards at Dublin. Goorge Cusack. Royal Naval Cmdr Dutch Wars? after27 years pyrate pob Granflower Co Meath, g/nepw Ld Trconnell[?]. dod Mon 18 Jan 1674. execution Dock Marshelsea Prison. London.

  • Jake Cusack, Minister of Interior Kenya Colonial Govt. Mau Mau Emergency, resigned over Hola Camp.
  • Joan Cusack, American actress, daughter of Dick Cusack

Sir John Cusack who was at the Battle of Fagairt, Sun 14 Oct 1318 near Dundalk, one of Prince Edward de Bruce of Scotland's slayers.[Annals of Ireland][Chautelry Book of St Marys Abbey Dublin]

Richard Edmund de Cusack [Irish Guards -Stuart-], pob Nieuport Flanders 1686, As Lt Col Stuart Irish Guards en service de France took over regt and defeated Cumberlands 3 regts of Guards [Hanoverian] at Fontinoy. Bon de Roi twice. died Corbiel 14 Dec 1770. U/I Cusack. his grandfather died at Battle of Worcester.

Robert Cusack. [officer Irish Guards under Earl of Mar] of Dunluce, laird of Limavady and Dungannon, Ballymena and others. died as an Irish Guard at a Skirmish at Pennyburn Mill during the Siege of Londonderry.

  • Sean Cusack Safety Manager, Chairman of IOSH Retail & Distribution Specialist Group
  • Sean Cusack Soccer Player, Soccer player from Limerick in Ireland
  • Shane Cusack, Major 40 Commando Royal Marines. HM Forces United Kingdom.

[His brothers Nicholas [note the Christian name!] and Dermot also served as officers in the Marines and Hussars]

  • Simon Cusack, Air Ambulance Paramedic appearing in Flying Medics and Sky Doctors
  • Sinéad Cusack, Irish actress, daughter of Cyril Cusack
  • Sorcha Cusack, Irish actress, daughter of Cyril Cusack
  • Thomas Cusack, Irish-American politician
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