The Worlds of Katherine Kurtz

Eric says: "I am an avid fan of your Deryni novels. I have literally grown up with them by my bedside. I have a three-year old son that is named Cathan. I was wondering if you could tell me if there is an ethnic connection to the name. (ie Scottish) I have not been able to find it anywhere."


Katherine replies: "Cathan is, indeed, a Scottish name from the Gaelige cath, 'a battle' or perhaps 'battler.' There was at least one Saint Cathan, from the Antrim area—which is just across the water from Scotland."

"There was at least one Saint Cathan, from the Antrim area—which is just across the water from Scotland."

Antrim was where the Scots of Antrim dwelt. They were MacDonnell's who inherited some lands through marriage to a Norman-Irish heiress. Sorley Boy MacDonell was one of their famous leaders, and Elizabeth considered them (Scots of Antrim) worse than the famous Shane O'Neill!