Máel Bethad of Liberton
Máel Bethad of Liberton was a powerful landowner in Lothian in the reign of King David I of Scotland. Although he was a Gael, his estate may have been predominantly Middle English-speaking, as it bears the name "Liberton", which, unless it is an improbable Anglo-Romance compound meaning "book settlement" or "free settlement", is a corruption of early Middle English "hlith bere tun", "barley hill settlement". Liberton is about south of Edinburgh's Old Town, and is now a suburb. Liberton parish consisted of of land, and it is likely that Máel Bethad owned the upper part of the parish. Máel Bethad's name occurs as a witness on many of King David's charters, where it is rendered in a number of corrupt forms, e.g. "Malbead de Libertona", "Malbet de Libertune", "Malbeth de Libertona", "Makbet de Libertona", "Malbet de Libertone", and perhaps "Macbetber" Two of these names represent a confusion with the name Mac Bethad ("son of Life"), whereas the name is certainly Máel Bethad ("tonsured devotee of Life"); "Life" here is an abstract Gaelic religious concept meaning "eternal life" or "christian immortality".
Q642024
Lothian
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Q216787
David I of Scotland
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Q692312
Gael
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Q36395
Middle English-speaking
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Q3997687
Liberton
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Q21
Anglo
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Q19814
Romance
Concept
Q36395
Middle English
Concept
Q23436
Edinburgh
LOC
Q591133
Old Town
LOC
Q1422253
charter
Concept
Q6949516
Máel Bethad of Liberton
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location