Cusack

Family name
a list of people with this surname

Cusack is an Irish family name of Norman origin Cussacq, which is originally from Cussac in Guienne (Aquitaine), France. The surname has diminished in common use in England, but is still common in Ireland, where it was introduced during the Norman invasion of Ireland in the 12th century. While Cusack is not a particularly common name, it is often historically associated with a number of variant forms, such as de Cussac, de Cusack, de Ciusak, de Cíosóg, de Cíomhsíg, Mac Íosóg, and Mac Isog. Cusack, Kuzak, Kuzack, Cusick, and Cussack are all modern day variants of this name.

The origin of this last name began when Godefridus de Cussacq, (eventually recorded as Geoffrey de Cusack) arrived in Ireland during the reign of King John, possibly at the invitation of his relative, Adam de Feypo. The family served as Lords of Killeen (requiring Knight Scutage, i. e. the supply of knights for 40 days service per year, to Hugh de Lacy, Lord of Meath, when requested).

The aforementioned gift of 13 acres to Llanthony is a good introduction to Biltini (today Balreagh) and its relevance today. The manor was thirty miles west of Killeen. The exact date of the acquisition Charter is not known however it was witnessed by Roger, son of Geoffrey and Matilda, and Adam de Feypo, before his death in 1190/91 (ref. IR Cartul, llanthony 239–40). The castle Geoffrey built here on the Motte And Bailey was part of a Norman administrative chain and was described as being the "most spectacular". The motte, he threw up, commands a view streatching to an almost circular horizon. A scatter of stones and traces of fortifications at the base of the mound testify that a stone castle was built here. ( Geoffrey's castle is still, after 800 years, in use. The motte, built on the highest point of the 400ft contour line, is being used today by the Ordinance Surveyors as a triangulation point.) Just west of Balreach the townland is still called "Geoffreystown" this, including the Charters also the presence of the motte and ruined church, is confirmation that Geoffrey de Cusack held Biltini Manor.

The Down Survey of the Barony of Skryne dated 1657 (original in the Bibliothèque nationale, Paris) shows as part of it the attached map. As can be seen, Killeen is recorded as a 'parish' whereas Dunsany is not. "In the 12th century, townlands were grouped together to form units called parishes, each parish supported a church or chapel. The system was not a system native to Ireland", this seems to have only applied to Norman held lands. The inclusion of Dunsany's in the Cusack fiefdom appears to have been in 1305 (CAR. DOC. Irl.1302 7 p. 255) as it does not appear before this in any of the 12th and 13th century charters. This could have been because: "the intrusive wedge of Dunsany was occupied by an Irish chieftain and his retainers, who remained ensconced there wedded to their Celtic way of life, while Norman 'improvements' were imposed all round them". It is therefore unlikely for there to have been a "Norman" fortification/castle in Dunsany before 1305.

Memorial stones were erected as a monument to Sir Thomas Cusack (1490–1571) who after entering the Inner Temple, London in 1522 was elected to the position of Master of the Revels in 1524 returned to Ireland as Second Justice of the Court of Common Pleas (Ireland). Sir Thomas became Chancellor of the Exchequer of Ireland, held the office of Master of the Rolls in Ireland, Keeper of the Great Seal of Ireland and became Lord Chancellor of Ireland. The research into these stones are thanks to historian Elizabeth Hickey. Note that the stones would have originally been painted in vivid colours to bring out the three dimensional effect.

Octagonal in shape, approx 0.8m dia. lies in front of Staffordstown House, Navan shows the Cusack arms and above is carved "Sir Thomas Cusack Knight" and the date 1571 on the left hand side of the shield. The lettering on the stone does not show up in the photograph hence the sketch was made.

Measures 2.35 m × 0.75 m—moved to Skryne Parish Church around 1945—shows Sir Thomas with his second wife and their 13 children. The family crest—a mermaid—is carved on the top right corner. Behind the kneeling Sir Thomas, are his four sons while opposite, behind Dame Maud, are six of her daughters. The two girls standing are the remaining daughters, they carry the judge's mace and the Lord Chancellor's purse. The third figure is of a boy with a bowl in his left hand and a pipe in his right through which he is blowing bubbles towards the youngest kneeling child who seems to bend slightly away from his brother. The blowing of bubbles is taken to represent the transitoriness of human life. Under the table is carved a dog.

Measures 1.2 m × 2.5 6m—lies in the ruined choir of Trevet Church. This stone is broken. On this is carved a family tree originating from a heraldic shield with the Cusack coat of arms on the dexter side. The laurel wreath still carries some of the Cusack motto En Dieu est mon Espoir. Furthermore, on the tree appears the Cusack Crest described as "The Mermaid holding a Sword in her right hand and what appears to be a comb in her left". The modern crest differs slightly. At the top of the stone, there are three suns with the letters I. H. S. surmounted by a cross in each. It is a Franciscan device to show that devotion to Christ should supersede earthly loyalties. The reason for the three suns could have been in memory of the three Sir Thomas children who were dead when the stone was carved.

Measures 2.15 m × 0.87 m—lies in the ruins of Trevet Church. This stone is broken. Carved on it is Sir Thomas's epitaph, which has been translated as follows, by the late Professor R. M. Gwynn of Trinity College, Dublin. On the bottom left can be seen the skeletal figure of Death with a long bow firing an arrow at the recumbent figure of Sir Thomas who holds an hourglass which shows that the sands of time have passed for him. The mermaid crest is shown in the top right.

Lady Joan de Cusack, daughter of Sir Lucas de Cusack, Lord of Killeen, and Matilda Flemming, daughter of the Baron of Slane, married Sir Christopher Plunkett of Rathregan in 1399. Sir Christopher joined her as Lord of Killeen at the Castle. Lady Joan de Cusack as an heiress brought not only the parish and the castles of Killeen and Dunsany but also the following manors and tenements to her husband. (we must remember that a manor often involved thousands of acres). In the parish of Kilskire, the townlands of Boltown, Kilskire and Robbinstown. In the parish of Killallon, Galboystown, Seraghstown and Glehalstown. These two parishes are adjacent in the Barony of Fore, Co Meath in which she also had seisen of Loughcrew. Also in what is now the Barony of Lower Navan, in the parish of Clonmacduff, she owned Ballardin and Tullahanstown. Finally the townland of Cloney closes the list. (ref Pontifico Hibernica II, pp. 210–11)

The Chantry church, outside Killeen Castle, built by the last of the Cusacks in Killeen, Joan, and her husband, Christopher Plunkett, is now a national monument. It was endowed with the object of having Masses and Prayers offered for the donors, their forebears and posterity, and doubtless inspired partly by the little ruin that gave its name to the castle, and also partly by the fact that Lady Joan was the last of a long line of Cusacks to live in Killeen Castle for 269 years. The names of the Cusacks and Plunketts on the mortuary inscriptions in the church have been listed and a Robert Cusack Esq. and Margaret Plunkett are recorded being buried here in 1620. (ref. Beryl Moore: The Tombs in St Mary's ruined Church, Killeen)

Sir Christopher and Lady Joan had two male children—John Plunkett, the elder, inherited Killeen Castle and Christopher Plunkett, the younger, inherited Dunsany Castle. There appears to be no definitive record of how their mother's inheritance (ref. Carew. MSS, V, p. 357) was shared between them. However, what they and the Cusacks, down the years, do share is that Norman Knight ancestor who came to Ireland in 1172 Geoffrey de Cusack.