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Meaning & History
From Gaelic Der bForgaill, which apparently meant "daughter of Forgall". It may be an earlier form of Dearbháil or Deirbhile. This was the name of a legendary princess of Lochlann (Norway) who had been left for the Fomorii in lieu of tribute on a deserted beach. Cúchulainn happened by and slew the Fomorii and she fell in love with him. She turned herself into a swan, with a handmaiden, and followed Cúchulainn back to Ireland. Cúchulainn was hunting with a companion, Lóegaire, and he cast a stone with his slingshot bringing down one of the swans that flew over. It was Derbhorgill. He sucked out the slingshot and healed her but, being now united to him by blood, Derbhorgill was forbidden to wed him. Cúchulainn gave her to Lóegaire to wed (Peter Berresford Ellis, 1987). This was also borne by a 12th-century princess of Meath who was abducted by the king of Leinster in 1152.