John Kneen

From its inception the Society became a focal point for the Manx cultural revival, attracting the likes of Sophia Morrison, William Cubbon, P. W. Caine, W. H. Gill, Christopher R. Shimmin and W. W.

William Cubbon was later to write of this work that:[1] The Place Names of the Isle of Man, with Their Origin and History represents an amazing amount of intensive research, the wonder of which is considerably heightened when it is remembered that for many years the author was in delicate health.

The introductory matter is lucidly written, and his explanations of the meanings of the names are not without a certain romantic interest, and in all cases they bear the stamp of authority.

In recognition of his work on Manx culture, Kneen was awarded an honorary degree of Master of Arts in July 1929 by Liverpool University.

One result was Kneen's book on The Personal Names of the Isle of Man, published by Oxford University Press in 1937, with the publication costs underwritten by Tynwald.

[1] The Manx nationalism that underlay the project was demonstrated in Kneen's Introduction:[6] our personal names reflect the history and traditions of times that are no more, the grace of the Celt and the strength of the Norseman and the Saxon are welded together by fetters which can never be broken.

The Quinneys, Corletts, and Radcliffes, each descendants of a great race, live together in that unity and material understanding which is the basis of true nationality.

[4] As well as this serious cultural dissemination, he also contributed an anonymous comment column in the Isle of Man Times published under the name of "Uncle Jack".

He was also on the organising committee of Yn Chruinnaght, where he also served as a judge of compositions in the Manx language, essays, stories, poems, and plays.

The plays noted for special mention by William Cubbon were A Lil' Smook, Yn Blaa Sooree ('The Courting Flower'), Ann, Putting up the Banns and The Magpies.

[4] In his obituary in the Journal of the Manx Museum, Cubbon wrote:[1] Mr. Kneen possessed the true scientific spirit in his quest for facts, and the pains he took to verify them.

He was ever ready to give help either to students or casual seekers after information; either by letter or conversation his store of knowledge and the wisdom of his counsel was open to his fellow-men.