The Fulton Express
October 1, 1889
“Dun Maylock: Unearthing the Meaning Behind the Name”

From the archives. Contributor: Spence Hutchins, Curator of the Fulton Hills Historical Society.

By Arthur Price

Following my recent investigation into the enigmatic Dun Maylock and their fearsome reputation, I have unearthed an intriguing connection to an earlier account from the 1856 archives of The Fulton Gazette. This report sheds light on the origins of the group’s name—a name that has struck fear into the hearts of our county for generations.

The article from 1856 explores local whispers at the time, suggesting that the name “Dun Maylock” was deliberately chosen to convey a duality of intent—both ominous and cunning. The word Dun, derived from the Scottish dùn, signifies a “fort,” “castle,” or “fortified hill,” but it also carries the meaning of “dark.” This dual meaning suggests both a literal and symbolic strength: the group’s impregnable secrecy paired with their sinister, shadowy nature.

Interestingly, early accounts note that the name may have originally been pronounced “doon,” a nod to its Scottish roots, but as their notoriety grew, locals began pronouncing it “duhn,” as it was published without any explanation of its pronunciation.

As for Maylock, the term has roots in mid-19th-century English dialect, where it refers to a “prank,” “frolic,” or “uproar.” This aligns perfectly with the group’s humble and mischievous beginnings in the late 1700s and early 1800s, when their acts, while disruptive, were far from the murderous atrocities they now commit. In those days, their deeds were more akin to juvenile mischief than malevolence, though some of their pranks bore a certain darkness befitting the secondary meaning of Dun. One such tale tells of them luring horses onto the rooftops of a barn – an inconvenient joke, no doubt, but not the work of killers.

It is rumored that the name was first spoken aloud by a Scotch-Irish or English resident, a farmer of tobacco, present at one of the group’s earliest pranks.  Exclaiming loudly that the action was a “dun maylock,” the phrase gained notoriety, though its exact pronunciation shifted over time.  Was this the origin of the name?  The answer is lost to history.

The duality of the name speaks volumes about the transformation of the group. What began as a moniker for petty tricksters grew to symbolize an ominous and shadowy force as the group turned their attention to destruction and terror. Perhaps they retained the name to mock their victims, reminding them that even their deadliest deeds were, to them, mere games.

It is noteworthy that the name was never formally claimed by the group. This, too, speaks to their calculated intent. The oral tradition of the name preserved its mysterious origins, ensuring that its power lay not just in meaning, but in the fear it evoked.

In considering the origins of this name, we must also reflect on its implications. The name itself seems almost mocking of divine order, as though they sought to challenge both earthly and heavenly authorities with their defiance. Indeed, one cannot help but see their audacity as a direct affront to God’s law, for their early pranks gave way to unholy acts of violence and anarchy.

Were they fortifying their place in the shadows, as Dun might suggest? Or were they simply proclaiming their allegiance to chaos, the so-called Maylock? Whatever the case, it is evident that the Dun Maylock sought not only to sow fear but to cement themselves in infamy. Their name, much like their deeds, lingers in the minds of Fulton County’s faithful as a cautionary tale—a reminder that the devil himself often wears the guise of jest before revealing his true nature.

As we continue to grapple with their legacy, one thing is certain—words have power, and the Dun Maylock wielded theirs like a weapon. Let us not forget: words, much like deeds, are never without consequence.