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"Bhetti" or "Bheiti" family name

Derry

Hello,

I'm wondering if anyone on the Derry board has heard of his family name ...

Through DNA match trees, I have discovered my McLaughlin ancestor(s) may have married into a largeMcNichol family. I have confirmed DNA matches with 3 or 4 descendants from William McNichol. William's parents were Patrick McNichol and Mary McLaughlin fromLisnascreghog. Patrick McNichol was the grandson of a man named either Thomas or Patrick McNichol "Bhetti/Bheiti" (1798-1878). The handwritten family tree I posess shows Thomas Bhetti at the top, but a note mentioning his name was Patrick McNichol when he died.

I did not know these nicknames for families existed until recently. Just wondering if there were any local residents who recognized the nickname. Thank you!

shanspams@gmail.com

6 replies

Nicknames were used quite extensively in Ireland and in some parts of Scotland. They were often used where there were lots of people of the same name in a given area, and helped distinguish either an individual or a whole family group. They can mean anything. Examples I have seen meant red-haired, blacksmith and fighter. I am sure you get the idea. They occasionally make it into Griffiths Valuation (where they are called an agnomen). Bheiti in Irish can translate as “goodness.”

I don’t know this area well enough and can’t help with the Bhetti/Bheiti name but perhaps someone reading this may know. 

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

Elwyn, thanks for your reply. It's my understanding that if I were to travel to the townland the "Bhetti" were from, it's likely someone there would know the family group? As in, they would recognize Bhetti rather than McNichol? 

shanspams@gmail.com

Well they might be able to help if the nickname name is still in use today. Looking at the 1901 census there were 8 McNicholl homes in Lisnascreghog, out of about 26 occupied homes altogether (plus a Nicholl which is the same surname):

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Londonderry/Slaght/Lisnascreghog/

The modern Lisnascreghog Rd runs through the middle of the townland. A few miles west of Garvagh. Postcode BT51. There’s at least one McNicholl living there at present. (It’s not our policy on Ireland Reaching Out to give out living people’s details, but you shouldn’t have too much difficulty tracking them down using the local phone book).

 

 

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

 

 

Shannon

My third attempt trying to reply. My g grandparents were Patrick McNichol and Mary McLaughlin. Please contact me at detta_byrne@hotmail.com. Hopefully I can help your research.

Regards

Detta 

 

 

detta_byrne@ho…

Shannon

My third attempt trying to reply. My g grandparents were Patrick McNichol and Mary McLaughlin. Please contact me at detta_byrne@hotmail.com. Hopefully I can help your research.

Regards
Detta

detta_byrne@ho…

Hi Detta,

I just found this old post. My family are also McNicholl's.
I am very interested is what you may have of your family. I'm not certain about Patrick McNicholl and Mary McLoughlin (one of my DNA matches claimed them as parents but I didn't find proof of that so I don't know.)

My GGrandmother was Susan McNichol born about 1863 and immigrated to Philadelphia PA USA at about 7-8 years of age. I do not know her parents names of exact town of birth but I have DNA matches to 3 Lins of McNicholls in the area.

Coolcoscreaghan: John McNichol b1844 M: Sarah McCloskey 1848 

Likely Lisnascreghog: Patrick McNichol b 1830 m: Mary Quigg b 1834

Daniel McNichol b1845 M: Elizabeth nee? Daughter Bridget was b: 1869 in Lisnascreagh. 

I am actually IN Ireland  and heading out to the Limavady area to research my Loughery side and on to Errigfal to see what I can find about the McNicholls. I have 2-3 days set aside to see what or who I can find. I would love to know Susan's parents names...if you can offer any help- even info about the other McNichol families so I can rules them out -it would be really helpful.

nsulik

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