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Looking for O'Rourke

Hello, I am looking to find more information on my great-grandmother's Irish roots and family history. My great-grandmother was Yvonne Cecilia O'Rourke, born in 1889 in NY, and her parents were Patrick O'Rourke and Anna Maguire. I would love to find out who Patrick O'Rourke and Anna Maguire's parents were and confirm where they came from. I believe Patrick may have also been born in the US and his parents were from Ireland, and Anna lists on the census she was born in Scotland. They were Roman Catholic. 

Natalie Boll

3 replies

Natalie:

There is not much we can do based on the information you have in your message. Have you looked for the obituaries/death records for Patrick and Anne to see if they contain any information on their parents names? Look for 19th century US census records to see if they yield any clues about when the family came to America or if the couples were married in the America or Ireland or Scotland.

The surname O'Rourke is found in almost every county in Ireland and the surname Maguire is very prominent in Co. Fermanagh and Co. Cavan but is also found in good numbers in other counties.

I would also suggest a DNA test if you have not done so already. You may get matches to people who have more information on the origins of the O'Rourke and Maguire families.

Roger McDonnell

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Hello, here is more of what I have. But unfortunately, my great-grandmother would not share much about her life before she died. From what I know, she had a tough life. I have her baptism, marriage and other documents from family records. After looking through many census records online and getting some information from others, I believe I have put together the family group sheet. It looks like her father Patrick was born in Ireland, and his parent's names were Michael O'Rourke and Elizabeth (unknown surname), possibly from Cork. 

 

 

 

Natalie Boll

Natalie:

I searched on two different sites and the only record I found is likely too early to be your ancestor.

Patrick Rourke baptized February 8 1825 in the Dromin and Athlacca RC parish in Co. Limerick. Father was Michael Rourke and mother Elizabeth Gubbins.

Roger

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

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