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Please good people i need help with my Cairney / Kerney ancestors that was born in Ireland

Hi everyone , Im aware that my Cairney family left Ireland in the 1850s when more Coal mines opened up in Scotland , thats where they migrated to. They was living in New Monkland, Lanarkshire, Scotland. The surname for my family in most records state "CAIRNEY" for all mainly but, on the marriage record for my 3x Great Grandfather James Cairney it is spelt KERNEY. He was married to ISABELLA MCRORY on the 8th Aug , 1860 in New Monkland , Lanarkshire , Scotland . I believe the Cairney name was spelt different  back in Ireland . I dont know exactly where he and his family where from , somewhere in Northern Ireland in think .

James Cairney (coal miner, age 82), widower of Isabella McCrory, died on July 17, 1925, at Omoa House, Cleland, Western District of Shotts, Lanark, Scotland. His usual residence was 18 Reid Street, Salsburgh. His parents were Daniel Cairney (labourer, deceased) and Jane McAleece (deceased). He died at 9h 55m a.m. from senile debility. Informant was his son, Daniel Cairney. Would love it if someone could help me with this. I want to find out when exactly they left Ireland ? What was the original spelling of the surname when they lived in Ireland? Where was James and his parents Daniel Cairney and Jane McAleese born back in Ireland ? Any help would be much appreciated .Death record of james with his parents recorded on there

James marriage to Isabella Mcrory

Shayne87

5 replies

Shayne87,

There are no passenger lists for travel between Northern Ireland and Scotland. It was (and still is) just a short domesctic journey and no records have ever been kept for that type of voyage. You know the family were in Scotland in 1851. Presumably they weren't there in 1841. The childrens places of birth in the 1851 census may help narrow it down a bit more but that's probably as close as you will ever get.

Bear in mind they may have gone back and forth the odd time too. It was common to go home to Ireland for the Glasgow Fair for example.

As regards spelling of the name, that varied in Ireland just as much as in Scotland. The idea of a single "correct" version is not something our ancestors would have recognised. Many were not that literate, but even when they were they don't seem to have cared how their name was spelled, and it was often down to the whim of the person recording the information in say, a baptism record, as to how it was spelled. Different priest = different spelling. There are something like 6 surviving examples of William Shakespeare's signature in the world. No two are the same. An educated man, but even he spelled it differently every time. That was how it was. Cairney/Kearny are pronounced the same in Ireland and so you'll get those sorts of variations there too.

With regard to where the family came from, have you found James in the 1911 or 1921 Scottish censuses? In those 2 censuses people often put more than "Ireland" as place of birth. You sometimes get a town or a county.

Also did Daniel & Jane by any chance have a child born in Scotland in 1855 or 1861 onwards? If they did, those birth certificates should record where and when the parents married. Indeed in 1855 only, it often shows the parents places of birth.

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

Hi Elwyn, thanks for the reply . Yes Daniel and Jane had 3 sons that was born in Scotland, William born 1848, Patrick born 1852 and Hugh 1855. I will have to check to see if i can find James in the 1911 or 1921 census. Even if could find a married record of Daniels father Daniel Cairney/Kerney and Margaret Mooney's marriage in Ireland but its proving hard to find.

Shayne87

One of the problems you face is that not all RC parishes have any records for the period you need. There may be no records to find.

There are trees on Ancestry which record Daniel senior dying in Shotts in 1873. I don;t know how accurate that it though.

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

Yes its frustrating , Daniels death was in 1882, in Shotts. On the website scotlands people it has his death certificate with his mothers name MOONEY on it also but his age of death on it is incorrect i believe he was in his early 70s . Death cert says he was 52. I havent purchased any certificates from there so i dont know what other information is on them.

Shayne87

Hi Shayne87,

I am Robert Watt born near Dungannon in Co. Tyrone, Northern Ireland in 1941.

In the 1950s I knew a Cairney / Kerney family who lived at Donaghmore, Dungannon, Co. Tyrone.

I fancied their daughter Irene, Her father was involved in bread making or delivering.

I am at    rwdwatt@gmail.com

From Robert.

Robert Watt, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

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