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Searching for Michael Diveny

Mayo

I'm relatively new to genealogical research. My family has little or no information about our Irish ancestors. My great-grandfather, Michael Diveny, appears to have arrived in the US around 1850. The few records we have say that he was born around 1831 in Ireland, but that is it. Recently my sister sent me a link to Irish census records for 1911 and I was able to find the name Diveny in three places, 2 in Co. Mayo - Ballinsmaula-Claremorris and Barnycarroll-Ballyhowly and one in Galway, in Athenry. I am not sure where to go with this information.

Bropaul

3 replies

Bropaul:

There are a number of variations of the spelling of the surname: Devinny and the more common Devany, Devanny and Devaney. These surnames in the mid-19th century were mostly found in Galway, Donegal, Mayo and Sligo but were found in small numbers in other counties. Also, I don't know about your great-grandfather but many immigrants were illiterate and spelling of surnames was inexact and many times were changed in their new country.

Most RC parishes in the west of Ireland do not have records pre-1840. I assume from your message that you do not have parents names from a death record or obituary.

Have you taken a DNA test and if not you may want to consider a test. You may have matches with third cousins or closer who may have more info on the origins of your family in Ireland.

Roger McDonnell

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Bropaul,

The best way to trace your Irish family is to start with yourself and trace backward.  Use census records, birth/baptism, death, marriage records, interment records, headstones, obituaries.  You may find Michael's place of birth mentioned in an obituary, on a headstone, in a census, in a child's birth record, etc.  

I hope this is helpful.

 

glanvil3@aol.com

Thanks Roger and Patricia,

For a long time we assumed our surname was a variant spelling,because it is quite uncommon. More recently, though, as I and other family members have traveled in Ireland, we've been told that Diveny is a proper surname in its own right. I have taken the Ancestry DNA test but have yet to turn up an matches on the Diveny side - I was, however, lucky enough to turn up cousins in Dublin on my mother's side (Lavelle). Someone suggested to me that I should consider doing the 23andMe DNA test because that one is more widespread in Ireland. Does that sound about right? Thanks for your help.

Paul

Bropaul

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