Tierney, King, Bell, Richardson, Radigan families

Elwyn,

Thank you very much for the information.  I appreciate it very much.

Michael

I have King ancestors from the area where Mayo and Galway adjoin, so I can provide a bit more information about the family, though I know of no specific connection to your branch of the Kings.  I've done DNA testing, though (as have a number of King-related cousins with roots in that area), in case you want to check for a match.

In Galway and Mayo, the King surname (when it is not of English origin, which it usually isn't in that area) comes from one of two surnames which originated in Galway, Mac Conraoi (McConry) and Ó Conraoi (O’Conry).  Due to the similarity of their sound and meaning, those surnames eventually became indistinguishable from one another and, along with a similar name from County Roscommon (Ó Maolchonaire) and another similar name further south in Munster, were each susceptible of being anglicized in varous ways, such as Conry, Conroy, Conree, and even Conaree.  In Galway and neighboring parts of Mayo, another form of anglicization of the names was King, which was created due to confusion of the surname with the expression mac an rí (“son of the king”).

It’s uncertain at what point in time the King mistranslation arose, but it may have been as late as the early 19th century.  Almost everyone in the area would still have been Irish-speaking then (as many still were even in the late 19th century), but they would usually no longer be familiar with how to write in Irish, since those who were literate would normally have been taught in schools where Irish was discouraged.  Varying anglicized forms arose in many cases because landlords, their agents, government officials, and even parish priests were often cavalier and inconsistent about how they handled Irish names, and in the early years it may not have been the family members who chose how to write their name.

Thank you for the information.  If a person has taken a DNS test, are there sites that are geared toward Ireland where people can upload results to compare and check for a match?

Thank you again.

Michael

Hello,

I have been told that my 2nd great Grandparents were John Bell, born in 1811, Clonduff, Rearymore, Queens, Ireland and Mary Jane Brown, born in 1810 from Whithorn, Winton, Ireland.

I am suspect of the location I am being given for where Mary Jane was born.  I know there is Whithorn in Scotland, but I am not certain about Ireland.  I am told these two married in Ireland, had three children William, John and Anna and that the family emigrated from Ireland to Canada prior to moving to the United States.

I am primarily wondering if there is someone who may be able to help in confirming if the location I am being provided for the birth location of Mary Jane Brown is correct.  I am also wondering if there may be marriage records.  It is my understanding the John Bell and Mary Jane Brown may have members of the protestant faith, but I am not certain.

I am also told that my grandparents, James and Johanna King were married in Ireland and emigrated in the 1840s.  Additionally, I am told they lost three children during the voyage to Canada.  I am trying to locate a passenger list or other documents that may have been prepared to report the death(s) of children at sea in hope that I could obtain the name of the ship and year they emigrated.

Thank you for any insights you may be able to provide.

Mike Tierney