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De Gras, Odo Le Gras, Grace Family

KilkennyKillamery (Kilkenny)

My family name is De Gras. The earliest of my ancestors that I can trace was a James Degrass born in Ireland, his son, also a James Degrass, born in Ireland in about 1829, immigrated to London, Middlesex, England. The earliest census I could find for him was in 1860. One later census indicated that his birthplace was Kilmarny, Ireland. My research tells me there is no such place in Ireland.

Recently I had my brother, James DeGras Y-DNA tested by FamilyTree Y-DNA, 101 markers. His Y-DNA belongs to the I Haplo Group. There are matches, all of which have the name of Grace, several from Kilkenny.

In contact with a genealogist in England I was informed that the name DeGras in Ireland came down from Odo LeGras/DeGras. Further, that the name over time was changed to Grace, and that some families still carried the original name DeGras/Degrass. Research informs me that some of the lands given to Odo for his assistance in the conquest of England by William I, were in Kilkenny Ireland.

There was a Civil Parishin Kilkenny county called Killamerry, and I wonder if Kilmarny in the census was transcribed incorrectly by the census taker. If so this may be where my ancestors came from.

Names other than James In the DeGras family were Eugene, Francis, Edward, Joseph, Henry and the family in the 1800s was Roman Catholic.

At this point I have hit a wall in my research. Can anyoneshed any light on the search for my ancestry that would assist me further?

Irene Vaughan nee De Gras

irenev@sympatico.ca

5 replies

From my cemetery headstone records from Kilkenny

the name Grace appears in the following cemeteries;

The Rower

Ballyouskill

St Kiernans

Callen

Danesfort

Thomastown

Tulla.

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Jack Mc Donald

IrelandXO member

This is very interesting, Jack.  Is there a way that I can research the name Degrass/DeGras in these cemeteries? Although our male family's Y-DNA are matches to Kilkenny, Grace ancestors, I cannot find our family name anywhere in data bases in Ireland. Yet, reseaching US Census and immigration records from the mid 1800's I have found Degrass sir names that were born in Ireland. 

Irene Vaughan nee DeGras

(Although we spell our name this way my great grandfather's name was spelled Degrass on census and vital statistic records.)

irenev@sympatico.ca

Came across this in the Irish Genealogist;

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Fifty-one petitions of Irish relevance from The Bilabo Archives.

The following series represents information extracted from petitions for Hidalguia or residency.

They were lengthty statements, often with many witnesses.

From these were taken the relevant genealogical details.

The year given is of their consession.

Note, that below each person's name are the words SELLO MAYOR, indicating consession of Hidalgo or nobility, or SELLO MENOR, indicating acceptance of proff of catholicity and consession of residency only.

All comments in the series which follow the genealogy are are solely those of the petitioner.

(all above as written in the Irish Genealogist book)

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1674; John de Gras (probably Grace) Belencourte, Co Kilkenny.

Sello Menor.

Ref. Judicial 1383-016

Ps. William Gras and Ana Esley

His wife Mary Brett of Lincoln.

I married in England under the obligations of the English king. Thet wanted to subvert our Catholic faith, so we came to Bilbao to live and be citizens.

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Jack Mc Donald

IrelandXO member

I have sent this info to my husband (Chris Grace) he had done pretty extensive research & is building a website...He has traced his family line from the US to Kilkenny & the de Gras name as well...He may be able to supply additional information I'm not sure...but worth a trying~

IrelandXO member

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