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Unusual First Name

WexfordFerns (Wexford)

Does anyone have any ideas for me regarding the first name of my ancestor, who lived in County Wexford? On his son’s marriage certificate in the U.S., his father is recorded as LYONS Connelly. I have been unable to find any reference to anyone with that first name in County Wexford, or for that matter anywhere else in Ireland. I have also read the articles about naming patterns, nicknames, etc. without any reference to such a name. It seems like a surname to me, so I’m wondering if it could possibly be his mother’s surname? Was this ever done in Ireland in the early 1800s?

rlau7762@yahoo.com

2 replies

It was a fairly common practice in Protestant families, especially Presbyterians, to use either a mother's maiden name or the name of someone who was respected eg the local schoolmaster or Minister. Indeed it still happens to this day. Much less common in Catholic families. Almost unknown I would say.

In the 1901 census of Ireland about 30 people had the forename Lyons. All were Protestant. I found 1 catholic who had it as a middle name, but not their forename:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Antrim/Windsor_Ward/Jo…

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

Thanks for investigating this for me Elwyn. My Connelly family was Catholic, so this is puzzling. 

 

 

rlau7762@yahoo.com

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