I’ll take S-words for 400s, Alex…

I’m looking for info on the Swords surname in Ireland. I know many of the basics on where the name can come from in the Irish and British traditions but feel free to post your understanding of in the comments) - it can come from the Irish name O’Suart (which is in turn derived from a cool Scandinavian name) or the Scottish Suard or be an occupational surname of a swordsmith or a location name after the town Swords (located by the airport of Dublin).

I am trying to figure out which of these categories my surname fits into but it’s rare enough that good info is hard to find online. My kin are reputed to have come from Ireland and Ancestry DNA (if it can be believed) place my origin to the Leinster province. So my current theory is that my name may be derived from the city name (which seems among the rarer circumstances for this surname). But at this point, I’m more interested broadly in the surname and how it came to be.

So I’m curious about the general information if you have connection to this awesome surname:

Where you currently live (very roughly speaking obviously), where your ancestors lived and how did they get there?

What the origin of the name was?

What religion and/or occupation did your Swords ancestors have?

Hi I'm not sure if this is the right place but I have an ancestor who supposedly went with O'Duffy to fight in the Spanish civil war. Is there any website or registry of those who went with O'Duffy?

My last name is Clare and have always wanted to gather more information on our family. My dad’s father passed early and the rest of his family is very limited. Not to many stories either sadly. I know my great great grandparents were fighters. One being a boxer and one fighting at carnivals. Where would be a good place to start for finding more?

I hope this hasn't been asked too many times before! I'm from the UK, with parents born in the UK, but have three Irish grandparents (all deceased). I'm set on getting Irish citizenship and an Irish passport, but the more I read the different bits of guidance online, the less confidend I feel that I understand the process.

I know I need to register as a foreign birth first of all but I'm a bit confused about the documentation for this step. If I've got it correct, I can only apply once one of my parents has registered as an Irish citizen? My mother is currently applying, so do I then need to submit my records, her records, and one of her Irish parents' birth certificates? Also, is a birth certificate enough as proof of my grandparents' identity? I've read conflicting things over whether they just require an original birth certificate, or if marriage and death certificates are also required.

Many thanks in advance!

My grandfathers birth registration says place of birth Eyre Sqaure Galway , does that make sense ? I only know eyre Sqaure to literally be a Sqaure/park am i misunderstanding ? Is this a community / small town .

Hi there. If anyone could offer any advice I would be incredibly grateful. Have been trying in vein to locate the birth certificate of an Irish grandparent to support an Irish citizenship application.

We have the death certificate and have found him in both the 1901 & 1911 census but despite this cannot find any record of his birth certificate. The Irish General Register Office unfortunately couldn’t find his record so said they assume his birth was never registered but suggested If we can obtain the baptismal certificate we can apply for a Late Registration of Birth.

I’ve also searched rootsireland, again to no avail. Any advice anyone could give would be much appreciated. Im a bit stumped how to go about finding the correct parish. His birth date was 1896 in Cork. Can share name details if anyone would kindly be happy to help search or offer any advise/tips
Thanks in advance! 🙏

I am from the USA and was able to place my 2x great grandmother being born in Cartronaglogh . It’s a township outside of Keadue so my question is, is Cartronglogh more like a neighborhood? Plus anyone live there?

Her name was Annie Leydon. She came over on by herself on ship in 1888 or 1899 ( it’s unknown ) The names of her parents are always different on documents but I’m thinking the last name can help . I have her birth record from Ireland but that’s it 😔

Hello everyone! I am trying to trace my 2xgreat grandmother's family in County Cavan, Ireland.  The person I am trying to look up is Farrell Smith, married to Margret Cullin. He died in 1869, and I found his will, listing his known children and my 2x great grandmother Ellen Smith. So, I know I have the correct Farrell. It says he was of “Wateraughey County Cavan”. I am hoping to glean some additional information. Per the will, he left his house to his wife. It also says his father is still alive, and he left him a cow w/grazing rights!

In addition to this, I found a DNA match (Possible 3-4^(th) Cousin) with the relative Catherine Smyth living in the same town as Farrell. They would have been of similar age, and I think this may be a sister to him. I am also fairly confident that I am related to her, as her husbands distant family also moved to the same town as Ellen and one of the cousins was living with her on the 1900 Census.

So I am trying to find some ways to confirm that Catherine and Farrell are related, and maybe who their mother is. I know their father is Michael per Farrells will. I was hoping I could use the Griffiths Valuation website to find Farrell and Michael. I’ve tried to use the website, but when I click on the image, I get a Proxy Error.  So I am trying to use findmypast.com to browse the pages for County Cavan. The problem is I am unsure which Parish I need to look at. When I google “Wateraughey County Cavan parishes I didn’t get any hits.

Thank you in advance for any advice you may have.  

Copy of the Will Ledger.

http://www.willcalendars.nationalarchives.ie/reels/cwa/005014888/005014888_00563.pdf

Farrel on familysearch

https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/MCTL-CPB

Catherine on Family Search

https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/K8CG-237

Can anyone locate a couple of obituaries in Ireland for me?

Francis (Frank) McGee

Date of Birth: 12 Feb 1903

Date of Death: 27 Jan 2003

Last known address: I know he lived in Geaglom near Drumkeeran. Maybe the Leitrim Oberserver newspaper may have an obituary for him?

John Hurley

Date of Birth: Feb 1898

Date of Death: 10 Aug 1969

Last known address: 618 Mourne Rd, Drimnagh, Dublin 12, D12 NW96, Ireland

Thank you for the help.

Hello, I was interested in finding out more about the irish part of my Ancestry, I know my father's side originates from ireland, as I've listened to a lot of stories my granny has told me, I'm not sure if my mother's side has any irish, but I assume so, I have my mother's last name, which is Morris, but my father's last name is Breen, I'm not sure what would be necessary to find out more about my ancestry, but if anyone could help guide me through this, I would be very appreciative!

Just a heads up in case you are using their site as your only source. They also indexed a first name incorrectly (I found the actual document), but that seems to be rare.

Searching births on Ancestry seems to get more/better results.

Hello, I'm tracing my family tree on my mother's side. She is Scottish but her a grandmother came from Ireland.

I know her grandmother was born in Ireland in 1866. Her name was Mary Carrey. Mary Carrey's father was Richard Carrey and he was married to her mother, also Mary, but I do not know her maiden name.

Does anyone have any ideas as to where I can start looking please to find out more about where they came from in Ireland.

I have a record (from FindMyPast) of a marriage licence bond for Jane Warren and William Henry Babington 1836, Diocese of Elphin. William was born in Killybegs; Jane's sister Catherine's marriage registration (in NSW, 1844) states that she was born in Mount Talbot, Roscommon to Francis and Anne.

Where might I find details of William and Jane's marriage (they were recorded as husband and wife when they migrated to NSW in 1840), and Jane's birth/baptism? Other records put Jane's birth between about 1817 and 1821.

When using Irish Genealogy

https://www.irishgenealogy.ie/en/

And after finding the intended record and clicking on Image you can simply (using Safari) click on share button and scroll down to print and print the record to your home printer. Are you allowed to do these or do you have to order a copy (Which you have to pay 5 Euro for)

I discovered my grandfather was adopted, now I'm not 100% when. He was born in 1919, but the only record of his birth is a certificate he obtained from a priest in the church he was baptised in. He obtained this in 1981.

I'm attempting to research his adopted parents. I've found records of their death and one of them on the census records. I found a record of their marriage from 1912, where it stated that his adopted mother was widowed. I've found record of her first marriage, but I Can't find d any record of her husband's death or either of them on the 1901 or 1911 census. I've found that her first husband, at the time of their marriage was a "Harbour Constable", he was Presbyterian and she was Catholic (were mixed marriages common then?), her second husband was also Catholic.

It is possible that they emigrated, and she came back, but I haven't found any record of her on ships. Also on her first marriage record, under father's occupation it says "gentleman" also that he was deceased when they married in 1896.

Any ideas where I could go from here?

Hi! I’m hoping someone might have any suggestions for helping me locate the place of birth of my Irish Great-Great-Grandmother, Mary Pettit (née Mary McCauley).  I’ve been able to track down many historical American sources but have had zero luck in locating where she came from in Ireland.

Here’s what I know:

• Born:  Mary McCauley (or McCawley) in Ireland in/abt 1848
• Immigrated from Ireland to Amerca in/abt 1863 (15 years old)
• Parents: John McCauley and Mary Costello (info obtained from Mary’s death record - don’t know if the parents immigrated as well)
• First time I can confirm Mary McCauley in America is in the Nevada City, Ca 1880 Census (I believe she either immigrated immediately to San Francisco / Nevada City or shortly thereafter arriving in America - see below)
• She is married to James Pettit (my great-great grandfather) but I haven’t found any marriage records so I don’t know the location of said marriage.   Marriage records may reveal more details.
• I do know that James Pettit first arrived in America from The Isle of Jersey, landing in New Orleans where he was naturalized in 1854.
• James and Mary lived in Nevada City in 1880 with their six children.  Mary then appears in the San Francisco census in 1900.  (James Pettit died in the 1890s).
  • San Francisco census records for 1890 are non existent.
• Mary also lived for sometime in Sacramento, CA and there are several newspaper articles about her and her family while living there as a widow.
• In her 1911 obituary from The Morning Union (Grass Valley, California) it says, “She was also related to the family of Frank T Smith and to Mrs. Mary Costello of this city.”
  • Looking at Frank Smith’s family, his mother was Margaret Costello who I’m assuming was the family connection since Mary McCauley’s mother’s maiden name was Costello.  
  • Margaret Costello married John Smith in 1862 in Nevada City, Ca.  
  • This leads me to suspect that Mary came directly to Nevada City when she immigrated since she had family there.  She then would have met James Pettit in Nevada, City.
  • Looking at John Smith’s history, he was from Londonderry, Ireland (or just Derry, Ireland). 
  • I can’t find records for Margaret Costello.
• From the obituary, I can find no clear relation to the mentioned Mrs. Mary Costello.  As it’s a Mrs. Costello, my assumption is that her father, or perhaps her husband was related to Mary McCauley (nee Costello) but regardless, I can find no MRS. Mary Costello in Nevada City at that time that would match, so this lead seems to be a dead end.
• I can find no records in Ireland that directly relate to this family tree.  I’ve spent much focus looking at the Derry region of what’s today Northern Ireland, but nothing matches.
• As Northern Ireland is today (and during this time period) a predominantly Protestant community, I’ve looked into a Protestant trail, but Mary McCauley’s children were for the most part buried in Catholic Cemeteries in America, but not all of them.  
• Mary McCauley’s (aka Pettit) daughter is Viola Pettit, my great grandmother.  She married John Montgomery in San Francisco.  John Montgomery was the son of James and Susan Montgomery who immigrated from Belfast, Ireland to San Francisco.  They were likely Protestant which leads me to believe that Viola would have been Protestant too. 
  • BUT Viola’s dad, James Pettit, was likely Catholic as Isle of Jersey was then part of France which was mostly Catholic.  Also, Jame’s family was from France. As such, it seems Mary most likely would have been Catholic as well.
• Mary McCauley (aka Pettit) was buried in a non-denominational cemetery outside San Francisco in Colma.  However, many people in San Francisco were moved to that cemetery post mortem when the city cemeteries were relocated.  Hence, she may have been moved from a denominational cemetery but I can find no records.  
• All of this is made even harder as many records were lost in the San Francisco earthquake of 1906 which I presume is why I can’t find any marriage records.

After all this, does anyone have any suggestions on how to trace back where she is from in Ireland??  I am hoping to find her records so that my mother can get her Irish citizenship.  Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.  Thank you!!!

Hello. My sir name is big in both Scotland and Ireland. How do I find out where our/my, last name came from? My aunt did like a 23 and me kinda thing with not much results for family line. I'm kinda paranoid about DNA genealogy sites. How did I know it's true, am I just being irrational? I think anything would be helpful. Thank you.

https://registers.nli.ie/registers/vtls000634836#page/74/mode/1up

If so, would anyone be willing to search for me? I have an ancestor, Bridget, who I think might've immigrated with a Clancy family. I'm not sure if she was really a daughter. I can't find her baptism in this register, but have found other Clancy kids.

The parents of "Bridget Clancy" were Patrick Clancy and Bridget Mc (something, I can't make it out. Henry?). They had kids Roger (baptized 13 Oct 1850), Catherine (baptized 31 Dec 1852), John (March 18, 1854). They also should have had older kids Michael (1840 or 1843), Cecelia (1845), Ellen (1849ish) Patrick (1852). Birthdates are from a census. I can't find them in the baptisms. Bridget in the census was listed as being born 1846.

I have a Bridget Carey/Curry in my family tree who seems to match up very well with Bridget Clancy. She had (probably) a brother Michael D Curry of the same age. The two were from the same are in PA where Bridget Clancy was soon after immigration, but I can't find them. Michael D lists Patrick and Bridget as the names of his parents in a death record (which understandably are common names). The only difference is that in Bridget Carey (married O'Keefe)'s obituary, it states that she was born in County Clare. I thought this may be lost in translation, as the Clancy's were from Clooneclare, which sounds similar.

Can anyone find any baptisms of Michael, Cecelia, Ellen, Patrick, or Bridget (or any other kids of Patrick and Bridget Clancy?)? Are any of those kids baptised around the same time under the surname Keary/Carey/Curry?

Thank you!

I've been reading that the website RootsIreland has access to more records than other places such as Ancestry some of the other Irish genealogy sites. Before I pay for access though, I want to make sure they could have what I'm looking for.

I am on the search for a catholitc baptismal record from ~1890 (+/- 2 years) from the general area of West Cork, including Aughadown/Kilcoe/Skibbereen/Schull (not 100% on exact location). The baptism records that have been digitized seem to only go through the early 1880s in these places. Does RootsIreland have baptismal records from the late 1880s/early 1890s in these areas?

If so, how did you do so? Any recommended resources?

I have managed to trace one line of my family to a John McAleer (born Apr 2 1844 in Co. Tyrone, Ireland & death Jun 16 1908 in Pennsylvania, USA). Wife was Mary Guiry (born Jun 4 1843 in Waterford Ireland & death Apr 6 1915 in Pennsylvania, USA). The only information I have about John's parents are from his death certificate filled out by his son. His father's name was Francis McAleer, born in Ireland, no dates & his mother's maiden name was Conlan, born in ireland, no dates & no first name.

If anybody can help me out with literally any additional information for either of them, I would greatly appreciate it.

Any help/advice would be appreciated. I'm trying to link my ancestor Michael O'Keeffe (goes by Keeffe, O'Keefe, Kaef etc) (1804-1869) back to Ireland. On his grave it said he was from Castlemagner Parish. On a land evaluation in 1826, I believe I found him in Lisduggen South, in Castlemagner. He married a Margaret Callaghan (1818ish-1900) and had children Hannah (around 1842), Dennis (born January 4, 1844) and Cornelius (around 1846/47) in Ireland. I think that the family immigrated in a few waves around 1853, and they settled in Bradford, McKean Co, PA. I have a decent amount once they are in PA, but have virtually nothing from Ireland on the family.