SURNAME VARIATIONS

One student made a trip to Ireland prior to taking the immigrant origins class. She shared with us the fact that "Upon my return (from her unsuccessful research trip to Ireland), I found out my maternal grandfather's surname had been changed (or Anglicized, Americanized) at least 5 times! I knew his surname as McQueeney, but I've since learned it was also listed as: Mulqueeney, McAweeney, McWeeney, McWeeny and McWiney!" She has started to learn the realities of surname identification. Do you really know the name of your ancestor?

My grandfather changed his surname from Kamsula to Kampsula so it would be pronounced properly. Neither the student nor I knew as much about surname variations as we started out in genealogy. Therefore, we didn't look up those other spellings because she didn't know of the naming customs ahead of time. Name variations are even more important if you are doing research online.

There are many surname books that list information about where people with certain surnames originated, or where the name started, or where people are concentrated today. Most surname books are countrywide resources, but some books discuss surnames found in one particular county. Do not rely on the surname distribution maps that you can find in bookstores or libraries as they can be misleading because they may only cover a certain time period. In the case of Ireland, most surnames are much more broadly distributed throughout Ireland than is reflected on these surname distribution maps.

One of the most useful and widely used surname books is Sir Robert E. Matheson�s Special Report on Surnames in Ireland based on an analysis of births registered in Ireland in 1890. While this time period may not be helpful for your individual research problem, his list of various surname spelling derivations is invaluable in researching a given ancestral family. He also provided various spellings representing various ways the surname was spelled in the civil registrars� offices throughout Ireland.

Another useful book is Edward MacLysaght�s The Surnames of Ireland. MacLysaght explained the use of the prefixes O� and Mac/Mc, the origin of surnames, and lists geographic areas where the surnames are found.

Although Irish births, marriages, and deaths were not registered by the government until 1864 (1845 for Protestant marriages), civil registration records can still prove useful in tracing an Irish ancestor�s possible place of origin. To effectively use this source as a locator tool, the surname needs to be unusual. If you are researching a common Irish surname such as Kelly, Murphy and Ryan, it will be much more difficult.

Genealogy socities, local Family History Centers, and the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, have many books and microform sources that can give insights on surnames, as well as given names. It is useful to study your surname and see what has been recorded, but don't pay money for surname books that do not show any connection to your ancestor's localities.