Genealogy Chat

Thank you Ann. Very interesting. I am always amazed to see how much information is recorded about us... Even in the 1600 you could be on some list or other...

Last name: Smyth


This is a surname of the British Isles. Recorded as Smy, Smye, Smyth, Smythe, Smithe and Smith, it derives from the Anglo-Saxon word "smitan" meaning to smite, which could be a description of a smith, but would equally have applied to a soldier. The famous records of those ancient times known as the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles of the 9th century use the expression War-Smith to describe a particularly valiant warrior, a suggestion that there was a duality of purpose in the later surname. Over five hundred coats of arms have been granted to nameholders called Smith, perhaps another indication of the warrior background. Although today the surname in its different forms represents about one in seventy of all persons with a British background, mathematically this ratio should be nearer to thirty to one. The shortfall is perhaps explained by the fact that many persons now called Black, White, Green or Brown formerly had the suffix "smith", and were workers in iron, tin, copper or bronze. Amongst the many interesting records of this surname is that of Arthur Smyth who was one of the very earliest settlers in the colonies of New England. He is recorded as being a resident of "Elizabeth Cittie" in Virginia in 1624, having arrived in the ship Margaret and John of London, in 1622. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Eaceard Smid, which was dated circa 975, in the English Surname Register for County Durham, during the reign of King Edward, known as "The Martyr", 975 - 979, A.D. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

Read more: http://www.surnamedb.com/Surname/Smyth#ixzz3Q7GDIfLR

Last name: McClean


This notable surname, with spellings of MacLean, Maclean, MacLaine, McLean, McClean, Mccleane, McLane, and many, many, more, is widely recorded in Scotland and Ireland. It is an Anglicized form of the Old Scots Gaelic "MacGille Eoin", son of the devotee of (St.) John, from "Mac", son of, "gille", literally translating as "(man) servant, attendant", but used here in the transferred sense of "devotee", and the saint's name "Eoin", the classic Gaelic form of "John", now widely replaced by "Iain". John derives ultimately from the Hebrew "Yochanan", Jehovah has favoured me (with a son). In Gaelic genealogical manuscripts, dated 1467, the name is spelt "Gilleain", and in the M'Vurich Manuscripts as "Giolla-eoin": the "l" is now all that remains of "gille". John and Neil, sons of Gilhon, were mentioned in the 1326 Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, the date at which the surname was also first recorded (below). Further early recordings include: Nigel M'Gillon, custodian of the Castle of Scraburgh (1329), and Walter Malynne (Maclean), abbot of Glenluce, 1517 - 1545. The Macleans connection with Ireland began with their employment by the MacDonnels of Ulster as gallowglasses or mercenary soldiers in the 15th Century. In Ireland, the name was Anglicized as "MacGiolla Eain", or "MacGiolla Eoin". Notable bearers of the name were John Maclean, son of the laird of Dowart, who was ennobled by Queen Christina of Sweden in 1649, Sir John Maclean (1811 - 1895), archaeologist, and keeper of ordnance records in the Tower of London, 1855 - 1861, and Sir Donald McLean, 1820 - 1877, the first minister and statesman of New Zealand. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Dofnald M'Gilhon, whose ship made a circuit of "le Mole" (Mull), which was dated 1327, in the "Exchequer Rolls of Scotland", during the reign of King Robert 1 "Bruce" of Scotland, 1306 - 1329. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

Read more: http://www.surnamedb.com/Surname/McClean#ixzz3Q7G435Ra

Last name: Jardin


This interesting name is of Old French origin, introduced into England and Scotland by the Normans, after the Conquest of 1066. It may be either a topographical or an occupational surname, derived in both cases from the central Old French "jardin", garden. As a topographical name, Jardin(e) denoted residence by or near a garden, and as an occupational name, a worker at a garden. During the Middle Ages the gardener implied by this term was likely to be a cultivator of edible produce in an orchard or kitchen garden, rather than one who tended ornamental lawns and flower beds. The surname is first recorded in Scotland, as below, and appears in England in 1296, when Matilda atte Jardin is listed in the Sussex Subsidy Rolls. The modern forms are Jardin, Jardine, Jerde(i)n, Jerdan and Jerdon. An interesting namebearer was James Jardine (1776 - 1858), an engineer, who constructed the Union Canal and was the first to determine the mean level of the sea. A Coat of Arms granted to a Jardine family of Edinburgh depicts, on a white shield, on a red saltire five bezants, on a chief, red, three gold mullets. The Crest is a hand holding a bezant all proper, and the Motto, "Ex virtute honos", translates "Honour from virtue". The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Winfredus de Jardine, which was dated circa 1150, charter witness in records of the Abbeys of Kelso and Arbroath, during the reign of David 1, King of Scotland, 1124 - 1153. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

Read more: http://www.surnamedb.com/Surname/Jardin#ixzz3Q7FsoCkA

Hi
Was thinking that you might still be helping people with this surname origins.
I'm wondering if my relatives are actually Irish....
Smyth
McLean
Jardin
Thanking you for being so helpful to everybody
Karen

my pleasure :-)

Again Ann many thanks for your help!

Liz.

Last name: McFarland
Recorded as MacFarlane, McFarlane, MacFarlan, McFarlan, MacFarland, MacFarlin, McParland, McParlin, and others, this is an ancient Scottish surname, and one that is also recorded in Ireland. It probably originates from the Gaelic MacPharlain, meaning "The son of Parlan", a form which apparently derives from "Bartholmew", a name introduced into Europe by the returning crusaders from the Holy land in the 12th century. However others claim that it may have a pre 7th century Viking origin and to translate as the "Sea-Wave", which is also possible. The name is first recorded in Scotland in the 14th Century, and an early example is that of Andrew McFarlane, who in 1577 was elected a Burgess of Glasgow. The development of the name has included Makfarlande in 1546, M'Farlen in 1603, and MacPharline in 1610. Examples taken from surviving church registers include Dugall McFarlane who married Helena Wallace at Cannongate, Edinburgh, on June 15th 1653, and Alexander McFarlan who was born on September 3rd 1730, also at Edinburgh. The first recorded spelling of the family name may be that of Malcolm McPharlane. This was dated 1385, when he was a charter witness to Duncan, earl of Leuenax in 1385. This was during the reign of King Robert 11 of Scotland, 1371 - 1390. Throughout the centuries surnames in every country have continued to "develop," often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

Read more: http://www.surnamedb.com/Surname/mcfarland#ixzz2xXHjz51G

McPharlan

many thanks for your time Ann,
Liz.

Yvonne - this thread is just for origins of Irish surnames - make a posting on Find Ancestors where you'll get lots of help

P.S. I've tried searching the name Canton in Ireland, but haven't really come up with anything - which makes me wonder if I've got the name right??!

Do you have any information on CANTON? My great grandmother was Marianne Josephine Canton, b. approx. 1862, possibly Mullingar, Westneath. She married my GGF, Edward Wadsworth, an organ builder from Lancashire in the late 1880s. He was widowed, and b. 1939, so approx. 23 years older than Marianne. I'm interested to know about Marianne's background, and how she might have met Edward. They had aspirations for their own daughters, whom they educated at St Paul's School, London, and both went on to university in the 1910s - unusual, surely, at that time.
Many thanks! Yvonne

this thread is just for origins of Irish surnames = if you want help with your tree, make a posting on Find Ancestors

My Irish family is BARDIN & DAVIS even though they don't sound very Irish to me. The Bardin's are from Dublin and the Davis's from Donabate north Dublin

Nudge nudge

can anyone tell me anything about stephens family . william stephens from meath married catherine fitzpatrick from kildare about 1830s

not to worry - have another go!!!

sorry have i posted it the wrong place again Maureen!!!!

Hi THere please would you help an ole lady. looking for Hannah or anna AHern b 1822 Cork ireland m Charles Rowe b 1822 St Albans herts, only info 1871 cencus surrey , cannot get any further with both surnames!! many thaks maureen.

need to find hannah ahern, b cork 1822-7 married in england to charles rowe