South Sligo Families and Surnames – Database 1.
The relatively small amount of Surnames in South Sligo presented the challenege if one could bring together all the “standard” data (Such as the 1901/1911 Census, Griffiths Valuation, Tithe Defaulters, ect…) for the area into one database,
This website is amazing! My sister, Laurie Rigdon is researching our Irish ancestors on Ancestry.com. I am helping with additional research about Mayo and Sligo County. Laurie lives in California and I live in Reno, Nevada. Our maiden name was Higgins. The oldest ancestor traced so far is Edmund Durkan, born in 1790 in Co. Sligo. He would be our 4th great grandfather. Laurie also found a 1911 census showing John McManus living in Johnsfort, Brackloon, Co. Mayo. His daughter Sarah came to America and was one of our great grandmothers. I have been poring over items on your website for hours, everything from the Norman Invasion to Cromwell’s map to the work house that could not accommodate all of the poor. Thank you for providing this wonderful information. – Sandy Isham
Glad We could help!
All I know of our Kilmacteige family is that we are originally one of the Marren families who once resided in Dawros, Kilmacteige
We are descended from Thomas Marren (b. 1815-1820 in Dawros, RC) and Anne Whyte (b. 1815-1820 in Coolaney, C of I). Most of the family eventually immigrated to Buffalo, New York, USA.
Y-DNA = R1b-L21
Dr. Marren, common surname in Sligo. Would love to hear more!
Hello, yes, I am aware the surname ‘Marren’ is common in the South Sligo and bordering areas of Mayo, despite it being rare everywhere else. Of course the surname ‘Marron’ (with an “o”) is common throughout Monaghan, Armagh and at one time, Antrim. However, I was told there is a DNA database somewhere online that proves the two names are not linked to a common ancestor. The Marren’s of South Sligo either rose as a branch out of another clan in what is now County Sligo, or the name was brought to Ireland from abroad. Various spellings of the surname can be found in the southwest English counties of Devon and Dorset, as well as in Normandy and Aquitaine in France. Therefore, if the name isn’t indigenously Irish, then I’d suspect it came over to Ireland through either Strongbow’s Norman invasion or perhaps they were a minor Planter family originally of Protestant stock. My own suspicion is the Marren’s of Sligo were merely a minor off-branch of the O’Hara’s, just as were their Durcan (Durkin) neighbours and cousins.
By the way, I found the baptismal record of the original Thomas Marren whom I mentioned in my previous message. He was born in Dawros in 1803 and died there in 1885, if my memory is correct. His father was John Marren, whom I suspect was born sometime in the 1770s. If I had to guess, I’d say John Marren was the direct male ancestor of all the Marren families from Dawros. If anyone has any additional information, I would be interested to hear from you. Thanks! -Brian Marren, Liverpool UK
Brian,
Interesting. A “MARREN” (Meat) Butcher is in Swinford – by the Bridge.
Brian, L21 is pretty old. Have you done DNA “Family Finder” at FTDNA? That will find what I assume your looking for-then combining traditional research with DNA gets you back even further. CTS4466 might be of interest DNA wise, Elizabeth leads it – google it, here is one link:
R-CTS4466 (Y-DNA) R1b > M269 > R-P312/S116 > L21/S145 … – Geni
https://www.geni.com/projects/R-CTS4466-Y-DNA-R1b…R…CTS4466/31751
Cheers,
Sligo Researcher