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Archiver > Scotch-Irish > 2000-02 > 0949874023


From: Daphne Kilbourn-Jacob <>
Subject: Re: Bells Book of Ulster Names
Date: Sun, 06 Feb 2000 13:53:43 -0800


Mac McCutchan wrote:
>
> April asked, "Could someone please tell me if GREENFIELD, FOLEY, McGINN,

>
> FOLEY: Doesn't appear in either Bell's or Black's books. That's
> surprising...it's not that uncommon. Perhaps it's not among the
> 500 most frequently occurring names in Ulster (so not in Bell), and
> Irish in origin (so not in Black). This is a theory, but tends to be
> confirmed by the following: In 1890, there were 250 Foley babies born
> in all of Ireland (according to Hanna's "The Scotch-Irish"). Of these,
> only 7 were born in Ulster. A look at the LDS Familysearch database at
> http://www.familysearch.org/ confirms this - lots of Foleys in Ireland,
> but almost none in Ulster (a few scattered in England, Wales and
> Scotland). Perhaps someone with a copy of MacLysaght and/or other Irish
> research sources can help out here...
Dear Mac,
You must be pretty exhausted by this time. MacLysaght, in "The Book of
Irish Surnames", says that (O) Foley is from the Gaelic O Foghladha for
foghlaidhe or 'plunderer'. It is very common to southern Munster. There
is apparently an English family of some fame thought to be of Irish
origin. There is additional information about Foley and Mac Sharry and
O Sharry, in Lietrim and Co. Roscommon, and in Ulster, respectively.
Have repaired the glitches in my email system so that I can help with
Surname Origins from Black, Bell and Maclysaght. Do not have English or
Welsh names.
Would also like to stress the importance of what you and Linda have said
repeatedly. These names come up over and over again. In order to prevent
burnout and unneccessary work, people seeking their ancestors historical
background need to use the Archives. The instructions are repeated many
times. The other resource is the Surname Lists, available through Roots-
web's main pages. These stay on record for a long period of time and
have the additional virtue of connecting people with others searching
for their particular surname. I have had many hits, found cousins, etc.
from these more focused lists. The Surname origin books can only point
one in a direction to start searching, with other sources.
With Regards,
Daphne Jacob

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