This hardcover book focuses exclusively on the families of County Donegal.
Part of the Irish Families Series it includes: Catholic and Protestant; native
Irish; settler families from England, Scotland, and Wales; County Map; Coats of
Arms; and more. Information contained here-in dates from the earliest times to
the modern era.
The Master Volume in the Irish Families series is 'The Book of Irish Families
Great and Small'. It covers thousands of families from all of Ireland. 'Families
of County Donegal' greatly expands upon the coverage given in that book and adds
several hundred new families. In this way both books compliment each other.
Illustrated with maps, arms, index to wills, census extracts and notes on over
1,000 families of Donegal. Includes a complete section on how to trace ancestors
from Donegal, reference books, address list of repositories, well
indexed ... Included are the Gallagher, Boyle, Doherty, O'Donnell, McLaughlin,
Sweeney, Ward, Kelly, McGinley, McFadden, McGowan, Duffy and Campbell families,
and there are hundreds more.
Some of the families noted here as most numerous in the 17th century were the:
McGlaghlin; McSwyne; O'Cuningham; O'Dermond; Mc Devet; McKee; Brillaghan;
McCollgan; O'Murray; O Harkan; O Quigley; O Hegarty; O Cullan; O' Cally;
McGinnelly; O'Toolan; and O' Carney families.
The following is taken from the introduction to this book, setting the stage for
all the family history that follows:
"County Donegal is unique. It is the northernmost county in Ireland and has
ties to Scotland and neighboring counties in Northern Ireland, while remaining
a part of 'southern' Ireland (The Republic of Ireland). The climate here is
said to resemble that of Scotland. A maritime county, it is a part of the old
province of Ulster, bordered on the east and southeast by the counties of
Londonderry, Tyrone and Fermanagh. To the west and north is the Atlantic
Ocean, and to the south is the tip of county Leitrim and Donegal bay.
Anciently the land was part of the kingdom of Aileach, having been founded by
two sons of 'Niall of the Nine Hostages'. One son, Eoghan, ruled over what
what is now county Tyrone plus the Inishowen peninsula which is now in
Donegal. (The O'Dohertys are well known as the lords of Inishowen.). This area
is referred to as Tir Eoghain or 'Eoghan's land". The other son, Conall, ruled
the remainder Donegal, which is referred to as 'Tir Chonaill' (Conall's
land.). The O'Donnells would emerge as the leading Irish family of this area
early on. O'Doherty, MacSweeney and O'Boyle are given as subordinate to the
O'Donnells of Tyrconnell. (Note that the old spellings of these territories
varies greatly, with Tyrconnell and Tir Chonaill, etc...being one in the
same.) The modern county of 'Donegal' was formed in 1585, under the British
regime. The county took its name from the town of Donegal, which was the only
refuge for 'her majesty's' settlers at one point. Donegal is aptly named,
coming from 'Dun na nGall', meaning 'Fort of the Foreigners'. O'Hart notes
that Donegal took the name as it was a fort for the Vikings or Danes, even
before the coming of the Normans."
The county is mostly in the diocese of Raphoe, but also in Derry and Clogher.
It is divided into the civil baronies of Raphoe, Kilmacrenan, Ennishowen,
Tyrhugh, Bannagh and Boylagh. (see the list of place names in the appendix and
maps in this volume.) The sea port and market towns of Donegal listed by Lewis
in 1837 include: Ballyshannon; Donegal; and Killybegs. Also noted is St.
Johnstown; the market and post towns of Letterkenny; Remelton; Raphoe; Carn;
Stranolar; Buncrana; and Moville Upper, along with the post-towns of Castlefin,
Dunfanaghy, Ardara, Dungloe, and Narin, and the towns of Bundoran; Mount
Charles; and Rathmullen, each with a penny post.
Although parish names have changed over time, here are the specific parishes
linked to County Donegal. If your family came from one of these parishes, you
will most definitely want this book ! These Donegal parishes are: Aghanunshin,
All Saints, Aughnish, Barr of Inch, Burt, Clonca, Clondahorky, Clondavaddog,
Clonleigh, Clonmany, Convoy, Conwal, Culdaff, Desertegny, Donagh, Donaghmore,
Donegal, Drumhome, Fahan Lower, Fahan Upper, Gartan, Glencolumbkille, Inch,
Inishkeel, Inishmacsaint, Inver, Kilbarron, Kilcar, Killaghtee, Killea,
Killybegs Lower, Killybegs Upper, Killygarvan, Killymard, Kilmacrenan,
Kilteevoge, Leck, Lettermacaward, Mevagh, Mintiaghs, Moville Lower, Moville
Upper, Muff, Raphoe, Raymoghy, Raymunterdoney, Stranorlar, Taughboyne,
Templecarn, Templecrone, Tullaghobegley, Tullyfern and Urney. These are modern
spellings. Be sure to keep an eye out for similar spellings in your research.
Several thousand families are covered, and below are some of those with major
entries, (several paragraphs to a full column) in this book:
Mac Allen; MacAuley; Bonner; O Boyle; Bradley: O Breslin; Brook; Campbell; O
Cannon; Carr; O Cassidy; Clarke; Conyngham; O Crean; Cunningham; O Dohery; O
Donnell; O Friel; O Gallagher; Hamilton; Knox; MacLaughlin; Nicholson; Smith;
Stewart; Mac Sweeney or Sweaney; Mac Ward; White; Young, and hundreds more ...
A comprehensive unique book, "Families of County Donegal, Ireland" is
hardbound and includes over 1,000 families and is a must have for anyone with
family in Donegal.
Contents :
List of Books
A Donegal Home
Ortelius Map of Donegal 1576
Ancient Tribal Names Chart
Keatings History
Donegal Baronies Map
Early Families
Plantation
Coats of Arms
Hearth Money Rolls, Inishowen.
1659 Census
1890 Birth Index.
Guide to Tracing Donegal Ancestors
Families of County Donegal, Ireland
Appendixes
- Donegal Surname List
- Donegal Placename List
- County of Donegal (census)
- Donegal Will Index
Index of Family Names Found in Text
