'Families of Country Kerry' 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', this covers thousands of families from all of Ireland.
'Families of County Kerry' greatly expands upon the coverage given in that book
and adds several hundred new families. In this way both books compliment each
other. An outline of the history of the county as it relates to Irish families,
and to Irish research, is included, along with an exhaustive enumeration of
thousands of Kerry families, sure to help any family researcher.
Here is a
column from the introduction of this book, which sets the stage for the over
2,000 families within the pages of this work.
"The arrival of the Eoganacht (Eugenian) families of MacCarthy, O'Sullivan
and O'Donoghue in the 12th century marks a time of great transition and
disorder in Co. Kerry. Cormac MacCarthy, in 1124, banished three ruling
families of the area: O'Shea of the Corcu Duibne who had ruled alternately
with the Falveys of Corcu Duibne, and who seemingly fade away from Kerry
history subsequently; O'Connor of the Ciarraighe, who were also on hand upon
the arrival of the English in Kerry; and O'Moriarty of Loch Lein, soon to be
dispossessed by the O'Donaghues. These banishments were not without bloodshed
and reversals, (Cormac MacCarthy was even banished to the monastery at Lismore
for a time), but the Eoganacht families eventually prevailed. O'Moriarty,
sponsored by O'Connor the King of Ireland, (this is not O'Connor Kerry),
returned and caused some havoc on land and sea on more than one occasion. The
Eoganachts were opposed by old ruling families of Kerry, who received support
from O'Brien of Thomand - who wanted to keep the power of these Eoganacht
families in check. O'Connor Kerry was perhaps the most contentious - even
raising a fleet and establishing a base of power at Innisfallen for a time,
before being forced to flee with his fleet left behind on Loch Lein. MacCarthy,
with O'Donaghue and Sullivan, received support from O'Connor, king of
Connaught and others. Culminating in the battle of Moin Mhor in 1151 in which
O'Brien and allies were defeated, MacCarthy was firmly established as king of
Desmond. O'Briens power was held in check from that time forward outside of
the area of Thomand (Co. Clare and surrounds)."
Among the many families given a full column of coverage in this comprehensive
work are: Bateman; Benner; Bernard; Blennerhassett; Brown; Cantillon; Carew;
McCarthy MacCarthy; Collis; O'Connell Connell; O'Connor Connor; Conway; Crosbie
Crosby; Day; Denny; Donoghue Donahue; Eagar, Agar; MacElligott; Falvey;
Fitzgerald; Fitzmaurice; Fuller; MacGillycuddy; Genis Ginnis Guiness; Gun Gunn;
O'Halloran Halloran; Herbert; Hussey; O'Mahoney Mahoney; Mason; Moriarty;
Morris; Orpen; Palmer; Pierse; Ponsonby; Raymond; Rice; Spring; Stack; Sullivan;
Trant ... and a list too large to cover here.
The parish is an important subdivision of the county. Parish records can be
vital to research in the county. The following modern parishes are listed as in
Kerry in this work: Aghadoe, Aghavallen, Aglish, Annagh, Ardfert, Ballincuslane,
Ballinvoher, Ballyconry, Ballyduff, Ballyheige, Ballymacelligott, Ballynacourty,
Ballynahaglish, Ballyseedy, Brosna, Caher, Castleisland, Cloghane, Clogherbrien,
Currans, Dingle, Dromod, Duagh, Dunquin, Dunurlin, Dysert, Fenit, Finuge, Galey,
Garfinny, Glanbehy, Kenmare, Kilbonane, Kilcaragh, Kilcaskan, Kilcolman,
Kilconly, Kilcredane, Kilcrohane, Kilcummin, Kildrum, Kilfeighny, Kilflyn,
Kilgarrylander, Kilgarvan, Kilgobban, Killaha, Killahan, Killarney,
Killeentierna, Killehenny, Killemlagh, Killinane, Killiney, Killorglin, Killury,
Kilmalkedar, Kilmoyly, Kilnanare, Kilnaughtin, Kilquane, Kilshenane, Kiltallagh,
Kiltomy, Kinard, Knockanure, Knocknane, Lisselton, Listowel, Marhin, Minard,
Molahiffe, Murher, Nohaval, Nohavaldaly, O'Brennan, O'Dorney, Prior, Ratass,
Rattoo, Stradbally, Templenoe, Tralee, Tuosist, Valencia, and Ventry . Keep in
mind the spelling of place names and parishes can change over time. Be flexible
in your research when looking for these names.
Contents:
List of Books
Map of County Kerry
Ortelius Map of Kerry 1576
Introduction
Ancient Sketch of Kerry Castle
Invasion and Settlement
Settler Families Detailed
Denny Muster Roll
Palatine Families
Irish Forces, Settlement of Tralee
Sources, Old Kerry Newspapers Listed
1776 List of Papists
Ancient Families of County Kerry
Kerry Family History Sources
Families of County Kerry
Appendixes
- Bibliography, Suggested Reading
- Families Given in the Master Book of Surnames
- Co. Kerry Landowners List
- Extract From the Master Book of Irish Placenames
- Household List of some major Kerry Families.
Index of Surnames
