Looking for Neville Family

Hi AnnieB7,

Unfortunately, you will need more information before searching in Ireland. 

- O'BRIEN is the fifth most numerous name in all of Ireland per MacLysaght's "The Surnames of Ireland."  MacLysaght also says O'BYRNE and BRYAN are sometimes seen as a synonym of O'BRIEN.

- From the Irish Times Ancestors site http://www.irishtimes.com/ancestor/surname/ we can see there the O'BRIENs are everywhere in Ireland, but there are four counties where O'BRIENs are most numerous in mid-19th century, Limerick, Clare, Tipperary, and Cork.  This site also has many more O'BRIEN variants to consider in your research:

- NEVILLE is also all over Ireland, but not nearly so numerous as O'Brien.  NEVILLE is most numerous in three counties - Wexford, Limerick, and Cork, but is also found in Clare and many other counties. Here is what MacLysaght's Surnames of Ireland has to say about NEVILLE:

<This aristocratic English name is used for ? Niadh (see Nee) in Co. Limerick and occassionally for NEVIN in Co. Clare.  The NEVILLEs of Cos. Kilkenny and Wexford are of English (ultimately French) origin.  MIF Map Limerick.>

I would recommend that you attempt to get three things first from the place of their death before researching in Ireland.

1.) Newspaper articles during their life and obituaries at the time of their death.  These articles sometimes include very good detail on origins of their subject.

2.) Memorial stone inscriptions of the Irish in America often include the townland or Parish name of the birthplace or residence of the dead person.

3.) Passenger lists of the era of your interest do not often say much more than "IRELAND" as place of birth, but some include lots of detail and even name and location for living kin in Ireland.

In the event you still want to look in Ireland, the Tithe Applotment records (1820s-1830s) for Clare county can be found on the Clare Library site at: www.clarelibrary,ie and for all of Ireland at the National Archives site at: http://titheapplotmentbooks.nationalarchives.ie/search/tab/home.jsp

You can also search the Will Calendars on PRONI's site at: http://www.proni.gov.uk/

I would also recommend you just read as much as you can at various websites especially the articles concerning new sources, historic events, research related topics.  Hope that helps.

James McNamara

Feakle Parish Administrator

Hi James, 

Thanks for your reply to my post! I have done all that you said to do and still the only thing that I have to go on is that they, or rather their offspring, say that they are from Cork. I know this is the Clare site and the reason I am posting on here is that I have a very cloudy memory of my Grandmother telling me that her family is from Clare. I am not sure and this is a nine year olds memory. I know it wasn't that long ago ;) only 53 years but I seem to remember her saying...I am hoping to live in Ireland when I retire for about 6 months or so and maybe then I will find my elusive ancestors. 

Thanks again.

Annie

Hi Annie,

I forgot to mention a few other sources you may find some help from:

- Wills, Letters of Admin

- Guardianship Papers

- Local County History Books

- Local History Societies

- Genealogical Societies

- Personal Papers (some end up in lawyers possession, museums, libraries) search lots of catalogs

- Find the oldest person in your family and chat them up,  Memories trigger over music, sometimes drink, sometimes movies.  Just interview them even if they don;t seem to remember get them talking and the memories flood back.

The answer to where from is nearly always where they died.

All the best,

James McNamara

Feakle Clare Admin