RC Grahams of Mahariarvel

I can’t see anywhere in the RC parish of Armagh that looks anything like Mahariarvel. However there is a townland of Magherarville in the adjacent parish of Ballymacnab. (That would be pronounced very much like Mahariarvel). Perhaps one of the parties to the marriage came from that parish? The modern Magherarville Rd runs through the townland today. It’s a mile or so south of Armagh city. Rural farmland.

Regarding the origins of your RC Grahams, looking at the 1901 census there were 8493 people named Graham in Ireland of which 1788 were RC. So about 20%. It’s not a native Irish name and I would think therefore that the main explanation will be intermarriage with native Irish. The Grahams are generally understood to have originated in the Scottish – English border area and were sent to Ireland, along with many other Border Reiver families as part of the plantation. According to one respected source in Belfast (Dr Wm Roulston), many of the Reivers seem to have had little religious inclinations and were not Presbyterian as most of their compatriots were. Many became Church of Ireland on settling in Ireland but some may have also married native Irish women and been content to acquire their denomination. I think it’s hard to say for certain.

For reiver families and a version of their history, see:

http://www.borderreivers.co.uk/Border%20Families/BORDER%20SURNAMES%20%2…