My MRA came over from Derry in Ireland to the West coast of Scotland about 1840. The surname is recorded in the 1841 Census as DONAGHLLY.
The surname evolved into Donachy / Donochy /Donnachie and I have assumed it would probably be Donaghy (with a g) in Ireland.
However, it might not be an obvious variation so I am hoping for suggestions.
Hugo
What would DONAGHLLY be in Derry
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Hugo
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Currie
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Hello Hugo,
There was a previous posting about a generator of surname variants and I was completely amazed to find that your Donaghlly generated absolutely zero. It was the same with one ‘l’. I actually thought the thing was broken and tried John Smith again and it definitely works.
http://talkingscot.com/forum/viewtopic. ... ht=soundex
In desperation I went to the IGI and searched for Donaghlly, British Isles and again got an absolute zero. Nothing on Google, nothing on FreeBMD, nothing in 19th Century newspapers, nothing on Griffiths valuations, only the 8 individuals on 1841 and nothing else on SP.
Donaghly with one ‘l’ is a rare enough name. If those 8 individuals in 1841 are in the one family there has to be the possibility that the double ‘l’ was just a unique slip of the pen thereby creating a name spelling that never was and never will be.
Remove one of the ‘l’s and you start picking up some crumbs on the abovementioned but very few. It brought up 12 results in 19th century papers but they were all in fact Donaghy.
It just seems to me a very big step from how Donaghlly might sound to the consistent sound of subsequent spelling of the name. And if that subsequent sound of the name was in place from say 1851 it might indicate that the 1841 spelling is even further off the mark. I’m completely green when it comes to Irish accents but could an Irishman make Donaghlly or Donaghy sound like Donachy etc or could he have had any reason to do so.
I’m just guessing Hugo but hope it’s of some use.
All the best,
Alan
There was a previous posting about a generator of surname variants and I was completely amazed to find that your Donaghlly generated absolutely zero. It was the same with one ‘l’. I actually thought the thing was broken and tried John Smith again and it definitely works.
http://talkingscot.com/forum/viewtopic. ... ht=soundex
In desperation I went to the IGI and searched for Donaghlly, British Isles and again got an absolute zero. Nothing on Google, nothing on FreeBMD, nothing in 19th Century newspapers, nothing on Griffiths valuations, only the 8 individuals on 1841 and nothing else on SP.
Donaghly with one ‘l’ is a rare enough name. If those 8 individuals in 1841 are in the one family there has to be the possibility that the double ‘l’ was just a unique slip of the pen thereby creating a name spelling that never was and never will be.
Remove one of the ‘l’s and you start picking up some crumbs on the abovementioned but very few. It brought up 12 results in 19th century papers but they were all in fact Donaghy.
It just seems to me a very big step from how Donaghlly might sound to the consistent sound of subsequent spelling of the name. And if that subsequent sound of the name was in place from say 1851 it might indicate that the 1841 spelling is even further off the mark. I’m completely green when it comes to Irish accents but could an Irishman make Donaghlly or Donaghy sound like Donachy etc or could he have had any reason to do so.
I’m just guessing Hugo but hope it’s of some use.
All the best,
Alan
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Hugo
- Posts: 135
- Joined: Fri Mar 28, 2008 3:36 pm
- Location: Ayrshire, Scotland
Hi Alan,
Many thanks for the effort you have put into this.
I have not found any other mention of DONAGHLLY other than the 1841 Census. I queried the spelling with GROS and replied that while they had every sympathy for me, they had to confirm that in their professional judgement that was what was originally written. Having seen an image of the register entry I cannot fault their decision.
It is possible that my MRA had a thick, broad Irish accent and hence that his name might not have been DONAGHY (as I expect) or an obvious phonetic variant of that.
The double L did make me wonder if there was a Welsh element somewhere but I think it unlikely.
Many thanks for the effort you have put into this.
I have not found any other mention of DONAGHLLY other than the 1841 Census. I queried the spelling with GROS and replied that while they had every sympathy for me, they had to confirm that in their professional judgement that was what was originally written. Having seen an image of the register entry I cannot fault their decision.
It is possible that my MRA had a thick, broad Irish accent and hence that his name might not have been DONAGHY (as I expect) or an obvious phonetic variant of that.
The double L did make me wonder if there was a Welsh element somewhere but I think it unlikely.
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Hugo
- Posts: 135
- Joined: Fri Mar 28, 2008 3:36 pm
- Location: Ayrshire, Scotland
Hi Alan,
Don't laugh but I did not think of doing any search on DONAGHLY (with one L).
I have just googled DONAGHLY and got a few hits from N Ireland, Liverpool, and the USA, although none from SP. The Irish and Liverpool hits are modern.
This suggests that either DONAGHLY is/was a 'valid' name or that a local accent made the 'real' name sound like DONAGHLY.
You might just have pried a brick loose. It is a good man you are.
May your potatoes grow well.
Hugo
Don't laugh but I did not think of doing any search on DONAGHLY (with one L).
I have just googled DONAGHLY and got a few hits from N Ireland, Liverpool, and the USA, although none from SP. The Irish and Liverpool hits are modern.
This suggests that either DONAGHLY is/was a 'valid' name or that a local accent made the 'real' name sound like DONAGHLY.
You might just have pried a brick loose. It is a good man you are.
May your potatoes grow well.
Hugo
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Currie
- Posts: 3924
- Joined: Fri Jun 22, 2007 3:20 am
- Location: Australia
Thanks Hugo,
It would be handy if one of those modern-day Donaghly’s had a family tree posted somewhere.
Your mention of growing potatoes reminds me of how interesting it could be actually digging the things up, a bit like genealogy because you never know what you’re going to find.
I just thought of Ellis Island http://www.ellisisland.org/search/passSearch.asp? If you search for Donaghly there are no results but they give you a list of similar names that actually do appear in the database including Donoughly.
Alan
It would be handy if one of those modern-day Donaghly’s had a family tree posted somewhere.
Your mention of growing potatoes reminds me of how interesting it could be actually digging the things up, a bit like genealogy because you never know what you’re going to find.
I just thought of Ellis Island http://www.ellisisland.org/search/passSearch.asp? If you search for Donaghly there are no results but they give you a list of similar names that actually do appear in the database including Donoughly.
Alan
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Hugo
- Posts: 135
- Joined: Fri Mar 28, 2008 3:36 pm
- Location: Ayrshire, Scotland
Greetings Alan,
Da nada. (don't mention it / it is nothing - in Spanish)
I had a quick look at the Ellis Island site (I have at least one other relative who went to the USA) and it looks like another can of worms. Thanks anyway. I will leave that line of enquiry until later. After all, in Spain everything gets done manana.
For the present I will concentrate on the DONAGHLY possibility.
Starting tomorrow, of course.
Regards
Hugo
Da nada. (don't mention it / it is nothing - in Spanish)
I had a quick look at the Ellis Island site (I have at least one other relative who went to the USA) and it looks like another can of worms. Thanks anyway. I will leave that line of enquiry until later. After all, in Spain everything gets done manana.
For the present I will concentrate on the DONAGHLY possibility.
Starting tomorrow, of course.
Regards
Hugo