Are there Kerrys in Kerry Co.?

[jkerry]

I have just begun tracing my roots. My last name is "Kerry". I've studied a little and know that it is an "Irish" name, but I can't find any "Kerry"s in Kerry. It is not listed anywhere as a Kerry Co. surname. Does anyone know the origins of Kerry as a surname? Please help Roots-masters!

[jericho]

Welcome to Rootschat

I have looked at the Irish Ancestor Surnames for the  surname "Kerry " and it infact seems to be a rare name in Ireland, according to Primary Valuations survey from 1848 to 1864 the Kerry name only appeared  a total of 7 times. However there does appear to be many variations of this surname in Ireland, Cerey, Keary, Keery, Cerry. I may be wrong but could the name be English.




jericho

[jkerry]

Jericho,
Thanks for your help. I'm guessing I should start with me and work my way back. I've always been told that my last name was Irish! So, I assumed that my roots were in Ireland. What gives me problems is being in the U.S. and tracking back through name changes and such. I'll keep hunting.


Thanks again for your help!
James

[jericho]

Hi James


Why don't you add the details of the family you are looking for, they could very well have been in Ireland at some stage, if you are not sure of the area put them under Ireland General.  For most of us researching Ireland, it is one of the hardest  Countries to research as most of the records were lost in 1922, but luckily some records did survive and  many of these records are  held in the Parish your family would have came from. Unfortunately for anyone who does not live in Ireland, research is usually much harder, I have been researching my family in Ireland for many years and can not get any further back than the early 1800's. Good luck

jericho

[audrey]

James
I have also had a look at what I have only 7 with the name spelt KERRY non in Co Kerry
the main branch seems to be in Wicklow
I have sent you what I could find in case you can see a connection
looked also for Kerry marriages  non in Co Kerry  but that does not mean there were non as what I have is just a small amount

audrey

[Christopher]

Welcome to Rootschat

I have looked at the Irish Ancestor Surnames for the  surname "Kerry " and it infact seems to be a rare name in Ireland, according to Primary Valuations survey from 1848 to 1864 the Kerry name only appeared  a total of 7 times. However there does appear to be many variations of this surname in Ireland, Cerey, Keary, Keery, Cerry. I may be wrong but could the name be English.

jericho

Hiya JKerry,

Welcome to RootsChat.

I agree with Jericho regarding the variations of this surname when found in Ireland. I had a look to see if I could find the origin of this surname and learnt that rather than being English as Jericho suggested it is Welsh .. from Montgiomeryshire. It come from the village of Kerrey in that Shire.

Best Wishes, Christopher

[jkerry]

Thank you very much for looking that up. The hunt has just begun!

[GAJM]

I often use houseofnames.com when researching surnames it is usually very good and it reckons that Kerry is a Welsh surname the link is below if you want to try just put your surname in the search field

http://www.houseofnames.com

[joykiller]

hi,im mark kerry,im english but lived in ireland for a few years,my dad has traced our family tree and in doing so discovered that the kerry surname is in fact welsh and not irish,this was confirmed to me in ireland when i went to the ancestry records building in dublin,any kerry surnames in ireland almost certainly came from montgomeryshire in wales first,this despite there being a county kerry,hope this helps,mark