Hi thanks for your reply, but i'm afraid it's not as simple as that! never is is it

We think my family went over to Ireland from Scotland originally then came back over to England. My ggg grandfather is on the census as being born in Carlisle Cumberland birth about 1831/32 but can find no trace of him on any parish records etc, he also at some point changed his name from Mclaren to Clarney then back to Mclaren then back to Clarney again!! Very frustrating when trying to trace him!
He father is down on the marriage cert as William Mclaren - labourer but have ben unable to find him on any census, there is also another 3 brother floating out there somewhere but not a hint of a trace!

So i am wondering if he or his father came over from Ireland!
Clutching straws while gathering some historical info
