Hi, everyone.
I'm trying to trace my mother's family. So far, the furthest reference I have of a direct ancestor is from the 1829 Tithe Applotment book detailing a John Cross who lived in Drimshree (can be spelled in alternative ways), Co. Kildare. While I am still figuring out the details of other family members, I think I have made the direct line from myself to 1829.
However, my mother always told me that her father reckoned that the Cross family weren't originally from Ireland. I asked my mother to take a DNA test with Ancestry, which showed a 13% British background. I know 13% is little, and I'm not even sure how that number is arrived at by Ancestry, but it has made me very curious to discover if I can trace my direct line back to the UK. I'm finding records scant from anytime prior to early 1800s, so I'm not sure if this is even possible.
Even if it is impossible to trace my family to the UK (or any other country/region), I'm also hoping if anyone could point me to older records prior to the 1800s that may be useful. I would greatly appreciate any help/advise with this.
Thanks.