Another surname from an Irish catholic parish record (1838)

[M_ONeill]

Hi all,

Looking for some help on another name from an Irish catholic parish record from 1838. Looking for help with the surname following Sarah. The letter underlined in red is giving me particular trouble. I can't decide if it's a 'g' or a 'y' or something else.

Some of my attempted readings of the name would be 'Cornagham' 'cornaghan' or even 'Cornayham'. There was a local family with the common spelling of Conyngham (more modern spelling Cunningham), but I'm not sure if the spelling in the record is too divergent to be the same name. There is an Irish family name of 'Carnahan', but I'm not sure how many of that name are from this region (Termoneeny parish, near Bellaghy).

Thanks in advance!

[Rosinish]

Sarah Cornaghan

I've noticed when doing Irish genealogy there appears to be letters added to names at times & spellings can vary quite a bit possibly due to Gaelic/English.

Variants may include Conaghan/Conachan without the 'r'.


Annie

[M_ONeill]

Thanks for the response Annie!

So I suppose it's more likely that Sarah belongs to a family with a spelling variant of the 'Carnahan' name rather than 'Conyngham'. Interesting, as it doesn't seem to be a particularly common name in that local area. I guess I'll start digging for Carnahan connections!

Thanks once again! 

[Rosinish]

I suppose it's more likely that Sarah belongs to a family with a spelling variant of the 'Carnahan' name rather than 'Conyngham'. Interesting, as it doesn't seem to be a particularly common name in that local area. I guess I'll start digging for Carnahan connections!

For the period, spelling was fluid i.e. no exact spelling i.e. soundex which could yield many variants.

As an example, I have Irish Donahoe, Donoughy, Donafee etc...fun when doing research 

Your thoughts wouldn't surprise me in the least.

Annie

[shanreagh]

In the 1901/11 census there are Conaghan mainly in the north.  Conahan is there back in 1831 around Londonderry.

[aghadowey]

Kernaghan is another possible variation of 'Cornaghan.'

[heywood]

In the same parish, there is a marriage in 1839 of Margaret Cosnaghan with a Cosnaghan witness.

Tithe Applotment transcription shows ‘Coschenhan’
http://www.irishgenealogyhub.com/derry/tithe-applotments/termoneeny-parish.php

[aghadowey]

Lavey Parish records are great and much has been transcribed and put online. There's a Margaret Cosnaghan marriage in 1839-
www.laveyparish.com/marriageslavey.html
https://registers.nli.ie/parishes/0371

In the indexed baptisms for 1800s is "Carten see Coskran" whih might be worth looking at.
www.laveyparish.com/laveybaptisms.html