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the Appleby one-name study and DNA project
the Appleby one-name study and DNA project
Surnames covered in our DNA project:
APPLEBY, APPLEBEE,
APPELBY, APPELBE
plus any other variants
LINKS
The current banner shows Alnwick Castle, in Northumberland - a county in the far north east of England, bordering Scotland. This region is home to a number of Appleby lines - and our DNA project has confirmed genetic connections between several of these, which also match lines in Canada, USA and Ireland.
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I first started researching this line in Yorkshire and Durham, with a lot of help from two descendants in America who already knew that the family originally came from Ireland. But the trail led to Scotland before eventually landing in the parish of Cootehill in Co Roscommon in Ireland.
Along the way, we discovered a link to the Scottish line of Applebys of Kirkcaldy - and we all learned a lot about researching in Ireland!
But now we have come to the end of the available online records, so unless anyone can provide any more information, the research will have to wait until one of us makes the trip to Ireland to see what else we can discover.
There was one Appleby family in the 1749 Elphin Census: John Appleby, a carpenter, with his wife Elen and one child over 14 were living in Kiltrustan, just to the south of the area shown on the Townlands map. But this family was Protestant whereas all the later Applebys in both Roscommon and Kirkcaldy were Roman Catholic. We need to locate more early records to establish if this could be a connection.
Appleby is not an Irish surname, so it was no surprise to learn through DNA testing that not only is the Roscommon line a direct match with the Kirkcaldy line, but it also fits tidily into the cluster of Appleby lines in NORTHERN Group One - which all probably link back to Northumberland with the Acklington Applebys.
click to enlarge map
In the 1834 Tithe Books, there were just two Appleby tenants, both living in Cloongreaghan (34 on map)
By the time of Griffiths Valuation in 1858 there were an addtional two Appleby tenants in Derrygirraun (64). But parish records revealed that these few tenancies comprised eight different family groups!
Over the next fifty years, we also found Applebys from this line in:
87 - Glooria
69 - Mounteagle
80 - Errironagh
36 - Clooneybrien
as well as in Fife, Dundee and Cupar in Scotland, in Middlesbrough (Yorkshire) and also in Co Durham - and later in the USA!
Because the earliest parish records we have found do not begin until 1843, we are unable to connect many of the eight family groups we found living in Roscommon to the few other individuals we know about. Fortunately, those families who went to Scotland generated records there which named their parents, so we know the names of two members of the generation above those eight couples. We also have a copy of the will of Thomas Appleby, farmer of Glooria, who died in 1895 aged 96 years - and with the help of the researcher from Cootehill parish, have now identified which Thomas he was (line 8). All we can say is that there must have been at least four brothers or cousins who fathered the couples who were having families in Roscommon in the 1840s and 50s - and that three of them were named William, Patrick, and Peter Appleby. Strangely, we found few records of daughters of these brothers - but perhaps they were all married by the time the records started in 1843?
The main chart below summarises what we know and tells you which individual chart to check for particular family groups. The charts are numbered in the order we discovered them.
(click to open the chart in a new window, zoom in until you can read the text, then scroll across to read the entire chart)
The charts
DNA
If you can provide any more information about any branches of this family, particularly if you can help us work out how all these lines connect together, please do get in touch using the contact form above left.
Michael Appleby (1855-1931) was a son of Thomas and Bridgid (Feehily). By 1881 he was in Scotland as a shoemaker and had married Susanna O'Neill. But by 1891 he and Susannah and their children were back in Middlesbrough where Michael worked in the iron and steel industry and the family remained for several generations. [See Chart One for Michael's line]
Main Chart
NAME INDEX: the number or letter in brackets following each name indicates on which chart you will find this person (K = Kirkcaldy line)
Appleby, Alexander Watson , 1908- (K)
Appleby, Ann , 1831- (K)
Appleby, Ann , 1844- (1)
Appleby, Ann , 1856- (4)
Appleby, Ann , 1858-1936 (8)
Appleby, Ann , 1859- (3)
Appleby, Anne , 1902- (K)
Appleby, Bridget , 1860-1863 (K)
Appleby, Bridget , 1867- (3)
Appleby, Bridget , 1890-1901 (1)
Appleby, Bridgid , 1846- (1)
Appleby, Brigid , 1844- (7)
Appleby, Brigid , 1846- (8)
Appleby, Brigid , 1857-1877 (4)
Appleby, Brigid , 1897-1983 (1)
Appleby, Catherine , 1862- (3)
Appleby, Catherine Agnes , 1894-1977 (1)
Appleby, Cecilia , 1909- (1)
Appleby, Constance M , 1921-1922 (1)
Appleby, David , 1877-1877 (K)
Appleby, David , 1885- (K)
Appleby, David , 1907- (K)
Appleby, David Milne , 1892- (K)
Appleby, Eliza Jane Finlay , 1901- (K)
Appleby, Elizabeth , 1879- (K)
Appleby, Elizabeth , 1900- (3)
Appleby, Elizabeth , 1851- (2)
Appleby, Elizabeth , 1854- (1)
Appleby, Elizabeth , 1856- (K)
Appleby, Elizabeth , 1858- (5)
Appleby, Elizabeth , 1861- (6)
Appleby, Elizabeth , 1875- (1)
Appleby, Elizabeth Gray , 1895- (K)
Appleby, Elizabeth Mary , 1908- (1)
Appleby, Ellen , 1889- (K)
Appleby, Ellen , 1902- (1)
Appleby, Emily , 1883- (1)
Appleby, Evelyn , 1892-1970 (1)
Appleby, Fanny , 1858-1859 (K)
Appleby, Francis , 1844-1845 (2)
Appleby, Francis , 1845-1851 (2)
Appleby, Gertrude , 1888-1933 (1)
Appleby, Gertrude , 1912-1913 (1)
Appleby, Gertrude Ann , 1904- (1)
Appleby, Helen , 1860- (K)
Appleby, Helen Paterson , 1900- (K)
Appleby, James , 1871-1931 (K)
Appleby, James , 1881- (K)
Appleby, James , 1908-1991 (K)
Appleby, James , 1919- (1)
Appleby, James , 1826-1901 (5)
Appleby, James , 1849-1869 (8)
Appleby, James , 1868-1875 (4)
Appleby, James , 1893- (K)
Appleby, James Milne , 1899- (K)
Appleby, James (bap as John?), 1861-1948 (1)
Appleby, Jane , 1908- (K)
Appleby, Jane , 1786-1868 (M)
Appleby, Jeanie , 1896- (K)
Appleby, John?, 1848-1876 (3)
Appleby, John , 1894-1895 (3)
Appleby, John , 1848- (1)
Appleby, John , 1852-1928 (K)
Appleby, John , 1862- (4)
Appleby, John , 1888- (3)
Appleby, John , 1826- (6)
Appleby, John Cameron , 1879- (K)
Appleby, John Mark , 1835-1876 (K)
Appleby, Joseph , 1867- (1)
Appleby, Joseph , 1884-1948 (1)
Appleby, Joseph , 1905- (1)
Appleby, Joseph , 1915- (1)
Appleby, Joseph Patrick , 1865- (3)
Appleby, Kathleen (Kitty), 1905-1970 (1)
Appleby, Laurence , 1907-1909 (1)
Appleby, Laurence , 1853- (3)
Appleby, Leo , 1922-1981 (1)
Appleby, Leo Stanislaus , 1898-1900 (1)
Appleby, Louis Alphonsus , 1902-1961 (1)
Appleby, Maggie , 1910- (K)
Appleby, Maggie , 1911- (K)
Appleby, Margaret , 1865- (K)
Appleby, Margaret , 1898- (K)
Appleby, Margaret , 1857- (6)
Appleby, Margaret , 1899- (1)
Appleby, Margaret Cameron , 1883- (K)
Appleby, Margaret Fern , 1832-1871 (K)
Appleby, Margaret Philomena , 1877-1938 (1)
Appleby, Mary, (8)
Appleby, Mary , 1858-1861 (K)
Appleby, Mary , 1896- (1)
Appleby, Mary , 1896-1940 (3)
Appleby, Mary , 1905- (K)
Appleby, Mary , 1848- (7)
Appleby, Mary , 1858- (3)
Appleby, Mary , 1859- (1)
Appleby, Mary , 1866- (4)
Appleby, Mary , 1891- (3)
Appleby, Mary Ann , 1845- (7)
Appleby, Mary Anne , 1898- (1)
Appleby, Mary Elizabeth , 1898- (2)
Appleby, Mary Helen , 1882-1883 (1)
Appleby, Maurice Edwin , 1896- (1)
Appleby, Michael , 1897- (K)
Appleby, Michael , 1902- (1)
Appleby, Michael , 1824-1895 (7)
Appleby, Michael , 1851-1904 (8)
Appleby, Michael , 1855-1931 (1)
Appleby, Michael , 1858- (2)
Appleby, Michael , 1869-1939 (K)
Appleby, Norah Lelea , 1910- (1)
Appleby, Patricia Veronica , 1896-1911 (1)
Appleby, Patrick , 1863-1918 (1)
Appleby, Patrick , 1873-1873 (K)
Appleby, Patrick , 1875-1876 (K)
Appleby, Patrick , 1891-1892 (K)
Appleby, Patrick , 1784-1835 (K)
Appleby, Patrick , 1813-1883 (3)
Appleby, Patrick , 1825-1863 (5)
Appleby, Patrick , 1844- (8)
Appleby, Patrick , 1847- (3)
Appleby, Patrick , 1850-1861 (K)
Appleby, Patrick , 1859- (4)
Appleby, Patrick (Peter), 1890- (K)
Appleby, Patrick Joseph , 1892- (3)
Appleby, Peter , 1862-1933 (K)
Appleby, Peter , 1878- (K)
Appleby, Peter , 1897- (K)
Appleby, Peter , 1774-1849 (K)
Appleby, Peter , 1829-1905 (K)
Appleby, Philomena , 1906- (1)
Appleby, Rose , 1901- (1)
Appleby, Sarah , 1871-1872 (4)
Appleby, Susanna , 1903-1961 (1)
Appleby, Susannah , 1880- (1)
Appleby, Thomas - is this actually Michael? , 1856- (1)
Appleby, Thomas , 1855-1856 (K)
Appleby, Thomas , 1862-1863 (K)
Appleby, Thomas , 1878-1937 (1)
Appleby, Thomas , 1911-1911 (1)
Appleby, Thomas , 1917-1919 (1)
Appleby, Thomas , 1799-1895 (8)
Appleby, Thomas , 1813-1865 (2)
Appleby, Thomas , 1816-1904 (1)
Appleby, Thomas , 1850-1929 (3)
Appleby, Thomas , 1886- (3)
Appleby, Thomas , 1905- (3)
Appleby, Thomas (aka Patrick?), 1848- (2)
Appleby, Thomas Binnie , 1894- (K)
Appleby, Thomas Joseph , 1897- (1)
Appleby, Thomas Patrick , 1895- (2)
Appleby, Thomas Stanislaus , 1908-1908 (1)
Appleby, William , 1865- (4)
Appleby, William , 1873- (K)
Appleby, William , 1886-1948 (1)
Appleby, William , 1887- (K)
Appleby, William , 1825-1908 (4)
Appleby, William , 1846- (6)
Appleby, William , 1852-1930 (1)
Appleby, William , 1862-1944 (2)
Appleby, William , 1800- (5)
Appleby, William Findlay , 1896- (K)
Appleby, William Michael , 1898- (1)
Appleby, William Watson , 1900-1900 (K)
Appleby, Winifred , 1863- (6)
Armstrong, Eliza , 1867-1939 (2)
Bambrick, Francis, (8)
Bruen, John , 1851- (1)
Cairns, Marion , 1908-1984 (K)
Calder, Jamesina Walton, (K)
Cameron, Margaret , 1852-1924 (K)
Cameron, Margaret , 1888- (K)
Cornwall, Joseph, (1)
Dixon, Teresa , 1846- (1)
Farrell, Fanny , 1787-1864 ()
Feehily, Bridgid , 1825-1905 (1)
Findlay, Eliza Jane , 1867-1919 (K)
Golding, Rose , 1881-1948 (1)
Higgins, Bridget , 1847-1901 (5)
Higgins, Mary, (3)
Houlaghan or Nolan, Eleanor , -1851 (7)
Kennedy, Bridget , 1829- (5)
Keveny, Ann , 1825-1911 (3)
Lister, Elizabeth , 1871-1938 (K)
MacNamara, John J, (3)
Malone, Ann , 1838-1872 (5)
McAdam, Mary , 1855- (K)
McCaul, Mary , 1869- (1)
McCormick, Mary , 1841-1918 (K)
McDonald, Alexander , 1830- (K)
McGovern, Patrick, (1)
McGreavey, Alice , 1823-1904 (2)
McLaughlin, Mary , 1861-1952 (1)
McNamara, John, (1)
McSera, Brigid , 1869-1939 (3)
McSheara, Mary , 1830-1900 (4)
Mechan, Hugh, (K)
Meeghan, Nancy, (5)
Meehan, Brigid , 1866- (1)
Monaghan, Margaret , -1895 (8)
O'Neill, Susannah , 1860-1919 (1)
Paterson, Helen , 1831-1891 (K)
Porteous, Elizabeth , 1868-1934 (K)
Stuart, Maggie Chalmers , 1885- (K)
Tahaney, Margaret, (2)
Tiernan, Ann , 1828- (6)
Walker, Violet May , 1900- (1)
Walsh, Elizabeth A , 1874- (1)
Watson, Margaret , 1874-1933 (K)
Whyte, Minnie , 1879- (K)
Woods, Mary , 1854- (3)
Applebys of Roscommon, Middlesbrough and the USA
CHART ONE: Thomas Appleby and Bridgid Feehily. This couple married in 1843 and we know of eleven children - at least three of their children and a number of their grandchildren ended up in Middlesbrough and some of their descendants now live in the USA
CHART TWO: Thomas Appleby and Alice McGreavey married in 1842. We know of six children of this couple, though one did not survive infancy, Two of their children were born in Kirkcaldy and in the 1851 Scottish census they were living alongside the Kirkcaldy Applebys, but they returned to Ireland where two more children were born.
CHART THREE: Patrick Appleby and Ann Keveney married in 1846 and we know of eight children, all baptised in Cootehall. It is possible that members of this family still live in the area. One of their sons also migrated to north-east England, and there seems to be a close link with the family of Thomas and Brigid (Feehily) shown in Chart One - perhaps Thomas and Patrick were brothers?
CHART FOUR: William Appleby and Mary McSheara married in 1855 and we know of eight children baptised in Cootehall, but have not found any sign of the family after this. Did they move away?
CHART FIVE: William Appleby and Nancy Meeghan. This couple are one of the older generation - we know about two of their sons (because they named both parents when they married). James married Ann Malone in 1858 and after her death he married Bridget Higgins in 1873, but we only know of one daughter. James and Bridget were still living in the parish in 1901.
CHART SIX: John Appleby and Ann Tiernan married in 1846, but apart from the births of four children in Cootehall, we have not found them in any further records in the parish. Perhaps they also moved away from the area?
CHART SEVEN: Michael Appleby and Eleanor Houlaghan or Nolan were married in 1843 in Cootehall, but Eleanor died shortly after the birth of their third daughter. Michael appeared in the 1851 census in Scotland living with the Kirkcaldy line of Applebys where he was described as a nephew of Fanny Appleby (widow of Patrick). Michael does not appear to have remarried, but by 1861 he was living in Middlesbrough in the household of Mary Rooney from Ireland and was working as a brick labourer. In 1871 Michael, one of the sons of Patrick and Ann Keveney was lodging with him. By 1881 children from several more families from Roscommon had joined Michael in Middlesbrough. Michael himself remained in Middlesbrough until his death in 1895.
CHART EIGHT: Thomas Appleby married Margaret Monaghan sometime before 1844 and we have located baptisms of four children of the couple (though we know of two more). From Thomas's Will and age at death we know that he was born in about 1799, so this couple COULD be part of the same generation as the lines shown on Chart 5 and the Kirkcaldy line - perhaps this couple are also parents of some of the couples in the other Charts?
KIRKCALDY APPLEBYs: Patrick Appleby is now known to be another of the older generation of brothers - we believe he was born in about 1784 in Knockadonnel (in Cloongreahan) but he must have died between 1835 and 1851. Patrick was married to Fanny Farrell, and she arrived in Cupar in Scotland some time before the 1851 census with four of their children (they may have left some older children behind in Roscommon). We believe Peter Appleby, another brother of Patrick, was born in about 1774 in Ireland but died in 1849 in Cupar, Scotland - we don't know if this Peter had any other family. Descendants of the Kirkcaldy Applebys still live in Scotland and also in South Africa.