Y-DNA and Royal Ancestry
A genealogical Y-DNA 37 marker test
by one of Edward's descendants reveals
the expected Gaelic origins. The Y-DNA results are posted on the Gallagher Project page under the name of "Edward Gallagher, 1857-1919, Co. Mayo Ireland" (kit No. 167421). The haplogroup is estimated as R1b1b2, and the close match to the "King Niall of the Nine Hostages" modal haplotype suggests direct descendancy. Niall was a High King of Ireland who ruled about 400 AD and founded the Uí Néill dynasty which lasted until the 11th century, the most significant dynasty of early medieval Ireland. Niall has also been credited with kidnapping and bringing St. Patrick to Ireland. The association between King Niall and the specific Y-DNA haplotype was discovered in a research project by Trinity College, Dublin and published in February 2006.
Gallagher Ancestry chart (earliest known ancestor - Edward Gallagher)
About this 'Gallagher Page' This page includes both information on the family history of Edward Gallagher b1857 from Ballina, Co Mayo, Ireland, and links to other Gallagher families and resources, with particular focus on Co. Mayo, Ireland.
The Gallagher name
Gallagher is an anglicisation of the Gaelic name Ó Gallchobhair (the feminine form being Ní Ghallchobhair) and means 'foreign helper'. Gallagher is the most common name in Co. Donegal, the home of the Ó Gallchobhair sept, and the 14th most common name in Ireland. Mayo had the second highest number of Gallagher families of all Irish counties about the time of the Griffiths Valuation (c1858).
Earliest known ancestor (Edward)
Our earliest known and documented Gallagher ancestor (EKA) to date is Edward Gallagher from County Mayo, Ireland. According to family lore, Edward Gallagher was born in Ballina, County Mayo, and UK census records put his birth date at c1857. However, the earliest written records on Edward that have been found so far, are from his marriage to Susan Paul in 1877, at St. Joseph's Church, West Hartlepool, County Durham, England. Unfortunately, Edward's father remains a mystery as he is named "Anthony" on the civil marriage record, "Patrick" on the church register, but could well be "John" based on family naming traditions. In any case, all three first names in conjunction with "Gallagher" were fairly common in the Ballina area. Click here for more information on Edward Gallagher b1857.
This table shows how common the Gallagher surname was by county during the 1848-1864 Griffiths Valuation. If the surname is very rare then, a name which matches one's ancestor is more likely to be the correct person. If the name is common, as with "Gallagher", then more details are needed to verify the match. This information is available for most Irish surnames at the Irish Times web site.
Copyright notice: You are welcome to download any information or images from this website for personal use. Private individuals and non-profit organizations are welcome to re-publish any images and information from this website provided due acknowledgement to the author is given where appropriate; e.g. "Reproduced courtesy of D. A. Gallagher, www.GallagherGenes.com". Commercial organizations may not publish or reproduce information or images from this website without written permission from the author. Anyone is welcome to link to pages on this website. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy of the information presented, no liability is accepted for any errors or omissions.
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The Paul family (from Co. Sligo?)
The earliest record found so far for the Paul family is the civil marriage certificate of Patrick Paul and Mary Cassidy in Newcastle upon Tyne, England in 1847. According to the marriage certificate their fathers were Richard Paul (a labourer) and Thomas Cassidy (deceased). As the census data indicates they were both born in Ireland, it seems probable that they had emigrated to England because of the Irish potato famine in the 1840's.
According to the 1861 census Patrick and Mary Paul were living in Dawdon, Easington Co. Durham. They were aged 35 and 30 respectively and both were listed as being born in Ireland while their two children were born in Newcastle upon Tyne. Patrick was a miner at this time.
In the 1871 census Mary Paul was recorded as 'Head of family' and 'Married' with her 3 children including Susan who was to marry Edward Gallagher in 1877. The 1871 census also lists Patrick Paul as an inmate of the Sunderland Union Workhouse in North Bishop Wearmouth. He was recorded as a 46 year-old labourer born in Sligo, Ireland. By the 1881 census Mary was a widow.
In the Griffiths Valuation for Sligo (where Patrick Paul's was born according to the 1871 census), the only Paul recorded is a James Paul. Nearly all of the 128 Paul households in Ireland were in Northern Ireland. Also, no Paul baptisms show up in the surviving parish registers for County Sligo on the Irish Family History Foundation web site.
