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Gavaghans from Co. Roscommon, Ireland

Gavaghans from Co. Roscommon, Ireland

Fran Weeks (View posts)
Posted: 25 Sep 2000 1:48PM GMT
Back in 1830 in Ireland, the surname Gavaghan was also spelled Gavican, Gaviken, Gavihan, Gavikan, etc. Much confusion has arisen among genealogists because of the various ways of spelling the same name, which resulted from the iliteracy rate in Ireland at the time. Few could read and write anyway, so no one questioned spelling practices. Therefore, I finally discovered that my gr-gfr., who was Robert Gavagan here in the U.S. in 1850, was actually from the Gavaghan/Gavican/Gaviken family back in County Roscommon that he'd left in 1847. His parents were listed as Elizabeth Beirn Thomas GAVAGHAN on Robert's baptismal certificate, but spelled in the various other ways on the birth cetificates of their previous children. Therefore, if you have a problem with one spelling of an Irish surname, be sure and try related spellings before giving up.

Re: Gavaghans from Co. Roscommon, Ireland

Posted: 21 Oct 2002 12:15PM GMT
Classification: Query
Edited: 14 Jul 2004 11:09PM GMT
Gavaghan/Gavigan etc. Family history says John Michael Gavagan born Ireland,Roscommon County near the town of Roscommon. He was killed by a bull he was leading to the fair. We think there were three or four children. The son came to US about 1848 through port of New York.. Cemetery stone lists Dec 1834 as birth and Feb 25, 1914 as death.
any of this familiar????
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