I'm with you Marion. I am aware of the book that you refer to. My family of Alcorns come from County Donegaul.
A number went to the americas. For those that remained, from MY FAMILY of Alcorns, the family was largely "orange lodge " which means that they were clearly protestant.

As many of the records in northern ireland were lost in a great fire at the turn of the 20th century there is much room for speculation and romantic tales.

There has always been much movement historically of families between Scotland and Nortern Ireland but many of the spellings of the Alcorns differs as per earlier examples. There is no mention however of implications of the historical movements of the norman barons to ireland, nor the religious and political outcomes on the history of family ancestry and the inevitable outcomes on the geographical movement of genes. Using the theory that the spelling of names are more likely to remain the same where there are those who can read and write, ( a piece of information routinely collected on census records in Ireland)

However I do have a theory along these lines ( though completely unfounded), which I will share, as to how the family may have originally settled in northern ireland from the south of england.

Historically, King William of Orange sent troops to Ireland from the south of england, and within the historical roles which can be found on ancestry.co.uk are the names of two brothers named "Alcorn". Note the spelling remains the same so far back in time. They were members of that army of men.

It may be that they settled in ireland and as prolific breeders, has become lost in the mists of time.

My Alcorn's are also from Donegal.
Where in Donegal did your Alcorn Family live?

SCoffey

Hi,
I'd love to hear more of your connections to this surname too. Here are mine.
My grandfather, William Alcorn born Dunfanaghey town in December 1894 died November 1975 in Argyllshire. He had to leave ireland in the 1920's for fear of being shot which almost happened on his wedding day.

His father Robert Alcorn, born 1846 (married Margaret McKinley ( born 1861 at Hornhead). They lived in Dunfanaghey.

Robert’s father was John Alcorn and he married Mary Beattie. There are still connections through Beatties, McKinleys and Moores around Dunfanaghey to which we are related.

My grandmother came from Plaster, Newtown Cunningham. Her name, Isabella McCormick and was born in 1899.

Her mother, Mary Henderson born 1862 came from County Tyrone. She married James McCormick who was born in 1856 County Donegaul, though his mother (?)living with them in 1901 census of ireland and a very old lady named Nancy McCormick, born 1827 was from County Tyrone. This is all the information I haveat present butwould be pleased if anyone has these names too and can help to piece the puzzle together. Thank you.

hi We must be related thay are also from Dunfanaghy
please e-mail me directly coffey2go@aol.com


Shirley

My James Alcorn came to PA in 1800. I have not found any location where he came from but I have a Y-DNA match with an Alcorn in County Tyrone. I have been to Scotland and found a Jhone Auldcorn b. 1610 in Kelso, Roxburgh, Scotland. I had my photo taken at his grave in Loughmuck, Drumragh, Tyrone where his marker read 1610-1710. A family history I found indicated that three Robertson brothers were born in Scotland and given land in Ulster by King James VI of Scotland. "Before departing from the Roberson household, he conferred the name "All Corn which was spelled "All Chorne or Awldchorne."

I am descended from John ALCORN b 1787 in Glenveagh, Co., Donegal, Ireland. He immigrated in 1804 with his younger brother Michael (b 1790) and their uncle Joseph. They lived in Washington and Bell Townships in Westmoreland Co., PA. Michael married Jane ALCORN, d/o George and Nancy Foster ALCORN who was living in Washington Twp., Westmoreland Co., PA prior to 1800.

Does anyone know if these families are related? Is anyone researching these families?
JoAnn Cupp

Joann -
These are my Alcorns also - I've done a fair amount of research going back to George and Nancy Foster Alcorn and their families. My mother was born on the Alcorn farm in Westmoreland county in 1918; I just got back from a trip there where I photographed some graves and copied some wills, etc. Please take a look at my web site - www.halbstein.com, and let's share some information. I'm now starting to look back into the trip from Ireland and the ScotsIrish connection.

David

I've been told this same story from my cousin Richard Alcorn of Letterkenny, Donegal, Ireland. He has stated that the Dunfanaghy (sp?) and the Glenveagh (my line) are not related.

My Alcorn descent:

Joseph Alcorn & bro. James Alcorn

John (my line), Michael, and ???. John & Michael immigrated with uncle James in 1804 on the ship "Duncan" to Westmoreland County, PA.

Hi

I am am Alcorn of Donegal but from a different branch I think. My Mother is a McKinley possibly from the same brach. My Father George Alcorn was born in Dunoon in Argyllshire in 1928 and his Father was Robert Alcorn. The argyllshire connection is fishing. From Horn Head they used to go there on a seasonal basis.

My folks are staying with me for a holiday at the moment in Cork so I am doing the family tree. I will upload once I have finished and it might help.

Ray

hi Ray nice to meet you, where in Donegal is your mom from a have a friend who is a Mckinley she was married to Micheal Redden. She was from Gortahock . My alcorn's were from from Dunfananghy.
Shirley