Hello. I was doing my work on my family tree using Ancestry and came across the following McClea family line? they're a VERY VERY distant relation, possibly. does anyone recognize this line
• Frederick David McClea born Oct 1884 Christchurch NZ, died 3/29/1923 Tasmania Australia
• s/o William McClea born 10/7/1849 Crislagkeel (?), died 12/5/1909 Christchurch NZ (married to Margaret Caldwell)
• s/o William McClay born 1810 Donegal Ireland, died 3/5/1887 Crislakeel Donegal Ireland (married to Jane Alexander)
• s/o Andrew McClea born 1764 Crislagkeel, died 6/5/1858 Crislagkeel (married to Sarah)
• s/o William McClea born abt 1717 Crislagkeel, no death date (married to Catherine)
• s/o James McClea – no dates, born in Ireland
• s/o George McClea – born 1659 Derry Ireland
• s/o Andrew McClea – no dates
• s/o “Last Baron McClea”
Irish McClea Family
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livingstoneancestry
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Canadian Livingstone
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Re: Irish McClea Family
Welcome to Clan Maclea Livingstone Forum,
There are number of old Scottish families in the 1600's and 1700's with somewhat names spelt similar to "McLea". There has been speculation over the years that highland Macleas and those with other spelling variations of that name in Scotland Macleay and McCLea are the same family but I am not convinced of that and YDNA testing that our Clan was involved with the past with Familytreedna I don't think has proven that to be the case so far. Also Y DNA testing some years ago now I think has confirmed that "other" "McLea" family of lowland Scottish origin such the Mcleas of Bute are not closely related to the Highland Western Argyllshire Livingstones that in the 18th century changed their Clan name from Maclea/Mconlea to Livingstone/Livingston.
Among the Scottish famllies who went by the family name in Scotland of Maclea, McLeay and McCLea
1. McDonlea/Maconlea/ Maclea rooted in Island of Lismore, Morvern, Mull and other neighbouring parishes of Western Arygllshire in highland Scotland. Later by the mid 1700's Argyllshire Clan Maconlea/ Maclea changed clan name to Livingstone/Livingstone. As mentioned some Macleas that lived in Bute and elsewhere in lowland Scotland don't seem to be ancestrally connected to the Macleas of Highland Western Argyllshire who later referred to themselves by the mid1700's in their parish records as Maclea or Maconlea.
2. McLeays of Strathconnon (possibly related to Argyllshire Maclea Livingstones but not proven to be. They were closely associated historically with Clan McKenzie and are like our Argyllshire Maclea Livingstones definitely an old Scottish Clan rooted in the Highlands of Scotland but don't think your McClay/McCLeas of Donegal, Ireland" are very likely ancestrally connected to this Highland Scottish Mcleay family.
3.McClay also spelt McClea of Lowland Stirlingshire and probably elsewhere in Lowland Scotland in 17th century. I suspect you are connected to this McClay/McClea family group some of whom may have settled in Donegal Ireland in the 1600's. This is my best guess anyways regarding the most likely family origins of your Donegal McClays/McCleas you mentioned in your family info. Don't know much about them unfortnately. Many of them in the 1600's in St. Ninian's Stirlingshire I noticed spelling their name "McClay" and sometimes "McClea". for some reason and elsewhere in lowland Scotland. Roots before 1600s' I assume in lowland Scotland. Interestingly as you no doubt already there are a significant number of McCleas many I assume of Scottish origin but I would think that those of Scottish origin likely arrived in Ireland possibly in the early 1600's when a lot of lowland Scots settled in the counties in the North of Ireland. I do not unfortunately know of anyone doing research of your MCleas of Donegal Ireland so your best bet might be to make contact with some Mcleas in Donegal Ireland and some of the those in St. Ninian's Parish in Stirlingshire and find some who have knowledge possibly of the early history of McCLea family in Donegal Ireland which you believe you descend from and also some of the McCleas still residing in St. Ninian's Parish in Stirlingshire. For some reason there were lot of McCLeas as far back as I could trace back in the 1600's and I would imagine before that. I would advise contacting a historical society near St. Ninian's Parish in Stirlingshire and in Donegal Ireland and see if they know where to find records on McCleas and their familyi origins. I am sorry but I could not find much in the way of major research efforts regarding the McCLays of St. Ninian's Parish, Stirlingshire or the McCleas of Donegal, Ireland would unfortunately I am not able to help you give you more advice or direction in your quest for info on your McCLay family history.
McClays/McCleas of Donegal, Ireland Cira 1850's
https://www.johngrenham.com/c_parish/c_ ... ame=McClay
regards,
Donald (Livingstone) Clink
Historian
Clan Maclea Livingstone Society
There are number of old Scottish families in the 1600's and 1700's with somewhat names spelt similar to "McLea". There has been speculation over the years that highland Macleas and those with other spelling variations of that name in Scotland Macleay and McCLea are the same family but I am not convinced of that and YDNA testing that our Clan was involved with the past with Familytreedna I don't think has proven that to be the case so far. Also Y DNA testing some years ago now I think has confirmed that "other" "McLea" family of lowland Scottish origin such the Mcleas of Bute are not closely related to the Highland Western Argyllshire Livingstones that in the 18th century changed their Clan name from Maclea/Mconlea to Livingstone/Livingston.
Among the Scottish famllies who went by the family name in Scotland of Maclea, McLeay and McCLea
1. McDonlea/Maconlea/ Maclea rooted in Island of Lismore, Morvern, Mull and other neighbouring parishes of Western Arygllshire in highland Scotland. Later by the mid 1700's Argyllshire Clan Maconlea/ Maclea changed clan name to Livingstone/Livingstone. As mentioned some Macleas that lived in Bute and elsewhere in lowland Scotland don't seem to be ancestrally connected to the Macleas of Highland Western Argyllshire who later referred to themselves by the mid1700's in their parish records as Maclea or Maconlea.
2. McLeays of Strathconnon (possibly related to Argyllshire Maclea Livingstones but not proven to be. They were closely associated historically with Clan McKenzie and are like our Argyllshire Maclea Livingstones definitely an old Scottish Clan rooted in the Highlands of Scotland but don't think your McClay/McCLeas of Donegal, Ireland" are very likely ancestrally connected to this Highland Scottish Mcleay family.
3.McClay also spelt McClea of Lowland Stirlingshire and probably elsewhere in Lowland Scotland in 17th century. I suspect you are connected to this McClay/McClea family group some of whom may have settled in Donegal Ireland in the 1600's. This is my best guess anyways regarding the most likely family origins of your Donegal McClays/McCleas you mentioned in your family info. Don't know much about them unfortnately. Many of them in the 1600's in St. Ninian's Stirlingshire I noticed spelling their name "McClay" and sometimes "McClea". for some reason and elsewhere in lowland Scotland. Roots before 1600s' I assume in lowland Scotland. Interestingly as you no doubt already there are a significant number of McCleas many I assume of Scottish origin but I would think that those of Scottish origin likely arrived in Ireland possibly in the early 1600's when a lot of lowland Scots settled in the counties in the North of Ireland. I do not unfortunately know of anyone doing research of your MCleas of Donegal Ireland so your best bet might be to make contact with some Mcleas in Donegal Ireland and some of the those in St. Ninian's Parish in Stirlingshire and find some who have knowledge possibly of the early history of McCLea family in Donegal Ireland which you believe you descend from and also some of the McCleas still residing in St. Ninian's Parish in Stirlingshire. For some reason there were lot of McCLeas as far back as I could trace back in the 1600's and I would imagine before that. I would advise contacting a historical society near St. Ninian's Parish in Stirlingshire and in Donegal Ireland and see if they know where to find records on McCleas and their familyi origins. I am sorry but I could not find much in the way of major research efforts regarding the McCLays of St. Ninian's Parish, Stirlingshire or the McCleas of Donegal, Ireland would unfortunately I am not able to help you give you more advice or direction in your quest for info on your McCLay family history.
McClays/McCleas of Donegal, Ireland Cira 1850's
https://www.johngrenham.com/c_parish/c_ ... ame=McClay
regards,
Donald (Livingstone) Clink
Historian
Clan Maclea Livingstone Society