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 Western Argyllshire Macleas who in more recent times go by the Clan name of Livingstone/Livingston and those with other spelling variations of that name in Scotland Macleay and McCLea are ancestrally connected but I am not convinced of that and YDNA testing that our Clan was involved with in the past with Familytreedna has not proven that to be the case. Over the last twenty years or so numerous Livingstones/Livingstones with known paternal ancestry linking their forefathers to the ancient McLeas later known as LIvingstones who lived from centuries in Appin and Lismore, Morvern and Mull and other neighbouring Parishes in Western Argyllshire did this YDNA test.
There has been however for some time now been an assumption that families of Scottish ancestral origin with the name McLea, McLeay, McClay and other spelling variations of McLea are somehow connected to our ancient Clan Livingstone with ancient roots to the Isle of Lismore and Western Argyllshire in Highland Scotland. I have however not over the years seen convincing information that our Highland Western Argyllshire McDunsliebhe/McDunslea/Mconlea/McLea/Livingstone ancestors were ancestrally connected to the McClays of Lowland Scotland or other McLeas and those with similar spellings.
To help shed more light on McLeays/ McLeas/McLeas/McLays McClays and their ancestral origins and linkage with other Clans with similar clan name spellings II would encourage McLeas, McLeays and McLays and McClays whose father's were McLeas, McLeays, McLays or McClays to participate in YDNA testing with Familytreedna which the Clan Maclea Livingstone Society has been involved with over the years so thatthe ancestral origins of these Scottish families can be better understood. If you father was not a Mclea, McLeay, Mclay or McClay then the another option is ask a McLea, McLeay, McLay or McClay cousin to do a YDNA Test. In my case I contacted a known Livingston cousin of mine with Western Argyllshire Livingstone ancestry and he kindly agreed to do a FamilytreeDNA YDA test back in the early 2000's.
The 18th century Western Argyllshire records indicate that by the mid 1700's the Western Argyllshire Clan previously referring to itself as Clan Maclea or Mconlea began in the records to refer to itself as Livingstone or Livingston. Interestingly earlier records from the 1600's indicate that the Clan referred to itself as McDunslea and some spelling variations of that name. Prior to the 1600's it is believe that this highland Argyllshire Scottish clan went by the name McDhunsliebe or some variation of that name. It is not certain the precise reasons that shortly after the Scottish Rebellion of 1745 that Parish records in Argyllshire from the 1750's and thereafter that Western Argyllshire McLeas no longer refer to themselves as McLeas or Mconleas.
Rev. Duncan McLea of Dull, Scotland in his notes on Scottish families with the name McLea or Mcleay written in 1743 interestingly alludes to the fact that the highland Macleas of Western Argyllshire in the 1600's were treated with great respect by the Lowland Callendar Livingstons of Stirlingshire and perhaps had some sort of family connection with them but does not offer any prove of this. I don't know of any YDNA test evidence of a paternal Western Argyllshire Maclea Livingstone connection has shown up with the a branch of the old aristocratic Callendar Livingston family of Stirlingshire but it is conceivable that a family connection between the Western Argyllshire highland MCleas of the 1600's and the old lowland Callendar Stirlingshire Livingston family perhaps through marriage and through an unknown maternal line which would not show up on a YDNA test. Some sort actual family connection earlier in the 1600's between the Argllshire McLeas and the Stirlingshire aristocratic Lowland Livingstons of Callendar would explain perhaps the origin of Rev. Duncan McClea's understanding that the Lowland Callendar Livingstons considered the highland Argyllshire Mcleas apparently to be like family or perhaps close cousins. And perhaps that could be one possible reason why the Argyllshire Highland Mcleas ended up adopting a new Clan name Livingstone/Livingston. Though there are a few theories that have been stated over the years as to why the Argyllshire McLeas by the mid 1700s' had virtually all stopped referring to themselves as McLeas or Mconleas in the Parish records in Argyllshire, Scotland but to be honest I am not really certain the precise reason.
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 I noticed resided in the 1600's in St. Ninian's Stirlingshire but also in the 1600's there were apparently others residing in other areas of Lowland Scotland including some in the 1600's in Glasgow in Lanarkshire. I noticed they spell their name "McClay" and other similar variations of that. Interestingly as you no doubt already there are a significant number of McClays 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 Western Argyllshire Macleas who in more recent times go by the Clan name of Livingstone/Livingston and those with other spelling variations of that name in Scotland Macleay and McCLea are ancestrally connected but I am not convinced of that and YDNA testing that our Clan was involved with in the past with Familytreedna has not proven that to be the case. Over the last twenty years or so numerous Livingstones/Livingstones with known paternal ancestry linking their forefathers to the ancient McLeas later known as LIvingstones who lived from centuries in Appin and Lismore, Morvern and Mull and other neighbouring Parishes in Western Argyllshire did this YDNA test.
There has been however for some time now been an assumption that families of Scottish ancestral origin with the name McLea, McLeay, McClay and other spelling variations of McLea are somehow connected to our ancient Clan Livingstone with ancient roots to the Isle of Lismore and Western Argyllshire in Highland Scotland. I have however not over the years seen convincing information that our Highland Western Argyllshire McDunsliebhe/McDunslea/Mconlea/McLea/Livingstone ancestors were ancestrally connected to the McClays of Lowland Scotland or other McLeas and those with similar spellings.
To help shed more light on McLeays/ McLeas/McLeas/McLays McClays and their ancestral origins and linkage with other Clans with similar clan name spellings II would encourage McLeas, McLeays and McLays and McClays whose father's were McLeas, McLeays, McLays or McClays to participate in YDNA testing with Familytreedna which the Clan Maclea Livingstone Society has been involved with over the years so thatthe ancestral origins of these Scottish families can be better understood. If you father was not a Mclea, McLeay, Mclay or McClay then the another option is ask a McLea, McLeay, McLay or McClay cousin to do a YDNA Test. In my case I contacted a known Livingston cousin of mine with Western Argyllshire Livingstone ancestry and he kindly agreed to do a FamilytreeDNA YDA test back in the early 2000's.
The 18th century Western Argyllshire records indicate that by the mid 1700's the Western Argyllshire Clan previously referring to itself as Clan Maclea or Mconlea began in the records to refer to itself as Livingstone or Livingston. Interestingly earlier records from the 1600's indicate that the Clan referred to itself as McDunslea and some spelling variations of that name. Prior to the 1600's it is believe that this highland Argyllshire Scottish clan went by the name McDhunsliebe or some variation of that name. It is not certain the precise reasons that shortly after the Scottish Rebellion of 1745 that Parish records in Argyllshire from the 1750's and thereafter that Western Argyllshire McLeas no longer refer to themselves as McLeas or Mconleas.
Rev. Duncan McLea of Dull, Scotland in his notes on Scottish families with the name McLea or Mcleay written in 1743 interestingly alludes to the fact that the highland Macleas of Western Argyllshire in the 1600's were treated with great respect by the Lowland Callendar Livingstons of Stirlingshire and perhaps had some sort of family connection with them but does not offer any prove of this. I don't know of any YDNA test evidence of a paternal Western Argyllshire Maclea Livingstone connection has shown up with the a branch of the old aristocratic Callendar Livingston family of Stirlingshire but it is conceivable that a family connection between the Western Argyllshire highland MCleas of the 1600's and the old lowland Callendar Stirlingshire Livingston family perhaps through marriage and through an unknown maternal line which would not show up on a YDNA test. Some sort actual family connection earlier in the 1600's between the Argllshire McLeas and the Stirlingshire aristocratic Lowland Livingstons of Callendar would explain perhaps the origin of Rev. Duncan McClea's understanding that the Lowland Callendar Livingstons considered the highland Argyllshire Mcleas apparently to be like family or perhaps close cousins. And perhaps that could be one possible reason why the Argyllshire Highland Mcleas ended up adopting a new Clan name Livingstone/Livingston. Though there are a few theories that have been stated over the years as to why the Argyllshire McLeas by the mid 1700s' had virtually all stopped referring to themselves as McLeas or Mconleas in the Parish records in Argyllshire, Scotland but to be honest I am not really certain the precise reason.
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 I noticed resided in the 1600's in St. Ninian's Stirlingshire but also in the 1600's there were apparently others residing in other areas of Lowland Scotland including some in the 1600's in Glasgow in Lanarkshire. I noticed they spell their name "McClay" and other similar variations of that. Interestingly as you no doubt already there are a significant number of McClays 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