Genealogy Confusion

What’s in a Name?

As records are unearthed, we find many conflicting entries and discrepancies in names and dates, a common problem in genealogy research.

My Great-Great-Grandparents John Kavanagh and Catherine Kenny had 4 daughters and 2 sons, Patrick (my Great-Grandfather) and James Joseph

Surnames:

Kavanagh: the surname most common in Irish records. Also used in some Canadian census records

Cavanagh: the surname most common in Canadian records, e.g.: marriage register for Patrick and Susan, John’s record in St. Mary’s Church death register, gravestones and undertaker’s records, etc.

Cavanaugh: name chosen by Peter Edward, son of James, when he left home after a spat with his father

Kavana: name on 1917 copy of Patrick’s Certificate of Baptism

Cavenagh: transcription of poorly-written James Cavanagh, witness of marriage of Patrick and Susan(nah).

1861 census written records show Patrick Kavanagh and family, transcribed to Patrick Kavanaugh and family for electronic records.

An old family story has it that Kavanagh was the original spelling in Canada, but when Patrick got his first paycheck it was made out to “Patrick Cavanagh”;since it was for real money and the name sounded the same, that’s the way it stayed.

Given names:

Jno : historical short form for John, given name on Fitzwilliam Estate Emigration record for father of emigrant family, husband of Catherine Kenny (1852).

John: family history and most common Canadian record name for father of emigrant family.

Susan : family history name for wife of Patrick Cavanagh. Diminutive of Susannah.

Susannah: from a family story, the original name of Susan, wife of Patrick, shortened when she was adopted by uncle James after the deaths of her parents.

James already had a daughter named Susannah. Also the name in the Marriage Register.

Susanna: in the undertaker’s register.

Children in emigration record (1852): Mary 21, Sarah 19, Pat 17, Honoria 15, James 13, and Mazzy 11. Mary apparently did not emigrate.

Children in 1861 Simcoe County census: Sarah 24, Patrick 22, Anne 21, James 18 and Marcella 16.

Is “Anne” a diminutive or variation of “Honoria”? Is “Mazzie” a diminutive of “Marcella”? Yes to both.

The emigration and census are 9 years apart (1852-1861), yet the ages are a consistent 5 years apart???

Age and Birth Dates:

John: Emigration record 1852: age 50 (bd 1802) (Recorded March or April?)

1861 Census : age 58 (bd 1803)

Death register 1875 : age 68 (bd 1807)

Death register is likely least reliable of the three. Either 1802 or 1803 is possible depending on the month a record was made.

Catherine (Kenny): Emigration record 1852: age 50 (bd 1802)

Census 1861 age 56 (bd 1804)

Simcoe Death Record (1882) age 68 (bd 1814) (68 looks crossed out)

Most likely 1802-1804. Death record is most likely off by 10 years.

Patrick: Baptism Record: Oct. 19, 1836 "Patt. of Jno Kavana & Cath Kenny, Sp. Peter Hickey & Bess Shannon P-More"

Emigration record 1852: age 17 (bd 1835) (Recorded March or April?)

Census 1861 age 22 (bd 1839)

Marriage 1866 age 26 (bd 1840)

Obituary 1931 July age 94 bd 1836

Baptism likely occurred within a few months of birth, and is probably the most reliable record since birth dates or ages for others may have been verbally communicated. Most likely birth year was 1836; 1839 or 1840 seem out of line with other data.

According to the July, 1931 obituary, Patrick “lacked only about two months of ninety-five years” (making the birth month September), was born in 1836

and was 12 when the family emigrated to Canada, which would put the emigration date at 1848. Memories may have been a bit faded after 80 years or so.

Anne : Emigration record 1852 : age 15 (bd 1837) (Honoria)

Simcoe Census 1861 : age 21 (bd 1840)

Marriage Register 1877 : age 33 (bd 1844)