The list below contains the names of the mothers of the baptized children, as well as the godparents of the children. There is a mix here of friends and relatives of the families. Notice how many parishioners derive from locations some distance from their clan or sept homelands. Families scattered in the two centuries following the destruction of the clan system in the 1600's. Some of the families who originated in Ulster were driven to Connaught by such religious confrontations as the Battle of the Diamond. Others petitioned Lord Altamont and other landowners for resettlement because of economic and political discrimination. Still others found their way to Ballina because there was work available. It is quite obvious that within the parish there was a great mix of Irish, Scottish, Norman, Welsh and English names.
BAKER - An English occupational name in Ireland since the 13th century. Originally, le bakere.
BARRETT - Baireid in Gaelic; Part of the Anglo-Norman invasion. Became completely hibernicized with large holdings in Mayo.
BOURKE - de Burgh; one of the most important and numerous Hiberno-Norman families; originally established in Connaught but are now numerous everywhere. Subsets are MACHUGO,MACGIBBON AND JENNINGS.
BATTLE - MacConcatha- battle hound in Gaelic; a native Irish sept indigenous to Sligo.
BRADY - Mac Bradaigh - spirited in Gaelic; Powerful spet originally from County Cavan. Sometimes used interchangeably with GRADY.
BRENNAN - O'Braonain - sorrow in Gaelic; There are four distinct septs of this name. The one located most closely to Mayo is in East Galway.
BRODERICK - O' Bruadoir in Gaelic; the name derives from a Norse personal forename. Located primarily in Galway.
BROWNE - le Brun; one of the "Tribes of Galway". Established in Ireland during the Anglo-Norman invasion. A Mayo branch was located in the Neale.
BOLAND - O' Beoillain - based on a Norse personal name; one of two septs traditionally located in Sligo.
CAIN - An English name used alternatively with the Irish Kane. Arrived during the plantation of Ulster..
CALPIN - McAlpin - a Scottish name numerous in Ulster. Calpin is an abbreviation.
CAMPBELL - MacCathmhaoil - battle chief in Gaelic; an Irish sept from County Tyrone. In Donegal, it is of gallowglass (Scottish mercenary soldeirs) origin.
CARABINE - O'Coirbin - chariot in Gaelic; a variant of CORRIBEEN found only in Mayo. CORBETT is a synonym.
CARNEY - O' Cearnaigh - victorious in Gaelic; of native Mayo stock.
CAROLIN - O'Caireallain - The name of one of the most famous poets and harpists in Ireland. The name is native to Derry in South Ulster.
CARR - Used as a variation of several names such as MCELHAR, MULCAIR, KERRAINE and KERR.
CARROLL - O'Cearbhaill; members of a minor sept from Leitrim.
CASSIDY - A Fermanagh family of ollaves (teachers) and physicians to the McGuires. Numerous in many parts of Ireland but rare in Connaught.
COMMINS - O'Cuimin,sometimes seen as Cummins or Cummings; a native Mayo name.
COOLICAN - Cuolachain; native to Mayo, also written as Cuolahan.
CORCORAN - MacCorcrain, purple, in Gaelic; an ecclesiastical family originally from Fermanagh but displaced after the destruction and confiscation of church lands.
COSGROVE - O'Coscraigh, victorious in Gaelic; An ecclesiastical family formerly of County Monaghan; very numerous in County Mayo.
COYNE - O' Cadhain, wild goose in Gaelic; Indigenous to Connaught and related to both KYNE and KILCOYNE.
CREAN - O'Croidheain, heart in Gaelic; a sept of Donegal with a branch in Sligo. Also seen as CREAGHAN and CREHAN.
CULKIN - O'Quilkin; a branch of the Stauntons in Mayo; common also in Galway.
CULLEN - O'Cuillin, holly in Gaelic; indigenous to County Monaghan but gradually moved into the western counties.
DARCY - Dorcha means dark in Gaelic; One of the "Tribes of Galway" with a branch in County Mayo. Sometimes written as Dorcy or Dorsey.
DAVIES - Sometimes considered a branch of the Burkes of Connaught; otherwise an English or Welsh name.
DELANEY - O'Dubhshlaine means Black Slaine (a river) in Gaelic. Sometimes appears as Delane in County Mayo.
DOCKERY - A military spet attached to the O'Connors.
DOLPHIN - Doilfin, based upon a Norse personal name, this family came to Ireland with the Anglo-Norman invasion and were completely hibernicized.
DONNEGAN - Although native to Tipperary and Cork, there was a small sept located in County Monaghan and the family is quite numerous in Roscommon.
DOOGAN and DUGGAN - Related septs of Mayo and Galway. When located in Ulster, the spelling is Dougan.
DOUGHER -O'Dubhchair means black dear in Gaelic; a somewhat rare name found in Connaught and Donegal.
DOWD - a leading sept of North Mayo. It was an O'Dowd that saved his community in Bonniconlon during the Famine through his own personal resources.
DRUMMOND - O'Droma means ridge in Gaelic; this was an eccesiastical family from the Fermanagh/Cavan border. Formerly "Drum" but now synonymous with the Scottish Drummond.
DUFFY - Numerous in all provinces but most common in Monaghan.
EGAN - An important brehon (judicial) family of Ormond; now most common in Tipperary and Galway.
EUSTON - also HOUSTON. Well known Scottish name once most commonly found in Ulster.
FAHEY, FAHY - O'Faithaigh means foundation in Gaelic. A north Galway name.
FLEMING- A man from Flanders. Originally establsihed in County Meath; now present in all counties.
FLYNN - O'Floinn means ruddy in Gaelic. In North Connaught the O'Flynns were a premier family under the O'Connors. One branch, located near Loch Conn, was an important ecclesiastical family.
FOODY - O'Fuadaigh means plundering in Gaeilic. A common Mayo name sometimes translated as SWIFT.
GAUGHAN - O'Gaibhtheachain means anxious in Gaelic. Indigenous to Mayo. Variations are GAHAN and GAVAGAN.
GILDEA - Mac Giolla Dhe means a follower of God. Originally from Tirconnell the sept is now most common in Connaught and County Clare.
GILMARTIN - Mac Giolla Mhartain means a devotee of St. Martin in Irish. A branch of the O'Neill's in Tyrone; those who moved to Connaught became KILMARTIN.
