Have an Ancestry Brickwall? Here’s a new way to look at it.

We’re in Milwaukee attending the Irish Fest so I’m about six hours behind my normal self – hence the delay in the letter today! We’ve met up with some wonderful people and heard a lot of great music over the past two days – I can heartily recommend attending if you ever get the chance.

In many of the conversations I was led into, I noticed the same type of question coming up again and again. You might be familiar with this type of question – it starts with: “I have a Irish ancestry brick wall in my research…..”. So, I thought we’d be a little playful today and relieve some of the tension you might feel when you’re staring up at that ancestry brick wall! Let’s have a look at two Irish surnames that build a brickwall all of their own.

Right, let’s have a look at the Irish surname “Brick” and the Irish surname “Wall”!

The Irish Surname “Brick”.

Yes, “Brick” is an Irish surname. It’s an old Irish Gaelic name that came out of County Clare many centuries ago – but is almost exclusively found in County Kerry today. It comes from the word “Broc” – which is the Irish for Badger. Maybe you have a badger or two where you live?

So, the “descendants of Broic” – or the O’Brics were anglicised as “Brick” from about 1600 AD in Kerry. In fact, if you ever happen to drive around the Dingle Peninsula in Kerry, you’ll pass a very nice pub and brewery (which means you have to stop) called “Tigh Bric” – meaning the “House of Brick”.

That’s our first Irish surname today – now, on to the second.

The Irish Surname “Wall”.

The Irish surname “Wall” can be found in many parts of Ireland today – but especially in the south-east of the island. It comes from the Irish “de Bhál” (pronounced de Vawl) which came in turn from the French for the Norman surname “de Valle” meaning “from the Valley” or a “valley dweller”.

The de Valle families arrived in Ireland about 1200 AD – and various branches spread over the country through the following years. Today, it has been almost exclusively anglicised as “Wall” and is found in quantity through counties Tipperary, Waterford and Kilkenny.

How about you? Do you have either of these Irish surnames in your family tree?

Breaking Through those Bricks and those Walls

So, I think we should drop the phrase “Irish Ancestry Brick Wall” when talking about the obstacles in our family history research. Instead of saying “I have an Irish Ancestry brick wall..”, we can now say “I have a Badger from the Valley in my family tree…”. I’ll know what you are talking about and you will know (while putting a smile on your face) – but everyone else will look at you like you have two heads. How about it?

If you have an ancestry “Badger from the Valley” that you are facing at the moment – do let me know in the comments section below. I’m sure you’ll work through it eventually – one badger at a time!

That’s it for this week, as always do feel free to share your stories, comments and Irish surnames in your family.

Slán for now,

Mike and Carina.