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Thread: McIlstalker?

  1. #1
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    McIlstalker?

    My 9th great-grandfather (Johne MacRanald /MacRannald - born 1639 Keppoch area, Scotland) was married to a Catherine (or Kathleen) McIlstalker (born 1643 'Scotland').

    My question:
    does anyone have any information regarding the McIlstalker's /MacIlstalker's?
    Could McIlstalker be a variation of the surname MacInstalker (listed as a sept of the Clan MacFarlane)?

    For that matter I'd be interested in any background information regarding the MacInstalker's

    Thanks in advance.
    [SIZE="2"][FONT="Georgia"][COLOR="DarkGreen"][B][I]T. E. ("TERRY") HOLMES[/I][/B][/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE]
    [SIZE="1"][FONT="Georgia"][COLOR="DarkGreen"][B][I]proud descendant of the McReynolds/MacRanalds of Ulster & Keppoch, Somerled & Robert the Bruce.[/SIZE]
    [SIZE="1"]"Ah, here comes the Bold Highlander. No @rse in his breeks but too proud to tug his forelock..." Rob Roy (1995)[/I][/B][/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE]

  2. #2
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    Hi Terry,

    I think the important thing to remember is that until early in the last century, spelling was an adventure and not a science. So for a start Mc and Mac (and in some cases Mack) were the same thing. There are only 7 existing examples of William Shakespear's signature and in each case he spells his name differently. In one case it is 'Shakeshaft' rather than Shakespear.

    Genealogical records being what they are, we can never be 100% sure who was who. If the time-line is more or less accurate and the area seems right then it probably is right.

    Regards

    Chas

  3. #3
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    Many of these old MacIl..... names seem to have gone out of fashion early in the nineteenth century for some reason. Old Parish Records show several names beginning MacIl.... which are no longer found in Scotland. My wife had an ancestry line MacIlmorrow, all of her family suddenly changed their name to McMurray in the early eighteen hundreds. I was contacted by a Lemore from the USA who claimed descent from the same MacIlmorrow ancestor. At first I could not see any connection but then I found a grave in Dailly kirk yard with the name MacIleimorow which appeared to confirm that some of the McIlmorrows had in fact become Lemores. Similarly my wife's paternal line, McConnel changed to McConnell between 1851 and 1861. I suspect the same will have happened in your line through changes in spelling in successive generations, so yes McInstalker may well be the same family as McIlstalker.
    Regional Director for Scotland for Clan Cunningham International, and a Scottish Armiger.

  4. #4
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    chas and alex are right about the possible spelling alteration ,
    ive had ancestors surnames altered by folk unable to understand certain accents,a fine example is my surname Chisholm in America i believe its ended up as chisim in some areas
    ive had Irish ancestors called heffernan renamed as heffron and scots ancestors mcnie renamed to mcnee by clerks not realising they've altered a family surname

  5. #5
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    Thank you gentlemen.
    I figured its probably the same surname, just a variation of the spelling.

    My 6th great-grandfather (John Scoby) had his surname spelled 3 different ways in his own lifetime: Scoby, Scobie, Scobee.
    It sure makes genealogy an adventure at times!

    So, does anybody out there have any background on the McIlstalker /MacInstalker family? I'm kind of curious.

    Thanks again!
    [SIZE="2"][FONT="Georgia"][COLOR="DarkGreen"][B][I]T. E. ("TERRY") HOLMES[/I][/B][/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE]
    [SIZE="1"][FONT="Georgia"][COLOR="DarkGreen"][B][I]proud descendant of the McReynolds/MacRanalds of Ulster & Keppoch, Somerled & Robert the Bruce.[/SIZE]
    [SIZE="1"]"Ah, here comes the Bold Highlander. No @rse in his breeks but too proud to tug his forelock..." Rob Roy (1995)[/I][/B][/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE]

  6. #6
    Join Date
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    From:
    KERR FAMILY CHRONICLES
    © Christopher Earls Brennen

    CHAPTER SIX
    THE McREYNOLDS FAMILY


    The records tell of the baptism of a son, Johne, of Johne McRannald and his wife
    Kathleen, whose maiden name was Mcilstalker. The baptism took place on Aug.11, 1672, in Inveraray and Glenaray, Argyllshire, and is recorded in the parochial register of the county of Argyll.


    To view more see:
    Johne McReynolds/MacRanald: Scots Mercenary
    [SIZE="2"][FONT="Georgia"][COLOR="DarkGreen"][B][I]T. E. ("TERRY") HOLMES[/I][/B][/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE]
    [SIZE="1"][FONT="Georgia"][COLOR="DarkGreen"][B][I]proud descendant of the McReynolds/MacRanalds of Ulster & Keppoch, Somerled & Robert the Bruce.[/SIZE]
    [SIZE="1"]"Ah, here comes the Bold Highlander. No @rse in his breeks but too proud to tug his forelock..." Rob Roy (1995)[/I][/B][/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE]

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