Glenn Surname

[Dram]

Hello,

I have some early ancestors with the surname of Glenn that settled in Virginia.

It seems to be a more obscure surname and was wondering if anyone knew more about them, and perhaps what part of Scotland that surname was primarily found?

Thanks for any help!

[ctbuchanan]

Recorded as Glenn, Glinn, Glyn, Glynn, and Glany, Glenie, Glennie and Glenny, this can only be described as a surname of the British Isles. It has several possible national origins. Firstly it may be Cornish or Welsh from any of the places called Glyn or Glynn, such as Glyn Dyffryn, near Corwen, in Merioneth; or Glynn on the river Fowey, in East Cornwall. These placenames derive from the pre 6th century word glin or glyn, meaning a valley. Secondly it can be Scottish, and again locational either from Glen, a place near Peebles, or from the lands known as 'Glennie's Parks' near Braemar, in Aberdeenshire, with Angus Gleny being the first of the name and recorded in the year 1408. Again the ancient word 'glen' is a form of the even earlier 'glyn' meaning a valley. Thirdly it may be quite different and Irish. If so it is from the pre 10th century Gaelic "Mag Fhloinn", meaning the son of the ruddy faced one from flann meaning red or euddy. As such it was perhaps an ethnic reference to an Anglo-Saxon, somebody with red hair. This clan originated in the Westmeath- Roscommon area. The first recorded spelling of the family name anywhere is believed to be that of Colban del Glen. He received a legacy left him by the Queen of Scotland in 1328, during the reign of King Robert 1st of Scotland, otherwise known as The Bruce, 1306 - 1329.
Above taken from the Surnames Database

[Dram]

Thank you. I guess more specifically I was wondering if it was a highland surname?

[davidlpope]

Thank you. I guess more specifically I was wondering if it was a highland surname?

"Clan Mackintosh of North America" lists Glen and Glennie as surnames associated with Clan Mackintosh. If that's enough of a connection for you, then I'm sure they'd be willing to have you as a member.

Here's a quick surname map for Glenn in Great Britain based on the 1881 Census. It shows the greatest concentration of the name in England:http://gbnames.publicprofiler.org/Ma...y=GB&type=name

If you're interested in pursuing a more definite connection to Scotland, or the Highlands specifically, it will mean steady, deliberate genealogical work to determine exactly where your ancestors came from.

Best of Luck,

David

[Slowburn]

There is a shorter path no less expensive and that would be to under go a geneological DNA screening. What is interesting is the spelling with the double n. I know on my maternal side there is a strong line to an O'Conor which is very different than the O'Connor we are used to seeing. There is something special about that extra n.

[ThistleDown]

"Clan Mackintosh of North America" lists Glen and Glennie as surnames associated with Clan Mackintosh. If that's enough of a connection for you, then I'm sure they'd be willing to have you as a member.

Here's a quick surname map for Glenn in Great Britain based on the 1881 Census. It shows the greatest concentration of the name in England:http://gbnames.publicprofiler.org/Ma...y=GB&type=name

If you're interested in pursuing a more definite connection to Scotland, or the Highlands specifically, it will mean steady, deliberate genealogical work to determine exactly where your ancestors came from.

Best of Luck,

David

As David says, there are sept lists claiming Glenn, Glennie and Glen as dependant on the Mackintoshes. There were two unconnected families of Glennie tenants on the Moy estates in the late 18thC (and maybe earlier). That does not, of course, lead us to assume that all of the name were somehow connected with the Mackintoshes and Clan Chattan.

You have a lifetime of effort ahead of you. Best wishes for an enjoyable journey.

[Dram]

"Clan Mackintosh of North America" lists Glen and Glennie as surnames associated with Clan Mackintosh. If that's enough of a connection for you, then I'm sure they'd be willing to have you as a member.

Here's a quick surname map for Glenn in Great Britain based on the 1881 Census. It shows the greatest concentration of the name in England:http://gbnames.publicprofiler.org/Ma...y=GB&type=name

If you're interested in pursuing a more definite connection to Scotland, or the Highlands specifically, it will mean steady, deliberate genealogical work to determine exactly where your ancestors came from.

Best of Luck,

David

Thanks. That is a cool feature however, David, the highest concentration of Glenn according to that feature shows Northern Ireland, and that site lists it as a Celtic surname in the subgroup of Irish.

It is interesting to me that it was, or is, found in Northern Ireland because another branch of my family with the surname of Adams came to Virginia we believe from Northern Ireland. Ulster Scots. Perhaps since the Glenns were also from Virginia there is some connection to Northern Ireland.

[Dram]

There is a shorter path no less expensive and that would be to under go a geneological DNA screening. What is interesting is the spelling with the double n. I know on my maternal side there is a strong line to an O'Conor which is very different than the O'Connor we are used to seeing. There is something special about that extra n.

Thanks. The Glenn surname is actually on my mothers side. I was just researching some of my various family names, especially those in Virginia.

I have actually taken a DNA test which is through of course, the male Y-DNA, interestingly enough my paternal surname is Welsh
(my dad is Welsh and Irish) and that line comes from the Isle of Anglesey in Wales. The DNA however, showed the highest concentration of that type to be on the Western coast of Scotland, and not in Wales...go figure. The second area it was associated with was Thomond in Ireland.