The manross ancestral journey from ireland

---

The Manross Family Genealogy is extremely well documented from the 1600's to the present.  The family  tree is comprised of more than 15,000 individuals and continues to grow.  Our family tree is titled The Complete Manross Family and you can find it on ancestry.com

The spelling of our name has evolved since our very first ancestor in America, Denis, set foot in Maine  (first documented in 1675).  Denis, an Irish fisherman, could not read or write English when he arrived.  Others would have to write on his behalf.  Based on the individual's translation of his heavy Irish brogue, the surname is spelled numerous ways.  Denis would sign the document with just a mark, which was very common in those days.

Why did Denis leave Ireland in the mid 1600's?  A review of Irish History shows that during this period there were ongoing attacks by British General Oliver Cromwell and there was heavy persecution of the Irish.  Many young fishermen left Ireland to seek a new life in America at that time.  A number of them went to Newfoundland, Canada before settling in Maine.

David T. Robertson is a well respected author of the New England Historic Genealogical Society.  I  have corresponded with him several times.  He believes that Denis arrived even prior to the 1675 date.  DNA testing by Family Tree DNA confirms our Irish ancestry.  Our direct  link with Irish King Niall, 400 AD, is discussed in the next tab.  Robertson states that our surname was originally Morrough.  The Morrough name is descended from the ancient Irish name O'Murchadha.  Denis's surname evolved in Maine records: Morah, Morrough, Moroth, Meroth, Mauraugh, Maraugh, Munrough, Morough, Maroh, Mero, Manraugh, Maross, Manross.