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From: Rob Doragh <>
Subject: FERMANAGH-GOLD SHERRY M'CABE families
Date: Wed, 27 Apr 2011 20:29:23 +0100


Hello John,

MacLysaght 'The Surnames of Ireland'

(Mac) SHARRY Mac Searraigh A Breffny sept (or Breifne - Cavan and west Leitrim) mainly found in Leitrim and adjacent counties. In Co. Roscommon it has been made FOLEY from searrach, a foal. This in its secondary connotation, flighty, may be the derivation of the name. MacSHARRY is sometimes used as a synonym of MacSHERRY.

O'SHARRY An Ulster sept distinct from MacSHARRY.

(Mac) SHERRY MacSearraigh, also O Searraigh (possibly from searrach foal). This Ulster sept must not be confused with MacSHERA. The name MacSHERRY, i.e. son of Geoffrey, was also adopted as an Irish patronymic by the HODNETT family of Co. Cork, whence the placename Courtmacsherry. Prevalent in Armagh and Cork.

I looked at www.failteromhat.com Census/Directories and the Flax Growers List 1796. I put SHAR in the search box then SHER. I got the following hits:
SHARRY 11 10 Monaghan, 1 Westmeath
SHARY 2 1 Londonderry 1 Cavan
M'SHARRY (old spelling) 16 11 Leitrim, 2 Sligo, 2 Armagh, 1 Down
SHERRY 18 3 Armagh, 11 Monaghan, 3 Tyrone, 1 Louth
M'SHERRY 3 2 Armagh, 1 Tyrone

I put CABE in the search box and got the following:

M'CABE (old spelling) 156! 67 Monaghan, 45 Cavan, 10 Meath, 9 Leitrim, 9 Louth, 7 Longford, 5 Fermanagh, 2 Westmeath, 1 Roscommon, 1 Down

The 5 in Fermanagh were 3 in Drumkeeran, 1 in Enniskillen and 1 in Derryvullen.

MacCABE 1 in Fermanagh, Clones

As Monaghan, Cavan and Tyrone border Fermanagh it is possible the families moved into the adjoining county.

Have you looked at the Tithe Applotments from the 1820s and 1830s?

Rob Doragh

Liverpool UK


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