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Ireland (Historical Counties) => Ireland => Antrim => Topic started by: Tim Leith on Friday 04 April 14 14:59 BST (UK)

Title: The surname Leith in Antrim
Post by: Tim Leith on Friday 04 April 14 14:59 BST (UK)
Does anyone have any information on any Leith families in Antrim?  Specifically I am searching for these individuals:

James Leith born on December 20, 1845, his father was also named James
Had a brother named Hutchison P. Leith who was born in 1850

Their parent's names were James Leith and Eliza Montgomery.  I don't have confirmation on where in particular they resided in Antrim but some sources point to the Portglenone area.

Thanks in advance!!
Tim Leith
Title: Re: The surname Leith in Antrim
Post by: scotmum on Saturday 05 April 14 10:42 BST (UK)
The surname was certainly in evidence in the Portglenone area. If you visit:

http://www.thebraid.com/genealogy

and input the surname, you should see a headstone inscription for a Leith grave at Portglenone Church of Ireland, as well as some in neighbouring areas.

If you also input the surname at http://www.irishtimes.com/ancestor/surname/ you can view a spread of the surname in the mid 1800s. As you will see, it was not overly common.

A quick Google brings up posts from others searching 'Leith in Portglenone, eg':

http://boards.ancestry.co.uk/surnames.leith/220/mb.ashx

http://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Leith-97

And Griffiths Valuation for Portglenone (so mid 1800s) includes two Leith entries (and several Montgomery):

http://www.failteromhat.com/griffiths/antrim/portglenone.htm

There were  5 Leith marriages in the Ballymena district from 1849 to 1852 - 4 males and 1 female.