« Reply #51 on: Thursday 17 July 14 14:02 BST (UK) »
I would agree with Phillip and forget about what you were told or what you think, focus on proof and that is only in real records, bear in mind ( as you have already been advised) that spellings were unimportant if you look at real records in Ireland eg 1901 census you will see just how many could still not read and write so no one corrected spelling, it was spelt how it sounded and depends on who was writing it down, then when they could read/write they used the spelling they had, which is why you get so many variants in the same family.
.....and my advice is establish your records and proof in the USA that is from real records and a solid foundation as surname searching in the whole of Ireland is going to find you hitting that brick wall all over again, there are plenty of records in the USA online, that is not the case for Ireland and although it is a tiny country you will find there are dozens and dozens of people born in the same area with the same names IF you are able to find any online records ( more likely transcriptions online) You really need a named place in Ireland, a county, a townland or ideally a village/town, certainly you need every bit of information you can find before you try to jump the pond to a completely different records system and where most records are still in parish churches.
Leicestershire:Chamberlain, Dakin, Wilkinson, Moss, Cook, Welland, Dobson, Roper,Palfreman, Squires, Hames, Goddard, Topliss, Twells,Bacon.
Northamps:Sykes, Harris, Rice,Knowles.
Rutland:Clements, Dalby, Osbourne, Durance, Smith,Christian, Royce, Richardson,Oakham, Dewey,Newbold,Cox,Chamberlaine,Brow, Cooper, Bloodworth,Clarke
Durham/Yorks:Woodend, Watson,Parker, Dowser
Suffolk/Norfolk:Groom, Coleman, Kemp, Barnard, Alden,Blomfield,Smith,Howes,Knight,Kett,Fryston
Lincolnshire:Clements, Woodend