Some genealogy mysteries aren’t about one missing record—they’re about a name that changes shape every time it touches paper.
That’s where I am with Julia, the wife of John Carolan.
Most family references call her Julia McConnell. But at least one key reference names her as Julia McConnon. One woman, two surnames—both plausible, both Irish, and both capable of wasting years if you chase the wrong version.
This post is my attempt to put the facts in one place and invite help from anyone connected to this line.
The couple: John Carolan and Julia (McConnell / McConnon)#
What I know (at a high level) is simple:
- Julia married John Carolan
- The surname appears in the family record as McConnell
- A published reference (obituary) uses McConnon
What I do not yet have—despite repeated searching—is a definitive record naming Julia’s parents.
That is the goal of this post.
Why the surname matters#
The difference between McConnell and McConnon could be:
- a real surname difference (two different families), or
- a spelling/handwriting/indexing issue, or
- a family-memory simplification that became “standard” in America.
If you’re searching this line, consider these as “in play”:
- McConnell / McConnel / McConnell
- McConnon / McConon / McConnan / McConnon
- “Mc” variants: Mc / Mac / M’
Irish records and American indexes can be brutal on this class of surname.
What I’m trying to find (the one record that breaks the wall)#
This kind of problem usually breaks open with one of these:
- Julia’s death record naming her parents
- A church marriage entry for John & Julia (often includes witnesses—frequently siblings/cousins)
- A child’s marriage record listing mother’s maiden name
- Cemetery interment records (not just a stone photo)
- Naturalization papers naming a specific Irish hometown/parish
One good document can collapse years of uncertainty.
If you’re connected to this couple, I’d love to compare notes#
If you have any of the following, it could be the missing piece:
Documents#
- John Carolan obituary (full text preferred)
- Julia obituary/funeral card
- Marriage record (civil or church)
- Julia death certificate or funeral-home record
- Children’s marriage records (especially those listing mother’s maiden name)
- Cemetery interment register entries for John and/or Julia
Family knowledge#
- Any remembered county/parish/townland in Ireland
- Sibling names for Julia or John
- Family Bible pages, handwritten notes, old letters
Even a small clue—an Irish place name, a witness name, a sibling—can be enough to get unstuck.
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