I am searching for what my family's Irish surname was before it was changed to Austin. My 3x great-

Adam Norten

Hello, thank you so much for accepting me into the group.

I am interested in searching for records on my 3x great-grandfather named James Austin

Birth ABT. 1828

County Kerry, Ireland

Death Unknown

https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/memories/LRBG-G6Z

 

A few generations ago I believe he was sent to Australia because he committed a crime. His original name may have been Thomas O'Brien? I am uncertain.

When he was finally allowed to return to Ireland he took the new surname of Austin.

My great-grandfather was Francis Mathew Austin https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/memories/LRT4-GZB

 

His father was James F Austin

https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/memories/LDT8-W4F

 

 

Thank you so much for your help,

Adam

Ali.M. Pili

I really think with only a county and a surname as common as O'Brien and that is even uncertain, you need to do your DNA and submit to various websites and to County Kerry FB DNA groups. If you could find a family member with the Austin surname it might be effective to do the Y chromosome DNA test on them and follow the surname and see if it really connects to O'Brien or what surname it connects to.

I suggest you take your DNA results and submit to other websites and also to gedmatch.com to get more results and then share your gedmatch number and join as many County Kerry groups as possible to see if you can make a connection.

Without a specific Catholic parish and a connection to some family member in County Kerry it's impossible to search records for a Thomas O'Brien. Where did he marry? Does the marriage record have his parents' names?

Does anyone else have any other ideas?

LegacyUser

Thank you for the advice. I have had 3 DNA tests. 

www.Ancestry.com

User: Adam Norten

Tree name: NortenFamilyTree

 

 

I had the BigY-700 test and mtDNA tests on Family Tree DNA   FTDNA

www.familytreedna.com

My Kit Number 925607

 

I had a DNA test on 23andme

https://you.23andme.com/profile/fd2d44d4a2bbe034/

 

 

My GedMatch number is LZ7946136 

on www.GedMatch.com

 

 

Since the surname "Austin" is on my maternal side of the family I also had my mother and sister do a DNA test.

 

Sincerely,

 Adam

Ali.M. Pili

My suggestion is that if you access RootsTech 2021 to watch the DNA sessions to know what to do with your results to use them effectively. Also there are a few DNA groups here on Community--"Genetic Genealogy Research" and also "Genealogy and the Y Chromosome". You could join those for additional info. It would be fabulous if you did a Y DNA test from the male line of the Austin family members, perhaps uncles or cousins. That's where the critical info that you need will be found.

Good luck!

LegacyUser

Thanks for the advice. I will watch some more of the RootsTech sessions on DNA. Unfortunately, there are no more living people in my family with the surname "Austin". I am going to join the group "Genealogy and the Y Chromosome"

 

-Adam

Ali.M. Pili

I would do some serious descendancy research to locate a male Austin descendant, even a distant cousin could take the Y chromosome test and it would be an invaluable source.

LegacyUser

Thank you. Have a happy St. Patrick's day!

Adam