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Hello and thank you for the opportunity to ask a question about the Higgins surnames in Mayo Co. I'd like to provide some background before my question - my 2x great grandparents, Richard Higgins and Catherine Fitzmaurice, are parents of John Higgins, born abt. 1836, Cong, Mayo Co., Ireland. By 1846, Richard and Catherine Higgins are in Balla, Mayo Co, and two other children (Martin, b. 1846, my gr.grandfather, and Richard, b. 1848). The Cong, Mayo County origins abt. 1836 is supported by a Fitzmaurice DNA connection, as well as Higgins obituaries & family information stating the Higgins were of Cong, Mayo Co. in 1836. I have two Higgins DNA matches with the location of Shrule, Mayo Co. One of these Higgins DNA connections is shown on the 1901 Ireland Census: 1901/Mayo/Dalgan/Dalgan Demesne (Patrick Higgins, house no. 4). Also on the 1901 Ireland Census: 1901/Mayo/Dalgan/Shrule, I find Patrick St. L. Higgins, house no. 7.

My question is about the Higgins family of Mayo County, shown as St. L. and/or St. Leger Higgins. Although I've looked online, I still have the question- does St. L. or St. Leger Higgins refer to an area of origin, a place where perhaps they did business in Mayo County or something else completely? I'm hoping that someone, with knowledge of the Higgins surname in Mayo County, will recognize the St. L. and/or St. Leger piece of this and provide some insight or suggestions. BTW, I have two baptism records and three death certificates that confirm Richard Higgins and Catherine Fitzmaurice Higgins, as well as several DNA connections with origins along the border areas of Mayo and Galway Counties. I have my documented Higgins, Fitzmaurice, O'Malley and Flanagan tree on Ancestry and can provide other information if needed.

Thanks very much,
Mollie

MissAnna

Thursday 15th Jun 2023, 08:44PM

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  • Mollie,

    Please see attached in regard to St. Leger - County Mayo.

    Apparently an area of 303 acres was owned by a Bartholomew St.Leger and the Higgins' were leasing land on this estate.

    Regards,

    McCoy

    Friday 16th Jun 2023, 08:33AM
  • Thank you so very much for your reply and the valuable information about the St. Leger designation. With some preliminary research about Bartholomew St. Leger I see that the family connects with Burke and Kirwan surnames (both names within my Higgins line). Looks like I have more searching and new discoveries. 

    Again my thanks, 

    Mollie 

    MissAnna

    Friday 16th Jun 2023, 07:18PM

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