Hi Phil, I can't give you any direct help with your McKEEVER and McFADDEN families, but thought I could give you some general help. You say "I have heard that the McKeevers were descendants of Iver the Dane, whose descendants fought against Brian Boru, that they were originally from the highlands of Scotland, but ended up on an island off the west coast of Scotland (where the name is spelled McIver, but pronounced McKeever) and that they were frequent visitors to County Donegal." Phil, many names are present in both Scotland and Ireland, but appeared there independently -- it does not mean that all McKEEVERS / McIVORs or McFADDENs in Ireland trace back to Scotland, for instance, so I would not make that assumption on your line. Generally speaking, McIVOR is regarded as a Co. Derry name. My McIVOR great-uncle (by marriage) traces back to Derry City (in the 1880s), but I don't know if that's where McIVORs are generally concentrated, or if they are spread throughout Co. Derry. I have a distant (second) McIVOR connection in Kildress parish, Co. Tyrone in c. 1800-1830 (and this line definitely shows up in records as McKEEVER), so I know the McKEEVERs / McIVORs had spread out at least that far by that date. So, when researching your McKEEVERs in Co. Donegal, you might want to start with the areas of Donegal that border Derry, but be open to the need to move further into Donegal as you go. Now, for the official word. This is from Edward MacLysaght, THE SURNAMES OF IRELAND, 6th ed. (Dublin, Ireland and Portland, Oregon, USA: Irish Academic Press, 1999): "Mac Keever, -Keevers. Mac Iomhair [accent on the first "i"]. This mainly Oriel name is also anglicized MacIvor in Tyrone and adjacent counties. Mac Iomhair is generally thought to derive from the Norse personal name Ivaar, but it has also been stated that the Irish form, in Oriel at any rate, should be Mac Eimhir [accent on the "E"], from the forename Eimhear [accent on the "E"] (Heber), a favourite with the Mac Mahons, of which great Co. Monaghan sept these MacKeevers claim to be a branch. MIF." "Mac Ivor, -Iver. Mac Iomhair (from a Norse forename). This is usually a synonym of MacKeever and is found in Tyrone and adjacent areas. MIF. See MacKeever." "Mac Fadden, -Fadyen. Mac Phaidin [accent on the "a" and the second "i"] (Paidin, a diminutive of Padraig [accent on the first "a"], Patrick). An Ulster name, of both Irish and Scottish origin. Without the prefix Mac it is found in Mayo. MIF. Map Donegal." MIF = for more information, see MORE IRISH FAMILIES (same author) Map Donegal = unfortunately, I can't see McFADDEN on the surname map in the book, probably because the spine of the book cuts out a section of surnames in Donegal. Maybe someone with an unbound surname map can spot it for you. The portion of the map that's cut off (and where McFadden may be hiding) runs from Horn Head to Fanad Head on the north down to the Co. Tyrone border (excluding the Inishowen peninsula, in other words), including the Letterkenny and Ballybofey areas. Here's hoping someone else is researching McKEEVER and/or McFADDEN and can help you pinpoint your family using the first names you cite. Otherwise, maybe my general info will give you a place to start. Regards, Claire K.