I have been informed that my surname McColough while Irish has its start in Scotland and that we come from that country many years ago. Where can I read information regarding this migration? My understanding was the Irish went to Scotland each year to help with the harvest but returned to Ireland. What I would like to be able to read is a statement to say if the McColough's or a derivative of this name come from Scotland or is this another Scottish myth. Graham McColough <mailto:graham@mccolough.net> graham@mccolough.net

Dear Graham, I looked your surname up in All Ireland Surnames with this result: MacCollough is a very rare surname of Co. Antrim. It then refers me to MacCullough, and there it says: "Numerous in the Belfast & Down area and Ulster generally; scattered elsewhere. The Irish is Mac Cú Ulaidh (Hound of Ulster). The name is current in Scotland and MacLysaght mentions that it might derive from 'collach', a bear, but it seems more logical that all the names have the same source in Ulster, though many subsequently came as settlers in the 17th century." I have never read quite such an ambiguous entry for a surname before. It MIGHT be Irish with 2 Irish choices for the origin. It might be Scot. It might have two origins - Ireland and Scotland. I think the only answer you are going to get is going to come from DNA testing on this one. Sorry I can't help more. Janet On Fri, Jul 27, 2012 at 12:52 PM, Graham <graham@mccolough.net> wrote: > I have been informed that my surname McColough while Irish has its start in > Scotland and that we come from that country many years ago. > > Where can I read information regarding this migration? My understanding was > the Irish went to Scotland each year to help with the harvest but returned > to Ireland. > > What I would like to be able to read is a statement to say if the > McColough's or a derivative of this name come from Scotland or is this > another Scottish myth. > > > > > > Graham McColough > > <mailto:graham@mccolough.net> graham@mccolough.net > >