This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: sniliaghin Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.britisles.ireland.lex.general/2623.2.1.1.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Ardena - the spellings above, along, probably with others would all come back to the same original family no matter what period in time you look at. It is what would be classified as an unusual surname for Ireland. The Griffiths Primary Valuation has been mentioned to you in some replies, it is on linee for free on the Ask About ireland website. Go to that site, think of as many variations on Brisland that you can, substitute the different vowels where there is a vowel, remove the 'd' and pretty mush you will find all and any vriations listed in the Griffiths. Remember - back then and way before it (1850's), an awful lot of people spelled words phonetically - that is as they heard them and would spell what they heard. We Irish can speak fast, I currently live on No. 7 Dean XXX street, if I say 7 Dean street to someone, they 'hear' seventeen XXXX street. Having lived in a number of counties as a child, I do not have a strong accent which can be associated with any county. I am said to have a neutral accent and it is said that I speak clearly - but fast...... People had stronger accents back then than we do today *never* exclude something because it is not spelled exactly like you know it to be in your own family history. Yo uare not going to find this family immediately, you have some exploring to do. Begin with the Griffiths, it's freely available in line, I can't think of the URL off the top of my head but I know it's been given you in a reply. Check oiut the distribution of the surname on that site, which parishes does it occur in? Then, you have to check out the Tithe Applotment Books for those parishes -s ee where you can find this surname in the Tithes - or variations of the surname. Temember what I have said about substituting the different vowels, find all the variations, then go to the parish records if they exist and that's the best you can do to begin with. It's a surname that will turn up - and Denis is not the most common of first names. Focus on the areas you find a Denis in and people with the same first name that he gave his first son. If the records are there, and you do as I say, eventually you wil find something - if it is there. The least you wil end up knowing is something about the surname in all of ireland or just Laois - and that, is a lot more than others ever learn. Regards, Jane www.laoisgenealogy.com www.from-ireland.net Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.