Good morning: Does anyone have access to this book, I'd like to see if there is any reference to a Macklin in it? Eric

Can you help me identify the origin of the Keys surname in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland? DNA testing has ruled out a genetic relationship with the Keys family at Lifford, which first appeared in Ireland under Elizabeth I and settled there under James 1. The first documented Keys in County Fermanagh is Hugh Keys born ca.1660 and died in 1733. A mention of a Widow Ki (or Kee?) on a 1720 survey suggests that the name may have evolved in that period. Documentary sources suggest that Keys (as well as other commono names such as MacKey, MacKay, MacKee, MacKoy, Hughes, Hewson, Eason, MacHugh and McGee) may have been an anglicized form of the Celtic Mac Aoidha (or son of Aodh, meaning "fire," anglicized as Hugh). In light of this, it may be relevant that the first documented Keys in Fermanagh bore the christian name Hugh. One family of McKee originated in Myrton-McKee, Penninghame, Wigton, Scotland and settled in counties Down and Antrim. This line appears to account for a large proportion of McKees in Northern Ireland. Another branch of Scottish McKees in Ireland derives from John McKie of Larg, Minnigaff, Kirkcudbright, descended from Sir Patrick McKie. This family settled in Derry. MacHugh originated in Galway and spread into County Roscommon. The name is now frequent in counties Leitrim and Fermanagh. The MacGee name in Ulster is either of Scottish, akin to MacDonnell (and thus ultimately Irish in origin), or is a from a Gaelic Irish group that lived on the Donegal and Tyrone borders. The early history of this branch is not known. Finally, one source indicates that MacKee can also be a anglicization of Macan Caoich (coach = blind), and was used by the Oreilly of Breffney. This later evolved into Key(e)s. Lastly, heraldry provides one further clue. The motifs on the Keys coats of arms found on gravestones in Fermanagh are common to many armorial bearings. However, one coat of arms in Scotland, that of the Aberach MacKay family, shows a strong resemblance. It has the lion rampant and hand in common with Keys arms, and also adds 10 fleur de lis on the outside of the shield. A relationship between the two is possible, but perhaps not probable. Barring further documentary evidence, we must appeal to DNA to unravel this mystery. I invite males bearing the surnames McKee, McGee, McHugh, Hughes and variants of these to help solve the riddle by participating in DNA projects. Please contact me if interested. Thank you. Roy Keys