This could be one of the reasons for the spelling variation of the name Phelan: My gg grandmother from the Radestown area of Co. Kilkenny was Catherine PHELAN - according to the parish records in Co. Kilkenny. Her name also appeared on the 1925 Iowa State census as Catherine WHALEN. Here is the best explanation from a Bill Jackman from Waterford, Ireland, that I have heard yet as to why the two names are interchangeable: "Yes the names Whelan and Phelan are one and the same. The name in Irish is O`Faolain with a stroke over last a,which lengthens it,I`ll try and spell it phonetically for you,fweylawinn,so its easy to understand where whelan came from ( or Whalen )" Kathleen Maryland HANDTHX82@cs.com wrote: > > My father's family is Whalen, Whelan, and Phelan. I am looking for persons > who know any reason or story the Whalen/Phelans have for the name > changes....a rift in the family, starting a new branch? Our Phelan/Whalens > are located primarily in Fall River, Mass. In particular I am looking for > connections to the Edward Whalen/Eleanor Roe family and beyond. Thanks for > the variation of Whealan. Haven't seen that one yet. > > ==== PHELAN Mailing List ==== > This PHELAN list is currently available for adoption! > Interested in becoming the list manager? Go here: > http://resources.rootsweb.com/surnames/adoptrequest.html > > ============================== > Search ALL of RootsWeb's mailing lists in real time. > RootsWeb's Personalized Mailing Lists: > http://pml.rootsweb.com/