Our Name...
The
Irish surname Hyland
is the modern anglicization of the Old Gaelic surname O’hAolain.
The name is of local origin, being one of those based on the name of the
dwelling place or locality where a bearer once lived. In this
instance, the name was originally translated as ‘high land’ and the name
came to denote one whose residence was situated on such a slope.
In medieval Ireland it was common practice to identify a man with the area
where he lived and to refer to him in this manner. It was not unusual
at this time for two brothers to be given the same Christian name, therefore
a local name was added to one’s personal name to avoid confusion.
Therefore if a person lived near or at, an outstanding geographical feature,
they were so named.
Alternatively, this surname can derive from the literal translation of
the Old Gaelic for "O’hAolain." The literal meaning of this name
is "a descendent of Aolain.” This personal name was very common in
Ireland during the Middle Ages, as it had been the name of several famous
erenaghs in Ireland of Old. Erenaghs were lay lords whose families
held church property and titles from generation to generation. It
would appear that an early chief of the clan was granted this name which
means, literally, "a little wolf."
Click on the
icon directly below to browse through our family's generations.
Links
Learn about family history at
Find County Mayo family
historical info at
What's happening in
our ancestral county?
Click here!
 ayo
on the Move!
Much is changing in
today's Ireland!
Find out about it at
A wealth of information on the Cedar Lake,
Minn. area is available through the Scott County Historial Research Center's
website!
Click HERE
for
photos of the
Aug 1999
Ireland trip!!
Your
comments and suggestions are welcome. Email us!
 
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Welcome...
...to the Hyland page!
This site primarily focuses on those who are descended from Patrick and
Bridget (Quinn) Hyland, who settled in Minnesota in 1848 after fleeing
political oppression and the potato famines in Ireland. What follows
is our effort to tell the world about us. Much contained herein is
heavily dependent upon historical research, county records, old newspaper
articles, and people like yourselves. Perhaps as you read through,
you'll have some small tidbit of information that can plug a "hole" somewhere.
The intent is to shed light onto as many generations and family members
as possible. Though a work like this can never be fully complete,
we've gathered for the first time much of the past and present entities
of a family long stretched across half the globe.
The progress made thus far would
not have been possible without the much-appreciated efforts of the following
people and organizations:
--Our cousin Sister Mary Zacchaeus
Ryan (descendent of James Garry and Bridget Quinn Hyland's sister,
Sabina Quinn Garry), New Cuba City, Wis., whose book, "Irish Roots" is
an invaluable source of information about our lineage. NOTE: Sadly for us, Sr. Zacchaeus died in 2008.
--My mother Doris M. (Gerevas)
Darrow (married Leonard T. Hyland in 1946 and was widowed in 1963
-- now married to Ben Darrow), Vacaville, Calif. I credit her with
getting the ball rolling with the effort decades ago, laying the informational
groundwork.
--My aunts Joyce (Hyland) Laird,
Vallejo, Calif.; and Barbara (Hyland) Vanderschoot,
St. Helena, Calif., whose witty anecdotes, reminiscences and pictures helped
to capture the essence of the personality of our family. NOTE: Sad to note Aunt Barb passed away in 2007.
--Cori Wegener and
staff, Scott County (Minn.) Historical Society, for their hard work delving
into the county's past census files, revealing heretofore unknown facts.
--My late "Nana," Marge
(Beard) Hyland (died in 1959), whose meticulous notations throughout
the 1930's-1950's were instrumental in clarifying the dates of many family
births, deaths and other important events.
--Scott W. Hyland
Our Ancestral Homeland
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