Holly/Hally/Halley

Hello J, I notice your query did not attract a reply as yet and the name is found in that area, all spellings, I have an interest in the area even though I am not the volunteer there. With the lack of factual information on BMDs it will not be possible to find an actual paper trail but I am sure you are aware of that. Just to say to your there are two or tree Tipperary Genealogy Facebook pages including one on DNA and running the matchmaker tool or what ever name you care to give it, based on having a Gedmatch or Genesis number (easy to get if you up load your DNA to the site) there is a programme on the site based on an Excel Spreadsheet to find matchs to people who have done the same on the site, some areas have recently commenced doing this on a more localisied basis but you will pick it up as you read on it on site, there is also an Irish DNA Registry page which I think has the most subscribers and an Irish Surname Registry page which has recently commenced doing it also but these are national pages, I have not checked if there are specific Waterford pages but feel certain there are as every county has a few. The joy of it is those online in the local areas are committed but it is not a cure all as everyone is in the same boat but people are more inclined to answer I find. It is or appears a bit complicated to do initially but I found the Admins very helpful especially if you read all the rules first, they are private pages so apply to join, answer is usually within a day. The Genealogy pages sometimes do not like DNA queries and will direct you to the sister site on DNA others take what comes, on the Genealogy pages there is often a list for Gedmatch numbers but a tricky system on some as  not dated etc.

If you have a male in the family you can do a Y DNA test on Family Tree or possibly other sites and get the name and depending on the level of test you will see the name recur not always the same name but often as you may get Halley and Holley etc or you may get a surprise, I used FTDNA and they have surname projects going and you will probably get an invite to the group and asked to do more, this testing is not cheap and runs to many hundreds, in my case I have got to an area but must test further to isolate it from a close by one, I do not really understand it all so tread carefully if pursueing this line of research. You must use a Hally or Holly male.

Good Luck

Pat

Thanks Pat.  Yes, I am on the Matchmaker and Genealogy Facebook sites for both Waterford and Tipperary as well as the Ireland DNA group.  Holly is my patrilineal line (long story) and I've done the Y DNA testing.  It is my closet Big Y matches who trace their ancestry to Kilmacthomas and the surrounding area.  I'm just trying to discover more. Thanks for your reply!