The Tipperary Antiquarian: Hearth Money Rolls

Sunday, 23 February 2025

Hearth Money Rolls - Townlough

In the Hearth Money Rolls
The following names were recorded in Townlough townland (Tomloghy / Tomlough).

In the 1665 record the following are listed

Diogenes	Edwards
Teige	McDonnogh
John	White
Owen	O'Helibirt
Conor	McMortagh

In the 1666-67 the following are recorded

Diogenes	Edwards
Dermott	McTeige
Teige	McDonnogh
John	White
Owen	Helbert
Connor	Hogan
Turloe	Bryan

Generally the first name in a townland seems to be the most important landowner. At least that is my impression.

So Diogenes or more likely Denis Edwards seems to be the most important landowner in the townland. It is likely that he is an English settler to the area.

McTeige and McDonnogh may be “descendants of” and are likely to be Gaelic in origin. Similarly Hogan and Bryan / O’Brien.

White is more than likely another English settler. A very interesting one is O’Helibirt / Helbert. I haven’t found a definite source for its origin. However it is a very rare name in Ireland as we can see from this map of instances in the 1901 census. https://www.barrygriffin.com/surname-maps/irish/helebert/

This would suggest to me that it may not be a Gaelic name but in 1665 it has an O’ added to it!

In the next “census” is the Tithe Appointment Books circa 1824, thanks to Joann Hinz who provided me with a copy of the relevant section.

Lower

Mr Standish Parker

John Nix

Upper

Denis Foley

Patt McCormack

Patt & William Hanelly

Widow McCormack

James Joy

John Hourigan & Partners

Daniel Hourigan & Partners

Daniel Hourigan

? Division

In the Griffiths Valuation Heleberts and Briens both appear in Townlough Upper. The rarity of the name would suggest that this Helebert is likely to be a descendant of Owen Helbert in 1666-67.