Hello. When I first found out about my CORKILL ancestors several years ago, I found some very nice web sites discussing the many variations on the CORKILL surname. But, for the last 2 years I have not been able to find the sites.

Just recently I was reminded that you can only find the sites by searching for the "original" surname -- McCORQUODALE !

(I hope I'm spelling that correctly - from memory.)

When I brought this up for discussion on the CORKILL and Isle of Man Boards/Lists, I found out there are varying opinions on the original origins of the surname ! But, it seems that, no matter the spelling, it is a Manx surname - going back centuries !

What I was also told is that, if I searched, I would find both CORKILL (all sp) and McCORKELL (all sp) families on the Isle of Man going back at least through the 1700's.

I was wondering if they are two, separate family trees -- as far as the 1700's go !

(Please see my other posting this morning.)

In the U.S.A. (and probably in Canada), we don't see these surnames too often. But, the more queries I post, the more I hear about how many CORKILL's have come to North America !

And, as I've mentioned in "past" postings, over the past 4-5 years, I've seen it also spelled, CORKHILL, CORNHILL, COCKILL, etc.

Thank you for your time !

Betty (near Lowell, MA, USA)

P.S. My great-grandmother, Mary Elizabeth CORKILL, b1860 Liverpool, England, was "shipped to Canada" as a teen ! She and her younger siblings all went to different homes in Nova Scotia. In 1879, Mary married another "British Home Child," John "Stanley" LEWIS. In 1881, they left Truro, NS, and migrated to Massachusetts. They settled near Boston, where they raised 13 children !

P.S. 2 I have found out that Evan CORKILL, their father, lived more than 20 years after his younger children were "shipped to Canada." And, he remarried to Mrs. Elizabeth UPTON.

One of the reasons his children were "child migrants" is that he was a Master Mariner and he was always "away at sea."

I have no idea at all .. whether Evan ever saw his 5 younger children again ! And, I am very curious about that ! I would very much like to find out if they kept in contact with each other. Or, whether the 5 younger siblings kept in contact with their older brothers. Or, whether they kept in contact with their Uncle John who took them in - in 1871 !