According to "The Book of Irish Families", by Michael O'Laughlin, "Families of the name of Garland are found centered in Dublin and Monaghan in the 19th century, The name Gernon has been used as a synonym. The Gernon family name is given as a principle one of County Louth in the 17th century, as well as being found in Cork and Roscommon at that time. The Gernon Family of Athcarne Castle, County Meath is found in the Irish Book of Arms".
The Surnames of Ireland", by Edward MacLysaght, says "The earlier form of this name, Gernon, has been almost entirely superceded by Garland. It has been very prominent in Counties Monaghan and Louth since Roger de Gernon accompanied Strongbow in 1170." The common root of the names is symbolized by the Celtic Knot.
Our story begins with Robert Guernon, Sire de Montfichet, a knight, who accompanied William the Conqueror to England in 1066, from Normandy.
In 1170, another Gernon, Roger, accompanied "Strongbow" as a part of the Norman Invasion of Ireland. This Roger was given extensive lands in the Counties of Meath and Louth, for the services performed for both "Strongbow", and later King John. As time passed, and the family grew, it became segmented. We know of several groupings which were located at Killincoole, Mayne, Gernonstown (Louth), and Gernonstown (Meath). Our family now counts its members in Ireland, Northern Ireland, England, Australia, Canada, and the United States, to include the Choctaw Indian Nation. Through continued research, maybe we can all find common links, and truly learn the story of this great family.
irish garlands
A brief outline report from ongoing research into the history of some families bearing the names Gernon-Gartland-Garland in Ireland
This report was first written for the Garland Family Research Association, based in Tennessee, USA, by Roy Garland, Belfast, Northern Ireland, in October 1993. We thank Roy for the opportunity to use this work again.
Gernon/Gartland/Garland are the major variations of the name of an Irish family, which genealogical evidence suggests, stems from Robert Gernon of Essex, in England, who arrived from France in the 11th century. The name "Garland" appears to have been associated with Gernon from a very early stage and some descendants became known as Garland in England (although there were other derivations of the name). Some of his farms were called Garlands as well as Gernons and evidence suggests that Garland was an English form of the Old Norman French "Gernon" which meant moustache. Robert Gernon held extensive lands in Essex and other counties including Hereford, as recorded in Doomsday Book in 1066. Gartland/Gartlany appear to be Irish versions of the same name which are found in Ireland, although a townland in County West Meath has been named Gartlandstown since the mid 16th century.
Robert Gernon came to England with William the Conqueror in 1066. As a reward for his services he was given many lands and built his castle at Stanstead Mountfichet in Essex. This castle still exists and has recently been rebuilt as it would have been in Robert Gernon's time. It has a wooden palisade with a wooden church and other typical Norman inner buildings. It is now used frequently by school children who can learn from it how the Normans lived in those days. There is a life size figure of Robert in the banquet hall.
Robert came from Normandy in France where there still exists the remnants of the very ancient Montfichet domain. Apparently this is not too far from a place which was once called Gernon or Guernon. There is a clear link between the Gernon family and the Montfichet family although its precise nature is not clear. It is assumed that one son, in Essex, adopted the name Mountfichet, while the other retained the name Gernon. A local tradition which I came across in "Garnon Bushes" Bar and Restaurant, at Coopersale Common, suggests that Robert was one of three knights who slew King Harold at the Battle of Hastings in 1066.
The family name is retained in Essex to this day in Theydon Garnon Parish, which Robert's great grandson Ralph may have founded in the early 1200s, and in Garnon Bushes, which was a part of Epping Forest owned by Robert Gernon. The name is also found in Garnons Hill and Garnons Estate in Hereford, on the Welsh borders. Robert Gernon also held lands there.
The old genealogies suggest that the first member of the Gernon family to come to Ireland, was Roger Gernon who came with Richard de Clare, Earl of Pembroke, known in Ireland as "Strongbow", in 1170. Richard de Clare's aunt, Margaret de Clare, was married to William Mountfichet so there appears to have been family links between the de Clares and Gernons, through the Mountfichets. The last of the Mountfichets was the youngest baron involved in having King John sign Magna Carta in 1215. This was Richard Mountfichet who had no male heirs, so that the Mountfichet name died with him. Henry Laver regarded him as, "one of the three bravest Knights of England" who ought to be dear to the heart of every Englishman".
Ralph Gernon, who was a faithful knight and marshal of King John and Henry III, is believed to be the same Gernon who held Theydon Carnon in the early 13th century. Ralph also held Bakewell in Derbyshire and may have held Garnons, in Hereford. He seems to have been the brother of Roger Gernon, who was the first of the name to arrive in Ireland in 1170. Roger's presence in Ireland is confirmed in at least one early document of 1205. His brother Ralph came over to Ireland in 1210, with King John. They came to Carrickfergus Castle, which was being held by Hugh de Lacy and which is situated about 11 miles from Belfast.
There is good reason to suppose that Roger might have been associated with the Hereford branch of the family. Others, named Roger, lived at Hereford and Bakewell, whereas no one of this name appears in Essex. However, an old genealogy suggests that the first Gernons to settle in Ireland were Ernulf and Geoffrey, grandsons of Ralph Gernon. A Richard Gernon is thought to have held Killincoole in Louth as early as 1229 and this manor remained with the family until 1776.
For much of the subsequent period in Ireland the surnames Gernon and Garland became interchangeable. The same individuals were often known as Gernon and Garland. For example Luke and Ann Garland appear in the Church of Ireland Register for Donaghmore, County Tyrone< under this surname during the 1760s and 1770s, while they appear in the Dublin Registry of Deeds for 1766, as Luke and Ann Gernon. Similarly Gernonstown in County Louth, like Gernonstown in County Meath, was simultaneously known as Garlandstown.
The Gernon family played a significant, if minor, role in the history of the English Pale in Ireland. They also appear to have remained English in outlook and identity for much of this period. However, in the 17th century, according to Father Anselm Faulkner, OSM, Father Anthony Gearnon was said to have done more for the preservation of the Irish language and the Catholic Faith than any other person at that time and even beyond that period. This judgement is based on the significance of Gearnon's publication in 1645 of his, "Parrthas an Anma". This was a combined prayer book and catechism in Irish, which is still used as an exceptional example of classical Irish.
Two "castles" or tower houses, which were built by the Gernon family remain within a very short distance from each other. One is at Killincoole and the other at Milltown. The leading members of these and about 10 other Garland families became captains or officers in the 1641 rebellion. As a consequence much of their lands were lost and Garlandstown Castle was destroyed. In 1690 again, 11 members of the family, listed as Gernons, were outlawed for their part in supporting King James against William of Orange. More confiscations of land followed but despite this, Milltown and Killincoole were regained and the Killincoole branch held on to the castle and lands until 1765 when they were probably forced to sell because of debts and the lack of a male heir.
James Gernon, of Athcarne Castle, County Meath, was a member of a family which descended from the Killincoole branch. Athcarne Castle, according to local tradition, was retained by James Gernon until the 1930s when he was forced to leave because of debts. King James is said to have slept at Athcarne at the time of the Battle of the Boyne. King James' bed, along with the skins of the last wolves to be killed in Ireland and many other items, were disposed of in the 1950s. A descendant of James Gernon returned from the United States some years ago and attempted to gain permission to restore the castle, but he returned in sorrow having not been successful.
On the whole the family appears to have retained their sense of loyalty to the monarchy while remaining devoutly Catholic. However, even in the 17th century one Gernon of County Louth claimed to be an "innocent Protestant" while another in the same county claimed to be an "innocent Catholic". Both appear to have involved persons named Nicholas Gernon. They claimed innocence in the sense of not taking part in the rebellion of 1641.
The involvement in rebellion reflected the need of the Garlands to protect their lands. They were not Irish but neither were they, on the whole, Protestant. They were potential scapegoats and had little choice in the matter. Later some members of the family, in Counties Monaghan and Armagh, appear to have faced a similar situation in the 18th century. With the Penal Laws restricting the rights of Catholics to hold land, they took an oath of allegiance to the British monarch and some of them became devoutly Protestant. Some Garlands appear to have become involved in Orangeism from a very early period. This may also have reflected limited choice in the dangerous situation that prevailed around the Tyrone/Armagh/Monaghan border area at that time. Orangeism represented an organization which might offer them some protection in difficult times.
A tradition carried forward from the 18th century in two families, suggests that one of the Garlands became a founder member of the "Loyal Orange Order No. 1". According to one source this was known as "Garland's Lodge", possibly before the lodge was officially founded. Certainly a lodge near this area was largely dominated by members of the Garland family, and William Garland was its Master for over 50 years, from 1878 to 1930. This Orange tradition remained strong in some branches of the family, until recent times.
James Garland left Monaghan in the 19th century for Dublin and worked for a time in Trinity College. His son became Canon David John Garland, of the Church of England, in Queensland. He was said to have made a very important contribution, not only to Brisbane, but to the whole of Queensland before his death in 1939. The Gernons, Gartlands, and Garlands produced many other Ministers and Priests who served, as some continue to serve, in various parts of the world.
Other branches of the family retained republican or nationalist traditions. A number were imprisoned for their activities as members of the IRA and a leading member of the Official IRA, Sean Garland, in the 1950s and 1960s was from a Garland family in Dublin. This was not quite like the situation, during the American civil war, when Garlands fought on both sides and families were split. For the most part nationalist and unionist Garlands knew little about each other and to some extent had developed cultures and identities which excluded each other.
The influence of the old Garland/Gernon family in County Louth is indicated by the retention of the name "Baile an Ghearlanaigh" which is Irish for Garland's Town" or "Gernonstown". At times in the past this town was simply known as Garland. The official name, however, alongside "Baile an Ghearlanaigh", is Castlebellingham, so named after one of Cromwell's Officers who inherited the Gernonstown estate in 1666.
A number of leading members of the Gernon family of Killincoole, which is a few miles from Castlebellingham, were buried in the churchyard at Killincoole. This Church of Ireland or Episcopalian Building has not been used for some years and it is sad to see it now neglected. However, recently we were able to visit St Bridgit's, Church of Ireland at Glengormley, near Belfast, and to see one of the beautiful windows from the old Killincoole Church, depicting St Bridgit, who was born in County Louth, as the center piece inside the Church. Unfortunately the older windows, which are said to have been given to the original Killincoole Church, by the Gernon family, could not be utilized at St Bridgit's.
In the Killincoole Churchyard there is also an ancient baptismal font which has what appears to be ancient "ogham" script which is from the early Christian period in Ireland. This ancient stone is associated in local tradition with the old Gernon family. A similar stone font was at Gernonstown Parish, in County Meath, until recent times and it also was associated with another closely linked branch of the Gernon family.
There is only one memorial in the churchyard of Killincoole, which refers to the Garland/Gernon family. This stone refers to Nicholas and Patrick Garland and is dated 1878. I checked the civil records and found that these names could only refer to two brothers Nicholas Gernon, who died in 1880 at age 86, and Patrick Gernon who died in 1879 at age 82. Both lived locally. This demonstrates the continued use, well into the 19th century, by members of the same family, of both surnames.
On both the Milltown and Killincoole estates members of the Gernon family have lived until modern times. The last Gernon to survive near the Killincoole estate was Thomas Gernon who had in recent years moved to a cottage a short distance down the road from Killincoole. He died on the 24th September 1983, about one year after his wife Mary.
I am greatly indebted to the very many friends and institutions, who helped me, and hopefully will continue to help me, to uncover the details of this research. I cannot begin to thank all of these, but I feel I must thank the following for their vital contribution. Mr. Alphie Reilly, a local historian, who was born and lives at Killincoole and has intimate knowledge of the history and folklore of the area. Mr. Frank Walker, whose knowledge of Theydon Garnon Parish Church and the Gernons in Essex, is extensive. Dr. Harold O'Sullivan, a noted historian, whose expertise on County Louth is renown. Mr. Richard Bothwell, of County Tyrone, who retains vivid memories of William and Frank Garland and their Orange Lodge in the 1920s. Mrs. Saddie Garland of Belfast, who is able to recall vivid impressions, which she gained from her mother, about some of the Garlands of Monaghan and Tyrone. Emma Stuart, of County Cavan who made me aware of Canon D. C. Garland and of other Garlands past and present. I hope that everyone else will appreciate that I cannot thank by name.
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