Irish Redingtons
Irish Redingtons
There appears to be two main groups of Redingtonsliving in Ireland at present. The first and most numerous come from the Dunmore/Tuam area in north County Galway and usually spell the surname with two “D”s. There are still quite a number of families living in the area and also in other parts of east Co. Galway.
A Sergeant John Reddington, who would be one of this group and who is still alive to the best of my knowledge, was a member of the Gárda Síochána (Irish Police Force) stationed in north Co. Kerry and settled in Glin, Co. Limerick. Two of his sons live in Limerick city.
The most famous member of the group would be Tony Reddan who was born Charles Anthony Reddington in Portumna, Co. Galway in the 1920s and who is living in the Lorrha area of Co. Tipperary. He was voted the greatest ever goalkeeper in hurling (the Irish national sport) and, during the late 1940s and early 1950s, was one of the best-known sportsmen in the country.
The second group are originally from the Annaghdown/Loughgeorge area along the eastern shore of Lough Corrib in Co. Galway and usually spell the name with one “D”. Most of the remaining members carrying the name now live around the cities of Dublin and Limerick. My grandfather James (Jim) Redington (1872-1962) was mayor of Galway in 1958-59. A relation of his, Tom Redington, was instrumental in the revival of traditional Irish textile industries in Co. Donegal during the middle of the 20th century.
The only Redington in the Irish telephone directory during the 1980s who did not live in Cos. Galway, Limerick, Kerry, Dublin or Donegal was a Pat Redington who had a furniture store in Athlone, Co. Westmeath.
Ó Roideacháin is the Gaelic name of all Irish Redingtons (and not Ó Maoildeirg as stated by McLysaght in his book on Irish surnames). Other anglicisations of Ó Roideacháin include Redehan (Co. Leitrim), Rodaghan and O’Rodaghan (Cos. Mayo & Leitrim), Redican (Co. Clare), Reddan (Cos. Clare, Limerick & Tipperary) and Redigan (Co. Tipperary). Some Reddans have Ó Roideán as the Gaelic version although this may be a corruption of Ó Roideacháin.
All Ó Roideacháins probably come from the same root (i.e. the same clan) and may all be related from a single source when surnames began to be used around 1000-1100 AD. The fact that all anglicized variants originate from along a fairly narrow line through East Connacht and North Munster would suggest this possibility.
Regarding the Anglo-Irish Redingtons (e.g. the Redingtons of Clarenbridge), it is possible that some or all of the Galway Redingtons are descended from them. However, it is more likely that Redington or Reddington was the English version of Ó Roideacháin used in Co. Galway because it sounded like the name of a prominent landowning family. Other examples of anglicisations to prominent English or Anglo-Irish names include Ó Mórdha/Moore, Ó Clúmháin/Clifford and Ó Cléirigh/Clarke.
I would estimate that there are no more than 100 people currently living in Ireland carry the Redington surname. Most Irish Redingtons emigrated during the 19th and 20th centuries. Most are likely to have gone to North America (1850-1914) and England (mid 19th century and 1945-1965). There may also be Irish Redingtons or their descendants in Australia, New Zealand or Argentina although I haven’t come across any.
All emigrant Irish Redingtons would have been Catholics when they left. It is likely that Catholic Redingtons in North America are of Irish descent while Protestant Redingtons may be descended from English emigrants in pre- and post-revolutionary times. Going on typical emigration patterns of the 18th and 19th centuries, Irish Redingtons may have settled around Boston, New York and western Pennsylvania while English Redingtons may have originally settled in rural New England and the Southern states.
It is possible that some Irish-American Redingtons may be from other Ó Roideacháin variants (Redehan, Rodahan etc.) but their ancestors’ surnames were anglicized to Redington on Ellis Island or its equivalents.
The Anglo-Irish Redingtons (who settled in Galway during the Cromwellian era of 1650-1660) may be related to some American Redingtons of English descent.
More Replies:
-
John M. Reddington assoc. with Lehigh Valley Coal Co.
Linda Storm 10/03/05
-
Re: John M. Reddington assoc. with Lehigh Valley Coal Co.
Diane Daniel 5/07/10
-
Re: John M. Reddington assoc. with Lehigh Valley Coal Co.
Diane Daniel 5/07/10
-
Re: John M. Reddington assoc. with Lehigh Valley Coal Co.
-
Re: Irish Redingtons
Leslie Yander 8/29/02
-
Re: Irish Redingtons
2/11/02
-
Re: Irish Redingtons
Kevin Ford 7/22/12
-
Re: Irish Redingtons
John Redington 11/26/12
-
Re: Irish Redingtons
-
Re: Irish Redingtons
m. rosiejak 4/03/02
-
Re: Irish Redingtons
Leslie McNulty 5/22/06
-
Re: Irish Redingtons
-
Re: Irish Redingtons
-
Re: Irish Redingtons
1/21/02
-
Re: Irish Redingtons
2/04/02
-
Re: Irish Redingtons
2/04/02
-
Re: Irish Redingtons
2/11/02
-
Re: Irish Redingtons
-
Re: Irish Redingtons
-
Re: Irish Redingtons
-
Re: Irish Redingtons
1/06/02
-
Re: Irish Redingtons
2/04/02
-
Re: Irish Redingtons
2/11/02
-
Re: Irish Redingtons
2/11/02
-
Re: Irish Redingtons
Tom Reddington 3/02/06
-
Re: Irish Redingtons
John Redington 11/26/12
-
Re: Irish Redingtons
-
Re: Irish Redingtons
-
Re: Irish Redingtons
-
Re: Irish Redingtons