Elliot, Glendinning, Greer and Mavity in Ulster

[mavityre]

Greetings.
My DNA testing has shown that my family has descended from the Dumfriesshire part of Scotland, and have a common ancestor with the Elliots and Glendinnings of that area during the late 1500's.  Have seen my family name spelled Maywitie and Mawitie in the Muster Rolls of Co Cavan 1630.  My name is Mavity.  Thought that it was a variation of McVittie or McVity, but these other names are closer matches.
Also have a match to a line of MacGregors.
My Mavity's came from somewehre in Fermanagh or Cavan during the mid 1700's.  I'm looking for anybody that might have a matching surname and some extra information on their ancestors. 

Cheers!

Brian Mavity
Oregon USA

[Colla MacDonnell]

Brian,

In researching my family, I found that spelling is a 20th century phenomenon.  Here in the United States, Thomas Jefferson tried to simplify spelling and make it more consistant.  These efforts didn't catch on across America until a hundred or more years later.

Before 1900, people were more worried about the sound of a name rather than its actual spelling.  This was further complicated when the education of Irish was banned by the English.  Since most Irish couldn't write, their names were often spelled how the individual English writer heard the individual state his name.   

Before the banning of the Irish language and education, Irish and Scottish spelling still wasn't consistent.  Spelling seemed to be dependant upon the depth of the writer's brogue as much as anything. 

[mavityre]

I agree with you about the spellings.

I'm just trying to figure out the complete difference in my surname from who I'm genetically matched with.  Must of been an adoption, name change to protect oneself, something......................

B