Dear Kathleen, Mine is one of the early northern neck families you mention with an "Irish" name: "Fallin" (frequently spelled "Fallon" in the first generation. The family was in Northumberland County prior to 1671 (when a land purchase by Charles Fallon/Fallin was recorded). The name has no English or Scots connection, but goes back in the Irish Annals to approximately 700 as gaelic Ua Fallamhain (anglicized to O'Fallon and variant spellings) with a very specific provenance in County Roscommon and Athlone City. The family was apparently not Catholic by arrival in Virginia, but we have no clue as to when the conversion happened. It could have happened in Ireland about the time Elizabeth I confirmed a grant to one of the O'Fallons. It could have happened in the West Indies where the name shows up in Montserrat (whose population was heavily "Old" Irish in the 1600s), St. Kitts, and Barbados. While it is possible that the change took place upon arrival in Virginia, I rather doubt it, given the earlier possibilities. In any event, this is at least one early family that confirms your impression that there were some Irish in early Virginia who were neither Anglo-Irish nor Scots emigrating via northern Ireland. Jack Fallin Walnut Creek, CA To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-roots.html