The Ford Family

John Rooney

A Genealogical History of Irish Families

1895

Ford family crest

(Crest No. 320. Plate 52.)

THE Ford family is descended from Milesius, King of Spain, through the line of his son Heremon. The founder of the family was Brian, son of Eocha Moy Veagon, King of Ireland, A. D. 350. The ancient name was O’Cosnamha, and signifies “Grandson of the Defender.” The name has been Anglicized to Ford.

The possessions of the sept were located in the present Counties of Leitrim, Kings County, and Roscommon. The Fords or MacConsnamhas were Chiefs of Clan Cionnaith or Clan Kenny, now known as the Muintir Kenny Mountains, and adjoining districts near Lough Allen, in the parish of Innismagrath, County of Leitrim. The name Muintir Kenny is still locally known and applied to the district lying between Lough Allen and the River Arigna. There are several of the clan still in the districts which they originally possessed.

Toward the close of the seventeenth century the name was Anglicized to MacKinaw, and sometimes MacAnawe. The translation of the name to Ford by the whole clan in the County Leitrim, Dr. O’Donovan pronounces to be “ridiculously incorrect.”

The well-known journalists and publishers, Mr. Patrick Ford and his brother, Mr. Augustine Ford, of New York are descendants of this family.

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