Our ancestors called the Emerald Isle home for centuries. Meanma, their name in old Gaelic, means courageous or high spirited, and over the course of time it has taken on many variations. This can make the search for those ancestors quite a challenge.

The McMenamin/McMenamy/McM* name is now found in countries across the world. While some dug their heels in deep in the homeland of Ireland and have remained within miles of their ancestral places, others struck out looking for new opportunities for their families. Some were escaping poverty, famine, or religious persecution. Others sought adventure and new livelihoods.

Collaboration is the best way to explore our common ancestry. Each of us holds a different piece to our genealogical puzzle. DNA testing provides an essential clue to fill in some of our missing pieces.