The LANE/LAIN(E)s of Ulster, Ireland, Chapter 3

The "LANE Family" section of this site is divided into 5 chapters and an appendix. Please read in sequence by following the links at the bottom of each page or use the "Quick Nav" at top right. If you wish to select individual chapters, please click on the top left link to the Sitemap page.

Do you have information, opinion or a question relating to this site? Please use the e-mail link available at the bottom of each page. I look forward to corresponding with you.

This page deals with a possible French origin of the family and an account of the early journeys of the family.

French origin of the family?

French Origin

Cross stitch of Jane LAINE Jane's cross stitch bookmark.

My g-grandmother called herself Jane LAINE when she was young .....see the photo of her cross stitch bookmark in the STRONG family Bible. The name LAINE is rather rare in Ireland, though perhaps could be a derivative of LANE which may be derived from the Gaelic. On the other hand, French origin could be suggested by this Huguenot Surnames web site which contains contains evidence that the name LAINE / DE LAINE arrived in Great Britain as Huguenots between 1643 and1714.

Family tradition tells that there is French in our family origins, which suggests the LAINE as the original form of our family name. This could receive support if the word "souvenior" is an archaic French word........... or on the other hand is it the flexible spelling typical of those times in Ireland? The religion of the family was Methodist which might fit the calvinistic Protestantism of the Huguenots. Perhaps James LANE who was Jane LAINE's father had an occupation of yarn bundler and linen dresser arising from his ancestors' association with Huguenot artisans?

 

The Journey

Using the information in the Descendant Report, we can trace the path of the LAIN(E)/ LANEs. The explanation of their journey becomes complicated when we consider the relationships between the STRONGs and the LAIN(E)/ LANEs..... thus while you read the text, please refer to the diagram below:

Relations between STRONGs & LANEs

James LAIN and his wife Margaret/ Mary MOORE lived in the townland of Unagh, parish of Lissan, Co. Tyrone near Cookstown. Did Margaret/ Mary have two first names, or were these names used as alternatives? In some parishes at some stage all the girls were baptised Mary together with some other name. The parish register only gave the birth place of the Parish of Lissan for the two older children; Jane who was born on 1 Oct 1839 and Sarah Anne who was also born in Lissan on 9 Sep 1842, with the mother's name Mary in both cases. The birth of their son William on 24 Apr 1851 was recorded as in the townland of Unagh, parish of Lissan with the mother's name Margaret. It is a bit puzzling to reconcile the above with the record of their son Joseph's birth on c1848 in Belfast derived from the 1881 Census (age 33) and his marriage on 9 Dec 1874 (age 26). When did the family move to Belfast? In 1862 their 22 year old daughter Jane lived at Ross St., Belfast (with her parents?) when she married Robert STRONG (Robert's second marriage). In 1872 James and Mary probably lived at 2 Craig's Terrace, Belfast with their unmarried daughter Sarah Anne, who was present at her sister Jane's birth of her daughter Mary STRONG.

After 1872 the extended LANE family moved to the Newcastle upon Tyne area in County Durham, England. In 1874 James' LAIN's son Joseph LANE married Jane STRONG at Jarrow, South Shields. Jane was a daughter from Robert STRONG's first marriage. Joseph's marriage was witnessed by James' children, Sarah Anne and William (?). (Note that The relationship of Sarah Anne to James and Joseph has now been securely proven, but the relationship of William the marriage witness is still not certain). At the time of his marriage, Joseph lived at 22 Sheldon Street, Jarrow, Durham. The week before in 1874, James' eldest daughter Jane STRONG (née LAINE) emigrated to New Zealand with her husband Robert STRONG.

In 1881 the Census recorded that James and Margaret LANE lived at 3 Maud Street, Hedworth, Monkton & Jarrow, Durham with their daughter Sera A. (has to be Sarah Anne). James' son Joseph lived nearby with his family at 8 Edgar St. Hedworth Monkton & Jarrow, Durham. Son (?) William and his wife lived closer to Newcastle-upon-Tyne at 20 Victoria Street, Gateshead, Durham. James' possible widowed sister-in-law Martha lived across the Tyne River from William at 74 Tullock St.Elswick Northumberland with her son and his family. Note that some of these LANE relationships are subject to obtaining additional evidence before we can be more definite. The relationships are discussed further in the page Newcastle upon Tyne.

I have a postcard franked from Belfast, Ju 7, 06 to Master Robert STRONGE, 52 Palmer St., Woolloomooloo (my father). It said: Dear Robbie, send you a real Irish Bumbee (which was a large brightly coloured three dimensional paper bumblebee!). Hope you are all well as it leaves us at present. A.N. (Who was AN?? Was it Agnes Neill on holidays in Ireland while she was visiting her sister Jane LANE (née STRONG) in England?

The Story Continues