About

The creation of a one name study for the Cosgrove surname was a natural evolution and extension to the Cosgrove Surname Project I established on Family Tree DNA in 2016.   When I first started my genealogical journey a few years ago, my original intent was simply to identify who my direct ancestors were and attempt to trace them back to their native countries of origin (with the aspirational goal of identifying either their counties or towns/villages of origin).   I quickly realized that traditional genealogical research methods were only going to get me so far, so I ventured into the world of genetic genealogy.  I first bought an autonomous DNA test from AncestryDNA and then a series of Y-DNA tests from Family Tree DNA.  While the autosomal results helped break down walls in several family lines, my Cosgrove brick wall still stood firm.

It took three more years before a series of lucky breaks, additional DNA matches, and assistance from total strangers helped me break down my Cosgrove family line.  Looking back over the last 4+ years, I realized how challenging it was to find relevant information regarding not only my own personal Cosgrove line, but also information about the surname in general.   I decided that I would establish the Cosgrove Surname Project as a way to bring together genealogists researching their respective Cosgrove lines.   I opened the DNA project to not only Cosgroves, but also to people whose family trees included lines that carried the surname’s variants such as Cosgriff/e, Cosgrave, Coskery, etc.

Family Tree DNA and its many members expect their surname project administrators to be experts on the surname.   Specifically, members expect their administrators to know the geographic and historical origins of the surname, its frequency, and its variants.   When I started the surname project, I was far from an expert.  However, I was committed to becoming one.  I dove head first into a sea of historical books and journals that discussed the Cosgrove surname, Cosgrove clans of ancient times, and specific Cosgrove families and personalities.  I learned quite a bit about the surname as well as the amount of effort and time it took to find, read, and comprehend all of the information I was able to find.

For the last couple of years, I have struggled with a way to share this information with others.  While I try to share what I can through my surname project, it has a very small membership at this time (46 as of Feb 2019, not bad considering the rarity of the surname and the fact the project is slightly less than three years old).  Plus, not every genealogist has the desire to take a DNA test for a variety of reasons, so I needed to expand my audience(s).   I eventually established a group on Facebook to act as a sister page for the FTDNA project.  The Facebook page provided people who didn’t have a desire to take a DNA test (at least initially) a forum to participate in the surname project.  Again, while Facebook is great for informal, short discussions, its not optimal for sharing and storing large quantities of information.

My natural progression led me to establish a one name study for the Cosgrove surname and its variants.   The Guild of One-Name Studies provides an excellent forum for me to share relevant information regarding the surname.  Its also allows me to link a blog I started a year ago to its site.  I hope that I can reach as many people as I can through the combination of the Facebook page, DNA project, blog, and one-name study to promote the surname and inspire people to research their own Cosgrove family lines.

I have four main goals for the one-name study and its blog:

1) Share relevant research findings with genealogists and historians alike.

2) Connect Cosgrove cousins together.

3) Trace present day Irish (both native born and foreign born) Cosgrove family lines back to the ancient Irish clans.

4) Expand my knowledge and understanding of the English Cosgroves, which my research has indicated, are genetically distinct from the Irish Cosgrove families.   Based on my current research findings, Ireland and the UK are the two geographic areas of origin for the surname and its variants.

I hope you find this one name study and its blog both informative and helpful.

Please send any queries or information to cosgrove@one-name.org.