This is a rare surname that appears to  have been localized in County Cork and County Kilkenny, Ireland, in the 19th century and before. There are still some individuals with the name in Ireland and quite a few in other countries as well. The name is Norman and was anglicized from the name L'Erkedekne (Surnames of Ireland by Edward MacLysaght) which was the word for archdeacon at the time the Normans arrived in Ireland.

The man who precipitated this study is Cornelius Archdeacon. He was born in Cloongeel, Co. Cork, in 1846 and immigrated to the United States in 1874. Research has been done in Irish records to determine the name of his parents, his grandfather, his great-grandfather and his five siblings. There are many more records to consult there that may help to create a family tree including other individuals with this surname.

Current research focuses on the Co. Cork families. Research has been done in church (RC) and land records and some correlation of the data has been accomplished. Many of the Archdeacons from Co. Cork immigrated to the US and a study of those families as seen on the US censuses is under way. Correlation with US vital records is also being attempted but is currently limited to online records. A study of English censuses and vital records is in the planning stages.

I will be posting data soon. I would like to hear from anyone with a connection to this family.

Cornelius Archdeacon had two sons, but both died young without having sons so I have no close relatives to ask for a Y-DNA sample. Results of autosomal DNA tests of Cornelius' descendants are being accumulated so we can identify Archdeacon DNA patterns. I would be happy to share DNA information with other Archdeacon researchers.

DNA Project

Eleven people with known Archdeacon ancestry are included in my autosomal DNA project. In the chart below dark gray indicates a DNA match, light gray is the intersection of each individual's line/column, and "No" means no DNA match.

One person matches everyone in the group--he's our lynch pin. Everyone in the group matches at least two other people other than the lynch pin. The lynch pin is #1. Numbers 2-6 are known relatives: nieces, nephews and a first cousin, once removed. Their common ancestor is Cornelius Archdeacon, b Cloongeel, Cork, in 1843. The other five individuals are DNA matches whose relationships to the first group are not proven with documents. Numbers 7, 8 and 10 also have an ancestor who came from Cloongeel. The origins of the Archdeacon ancestors for #9 and #11 are unknown.

Do you have Archdeacon ancestry? Have you done an autosomal DNA test? This is the test done at Ancestry.com, 23 & Me, and at Family Tree DNA (called Family Finder there). Please contact me so I can add your data to my Archdeacon database. Lack of records in Ireland should not be allowed to prevent us from determining our relationships! I am also interested in starting an Archdeacon Y-DNA study, but there are no male Archdeacons in my line.