The George S. Gilliland Family Home Page

I am a new and beginner genealogist with a deep interest in my family roots, and, by extension, my wife's family. Kathy claims I am searching for the proverbial black sheep in her past but, not so. Both my mother and father emigrated from Ulster this century, so the search is more interesting and difficult. The Gilliland family is present in Co. Monaghan in the early 1800's, and members emigrated during the early 1900's to Scotland, England, Bermuda and, thankfully, the United States. My mother's maiden name was Heanen, however at some point around 1900, my grandfather changed it from Heenan, which was a much more common name. The Heanen/Heenan family were prominent farmers in the Ballynahinch area of Co. Down.
Other prominent names on my wife's side include Beck, Costello, Desmond, Gray, Stanley and VanNostrand; primarily located in the metropolitan area of New York, except the Desmond family is believed to have emigrated to New Jersey from Ireland around the time of the famine.

On my side, the important names are Brown, Carlisle, Cromie, Crothers, McCandless, Ritchie, Rogers and Williamson, mostly in Ulster.

Any help, or exchange of information will be greatly appreciated.

Family Tree Maker Reports and Trees

• George S Gilliland - InterneTree