Re RYAN / SOMERVILLE / SOMERVILLE-RYAN and the confusing tale of the name changes from Ryan to SOMERVILLE and the creation of the SOMERVILLE-RYAN name.... Why did they change there name to SOMERVILLE and why that name ???


1850 – Listed in Shaw's Dublin City Directory 1850 - RYAN, Denis, 30 Denzille St (land and law agent)

** Michael RYAN aka William SOMERVILLE moves to New Zealand **

1870-71 A Michael RYAN lived Upper Queen Street, Auckland, New Zealand

1878 Jul 27 – Michael RYAN marries Rose Hannah (Anna) CAULFIELD at St Maries, Parnell Auckland. Certificate shows Michael RYAN also known as William SOMERVILLE

30 June 1880 - Denis Henry RYAN married Caroline Ada TAPLIN (Dublin North, Ireland Vol 2, Pg 401). Caroline’s father noted as Aaron TAPLIN.

1882 April 14 – Rose SOMERVILLE RYAN born to parents Michael RYAN and Rose Anna RYAN in Wellesley St, Auckland

1882-84 – Michael RYAN, Settler - lived in Abercrombie Street, Auckland
- William SOMERVILLE, Wellesley Street, Mariner

1883 Sep 15 - A Denis H RYAN, Caroline RYAN and a Denis RYAN listed as passengers arrived in Auckland aboard the Doric. The DORIC departed Plymouth on 27 July 1883 and arrived in Auckland on 15 September 1883.

1884 Apr 4 - William SOMERVILLE born to (Denis name dropped) Henry SOMERVILLE and Caroline SOMERVILE at Abercrombie St, Auckland, NZ. Caroline noted as from Mullingar, Ireland.

1890 Jul 29 - William SOMERVILLE purchases Ponsonby property

1903 May 26 – Catherine Mary SOMERVILLE dies at Ponsonby, Auckland. Cert shows in NZ for 20 years and was married to a Humphrey SOMERVILLE with a surviving daughter and son.

1904 Mar 5 – Rose SOMERVILLE marries Alfred MARSHALL

1918 – Henry SOMERVILLE dies. Cert shows father as Humpries SOMERVILLE and mothers maiden name as LENNON

1939 - Land Title correction noted from Bridget Mary Ann SOMERVILLE to RYAN

1949 Aug 30 – Bridget Mary Ann RYAN ‘known as Bridget Mary Ann SOMERVILLE’ dies Browns Bay, Auckland. Cert shows mothers maiden name as LANNON and father as Humphries SOMERVILLE.

1950 Jul 26 - Transfer of Ponsonby property to William SOMERVILLE and Clara WARD

1953 – Rose MARSHALL dies. Cert shows father as Michael RYAN, Sea Captain.

1965 – William James SOMERVILLE dies. Cert shows father as Henry Denis SOMERVILLE


This will be posted in both the RYAN and SOMERVILLE message boards

If you need to know anything or can add more please contact me. Would love to know about the relationship between Michael RYAN and Henry RYAN etc and why/how the SOMERVILLE name was chosen to be used.

Cheers.