The Doran motto is “Spes Anchora Vitae” meaning “Hope is the anchor of life”. That pretty much sums up our family’s inherent optimism in the face of whatever life throws at us. But where did that optimism come from? Well, first we are Irish on our paternal side. Second, we identify as Dorans. Since our grandfather was born in Belfast Ireland we are allowed to apply for Irish passports. Two of us are doing so. Fingers crossed for them.

Our Doran ancestors were living in Northern Ireland, specifically counties Armagh, Louth, Down and Antrim probably since at least the 1800s, although it is doubtful this is where they started out from. After so many Irish were expelled from their traditional lands they were forced to find homes and work elsewhere. The story we heard regarding our Doran origins was passed on from our father’s first cousin Sal, who was born in Belfast, Ireland in 1909. Her mother Elizabeth née Doran told her that the Dorans came from the West of Ireland, from County Clare. They moved east to find work. The Doran men were hacklers in the Linen trade. The jobs were in the East, in Counties Armagh, Down, and Antrim.

Clare, townland or county? Or just a red-herring?

We spent an enormous amount of time exploring records for County Clare and came up empty every time. Just recently, I came across a similar family story from another Doran researcher. They too found no evidence to support their family story that their Dorans came from County Clare. However, that is a coincidence having two Doran families with the same (unproven) story. And now (2025) I just read that a Doran male’s yDNA test on FamilyTreeDNA points to County Clare. So maybe it is true after all?

What we do know is mostly from church records. Our Dorans lived in County Armagh in the early 1800s, quite near the Townland of Clare, which is in the civil parish of Ballymore and the barony of Orior Lower. Could that be the basis of the Clare origin legend?

Or were our Doran ancestors from some place else?

We have two interesting lines of Doran descendants whose ancestor was born circa 1725 – 1735 in Ireland who match us on various DNA programs.

One line is a match to the descendants of a James (aka Jacob) Doran, who was born in Ireland (place unknown) circa 1725. He was convicted in Belfast of some petty crime and exiled to America. His departure from Belfast was documented in writing (along with many others) by the British government. James Doran, fought on the American side in the Revolutionary War. While he first appears to have lived in Pennsylvania, he was rewarded for his service with a land grant in western Virginia. His life (marriage, children, military service, property deeds, etc.) is well documented. He was one of the early settlers of Augusta County, Virginia.

Our family has another DNA match with descendants of a James Doran who was born in County Donegal around 1735. He was supposedly the son of an Earl. He married a Margaret Gordon in 1759 in Ireland. They were the parents of at least 3 sons and 3 daughters. He first lived in Maryland emigration. He died on 17 December 1799, in Abingdon, Washington, Virginia, at the age of 64.

My paternal DNA origin points for the most part to the west and southwest of Ireland. And my most recent Ancestry DNA analysis (October 2025) shows a decent amount of paternal ancestry from County Donegal. My DNA, at least at this time, does not point to County Clare.

So these two lines are interesting to us, but do not tell us much about our earliest known Doran ancestor.

Our earliest known Doran ancestor

Our own earliest documented Doran ancestor was Bernard Doran who was born (based on the age birth year of his first known child) circa 1800. He and his partner Ann “Nancy” Smith were probably not married but lived together as such. No marriage record has been found and multiple baptism records of their children indicate they were not married. Their first child, Maria Doran, was born in Shankill County Armagh and baptized in 1823 at the Dromore Parish Roman Catholic Church. A fairly long gap occurs between her baptism and the next child, Ellen, born in Lurgan in 1829. I can’t speculate on what caused that gap, but after Ellen was born their other children were born in fairly close succession.

Three Doran lines from Counties Armagh and Down who moved to Belfast

I have found three Doran lines who were born in Counties Armagh and Down in the early to mid 1800s and later lived in Belfast, often in the same neighborhoods? Are they related? Or did they live in these neighborhoods for the same practical reason – low rent and proximity to the mills?

Several other Doran families lived in Belfast at the time, and while I have researched some of them, my focus here is on the three family lines who came from County Armagh.

Line 1: John Doran (ca 1838-1889, son of Bernard Doran and Ann “Nancy” Smythe

John Doran (1838-1889), our ancestor, was born at the Belfast Workhouse, which is where he also died. Most of his older siblings were born in County Armagh, in or around Lurgan. John Doran was a hackler in the linen trade as was his father. He married Ellen Little in 1857. No marriage record has been found, but the date and country were recorded in a Scottish birth record of one of their children. We are descended through their son Bernard Doran who was baptized at St. Mattthew’s R.C. Church in Ballymacarrett in 1858. (This line is Bernard, John, Bernard, Bernard, James, us).

Line #2: Philip Doran (ca 1833-?), parents not yet identified

Philip Doran (ca 1833-1906) and his wife Mary Magee (1831-1914) were both born in County Armagh and moved to Belfast.

Line #3: Patrick and Mary (surname unknown) Doran (ca 1834-1870), son of Bernard Doran

Patrick Doran was born in County Armagh, but baptized 16 Feb 1834 at St. Patrick’s in Belfast. Their son, Joseph Doran, was born 1849 in Ballymacarrett. The baptism record did not include the mother’s name. However, given that Bernard & Nancy’s child Hannah Doran was born in Armagh in July 1835 and the next child, our John Doran, was born 1838 in the Belfast workhouse, this Patrick Doran might well be one of Bernard & Nancy’s children, but I can’t prove it.

Work in progress (as of October 2025).

Caveat: Some of the streets in Belfast no longer exist. In some cases the buildings were razed and new streets and buildings emerged in the name of progress. Old maps are required to identify the proximity of the streets to each other.

In most cases, but not all, during this time period the woman’s maiden name was used to identify her in Roman Catholic Church records, regardless of whether she was married or not.

Residence	Year	Line Number	Name, event & other name(s) & relationship(s) –
Shankill, Armagh	1823	Line #1	Maria Doran, daughter of Ann Smyth & Bernard Doran was baptized. Sponsors Andrew McDonnell and Maria Magee. – [Baptism 23 Feb 1823 Shankill, Ireland. Catholic Parish Registers, 1655-1915, Ancestry.com]
Shankill, Lurgan, Armagh	1829	Line #1	Ellen Doran, daughter of Nancy Smyth & Bernard Doran (“illegitimate”). Sponsors William O’Brien & Bridget Turney -[Baptism 27 Mar 1829 Shankill parish. Rootsireland.ie copyright 2022 Armagh Ancestry]
Newry, Down and Armagh, Ireland	1831	Line #1	Ann Doran, daughter of Ann Doran & Bernard Doran. -[ Baptism 4 Oct 1831 Place Newry, Down and Armagh, Ancestry.com]
Belfast City, Antrim	1834	Is he line 1 or 3?	Pat Doran “of Bernard” – [Baptism 16 Feb 1834 St. Patrick’s, Belfast City, Ancestry.com]
Dixons Row, Shankill, Armagh	1835	Line #1	Hannah Doran, daughter of Nancy (Smyth) & Bernard Doran was baptized. Sponsors were John McGowan and Ellen Craney. – [Baptism 12 Jul 1835 Shankill parish]
Belfast Workhouse, Belfast City, Antrim	1838	Line #1	John Doran, son of Ann Smyth & Bernard Doran. Sponsor Mary Ann Montgomery. -[born Belfast Workhouse, Baptism St. Patrick’s, Belfast City, Ancestry.com
Armagh or Belfast?	abt 1840	Line #1	Catherine Doran, no birth record. however she was about 40 at the time of her death at the Belfast workhouse 31 Dec 1879 (registered in January 1880). – [died 31 Dec 1879, civil registration 2 Jan 1880, irelandgenealogy.ie
Belfast, Antrim	1843	Line #1	Bernard Doran, son of Ann Smyth & Bernard Doran. – [Baptism 11 Dec 1843 St. Patricks, Belfast City]
Shankill, Armagh	1850	Line #2	Philip Doran married Mary Magee. Witnesses were Owen McCann and Jane Handly. – [28 Jun 1850 marriage]
Ballynamoney, Shankill, Lurgan, Armagh	1851	Line #2	John Doran, son of Mary (Magee) & Philip Doran is baptized. Sponsors were John Doran and Susan Magee – [Baptism 24 Feb 1851 Armagh parish]
Lurgan, Armagh	1858	Line #2	Philip Doran Jr, son of Mary (Magee) & Philip Doran, Sr. is baptized. Sponsors were Ed. Doran and Susan Magee – [Baptism 10 Jan 1858 Lurgan parish]
Armagh	1861	Line #2	Bridget Doran born about 1861 in Armagh – [as stated on 1901 Census of Ireland]
Lurgan, Shankill, Armagh	1862	Line #2	Susan Doran daughter of Mary Magee and Philip Doran baptized. Sponsor Catherine Magee. -[Baptism 10 Feb 1862 Lurgan, Shankill Armagh Ireland, Catholic Parish Registers, 1655-1915]
Edward St., Aghnacloy, Lurgan, Armagh	1865	Line #2?	Philip Doran is living on Edward Street, Aghnacloy, Lurgan. He is leasing a house and a small garden from Margaret Falloon. Question: Is this the same Philip Doran – line #2? – [Griffiths Valuation of 1865, Ancestry.com.]
5 Jude St., Belfast	1866	Line #1	Joseph Doran, son of Ellen (Little) and John Doran was baptized. Sponsor was Mary Doran – [22 Feb 1866 civil birth registration & baptism records]
18 Ross St., Belfast	1867	Line #2	James Doran, son of Mary (Magee) and Philip Doran is born. The father is a weaver. – [8 Mar 1867 civil birth registration]
49 Irwin St.	1868	Line #1	Ellen “Nellie” Doran, daughter of Ellen (Little) and John Doran, was baptized. Sponsor: Mary Doran – [16 Jul 1868 baptism record]
21 Mary St.	1869	Line #2	Catherine Doran, daughter of Mary (Magee) and Philip Doran was born. – [civil birth registration]
21 Mary St.	1870	Line #2	Felix Doran, laborer, listed in the city directory Question: Is he a son of Mary (Magee) and Philip Doran? Same address. Another Felix Doran was born in Bessbrook, Armagh but he was married in England in 1870. – [1870 Belfast City Directory, NIdirect.gov]
Boomer St.	1870		Francis Doran, flax dresser, listed in the city directory Question: Who is he? Ellen (Little) and John Doran’s daughter Hannah (Doran) Murray lived on Boomer Street – [1870 Belfast City Directory, NIdirect.gov]
15 Unity St.	1870	Line #3	Patrick Doran, Carter, listed in the city directory – [1870 Belfast City Directory, NIdirect.gov]
15 Getty St.	1870		James Doran, whip maker, listed in the city directory Note: Ellen (Little and John Doran’s son Bernard Doran was living at 19 Getty St in 1884) – [1870 Belfast City Directory, NIdirect.gov]
49 Irvine St.	1870	Line #1	Bernard Doran, rougher, is listed in the city directory Is Irvine Street & Irwin Street the same thing? – [1870 Belfast City Directory, NIdirect.gov]
49 Irwin St.	1870	Line #1	Joseph Doran, Ellen (Little) and John Doran’s son, died age 4 – [25 Feb 1870 civil death registration]
21 Mary St.	1873	Line #2	Mary Doran, daughter of Mary (Magee) & Philip Doran was baptized. Sponsors: John Doran and Bridget Doran. Note: Lemon St. intersected with Mary St. – [14 Apr 1873 St. Peter’s RC Church baptism record]
3 Lemon St.	1873	Line #1	Catherine Doran, daughter of Ellen (Little and John Doran was baptized at St. Peter’s RC Church. Sponsor: Mary Doran. Note: Lemon St. intersected with Mary St. – [civil birth registration]
63 McDonnell St.	1877	Line #3	Joseph Doran, son of Mary (?) & Patrick Doran, was married to Susan Magennis at St Peter’s RC Church. Notes: Groom’s age 28, occupation hackle maker. Wife’s age 24, occupation machinist. His Father Patrick Doran, a laborer, is deceased. Her father, Charles Maginnis, occupation ship carpenter same address as his daughter – [1887 marriage civil registration]
19 Nail St., Belfast	1878	Line #1	John Doran, son of Ellen (Little) and John Doran, was baptized. Sponsor: Brigitte McCann – [29 Sep 1878 baptism record]
30 Nail St., Belfast	1879	Line 1	Catherine Doran, age 40, spinster, millworker, died of bronchitis at the Belfast Workhouse.
15 L. Clonard St.	1881	Line #2	John Doran, son of Mary (Magee) and Philip Doran was married to Margaret Connolly. Witnesses were Philip Doran and Sarah Wright – [27 Aug 1881 civil marriage registration]
37 Plevna St.	1884	Line #1	Ellen “Nelly” Doran, daughter of Ellen (Little) and John Doran, residence at her marriage to Arthur Lewis – [25 Feb 1884 marriage record]
19 Getty St.	1884	Line #1	Bernard Doran, son of Ellen (Little) and John Doran, residence at his marriage to Mary Hall -[15 Nov 1884 church marriage record]
47 Irwin St	1898	Line #2	Catherine “Kate” Doran, daughter of Mary (Magee) and Philip Doran, resident at her marriage to Francis McVeigh. – [25 Dec 1898 civil marriage record]
33 Irwin St.	1901	Line #2	Philip Doran, age given as 80, residing with his daughter Mrs. Bridget Mallon, age 40, and Philip’s granddaughter – [31 Mar 1901 Census of Ireland]
47.1 Irwin St	1901	Line #2	Mrs. Mary (Magee) Doran, age given as 70, born Co. Armagh, occupation housekeeper.Living with her are her son James Doran, age 56, born Belfast City, single, unemployed iron turner, and James’ nephew John Doran (grandson of Mary (Magee) and Philip Doran, age 18, born Belfast City, laborer – [31 Mar 1901 Census of Ireland]
47.2 Irwin St.	1901	Line #2	Mrs. Susan (Doran) Bell, daughter of Mary (Magee) and Philip Doran, residence. – [31 Mar 1901 Census of Ireland]
3.1 Jude St.	1901	Line #2	Mrs Mary (Doran) Cunningham, daughter of Mary (Magee) and Philip Doran, residence – [31 Mar 1901 Census of Ireland]
47 Irwin St.	1906	Line #2	Philip Doran, husband of Mary Magee, age given as 73, residence. His death occurred in the Belfast workhouse. – [24 Mar 1906 civil death registration]
5 Jude St.	1906	Line #2	Mrs. Bridget (Doran) Mallon’s residence at time of her father Philip Doran’s death. – [24 Mar 1906 civil death registration of Philip Doran]
72 McDonnell St.	1907	Line #1	Ellen (Little) Doran died at the residence of her son and daughter-in-law, Elizabeth “Lizzie” (Campbell) and John Doran – [19 Mar 1907) Ellen Doran’s death civil registration]
26 Weaver St.	1907	Line #1	Bernard Doran, son of Ellen (Little) and John Doran, residence at his marriage to Mary Ann Kane. Note: both fathers are deceased – [14 Dec 1907 church marriage record]
3 Jude St.	1911	Line #2	James Doran, son of Mary (Magee) widow of Philip Doran, residence. Also living with James is his sister, Mrs. Catherine (Doran) McVeigh [daughter of Mary (Magee) and Philip Doran], grand-nephews John McVeigh & James McVeigh [sons of Catherine (Doran) McVeigh], and James’ grand-niece Bridget Doran (whose daughter is she?) – [2 April 1911 Census of Ireland]
12 California St.	1913	Line #1	Bernard Doran, son of Ellen (Little) and John Doran, residence at the time of his admittance to the Belfast Workhouse – [written response to request made of PRONI under the Freedom of Information act]
3 Jude St.	1914	Line #2	Mary (Magee) Doran, widow of Philip Doran, residence at her death. Note: B. Doran, her grand-daughter was present at her death. B. Doran is probably the same young person that was living with James Doran at the time of the 1911 Census of Ireland. – [17 May 1914 Belfast civil death registration]
Hilden Hospital, Belfast	1922	Line #1	November 1, 1922 Bernard Doran (aka John Dornan) died Belfast age 64. His daughter was listed as Mrs. Hannah Jackson. According to the staff at Milltown Cemetery, Hannah Jackson paid for her father’s burial.