A surname of Ireland (O) Ryan, Ó Maoilriain now abbreviated to Ó Riain, "from an old personal name obscure meaning." (MacLysaght). Traced by MacLysaght especially in Co. Tipperary.
| At Ferryland: | December 2, 1799 - Elliott, George - Sued for rent due on fishing rooms in Capeland Bay: Ryan, Matthew. |
| District Court Actions - January 1, 1803, 1804 & 1805 - Ryan, Matthew - Granted a liquor license for Caplin Bay. | |
| At St. John's: | Southern Shore Marriage Records: October 17, 1875 - Matthew Ryan - Ferryland m. Margaret Hanlon - St. John's. Witnesses: John Hanlon & Ellen Chamberlain. |
| Southern Shore Marriage Records: November 28, 1874 - Marten Ryan - Ferryland m. Mary Tobin - Witless Bay. Witnesses: Michael Howlett & Anne Comerford. | |
| At Caplin Bay: | Ferryland Census 1800: Matthew Ryan, Ann Ryan. |
| Voter's List for Caplin Bay 1840, 1842 - Patrick & Thomas Ryan; 1844, 1845, 1846, 1847, 1849 - Patrick Ryan; 1852, 1855 - Patrick & Thomas Ryan, 1859 - Patrick Ryan. | |
| Crown Land Registry: #2833 - Ryan, Matthew - South Side of Caplin Bay and West Side of road from Caplin Bay to Stone Island - 1869. | |
| Lovell's 1871 Directory: Ryan Patrick, fisherman. | |
| Crown Land Registry: #3772 - Ryan, Martin - Caplin Bay - 1876. | |
| Crown Land Registry: #3756 Ryan, Patrick - Caplin Bay - 1876. | |
| McAlpine's 1894-97 Directory: Michael Ryan, fisherman; Matthew Ryan, fisherman. | |
| McAlpine's 1898 Directory: Matthew Ryan, fisherman; Patrick Ryan, fisherman; Ryan Michael, fisherman; Julia Ryan, wid. Thos. | |
| Family History: | The Ryans were one of the first families to settle at Caplin Bay, as indicated in the 1800 Census. Matthew and Ann did not have any children at that time, however by 1840 their sons? Patrick and Thomas Ryan are listed in the voter's list. In the 1880s, there appears to be two Ryan family groups at Caplin Bay, Michael of Thomas and Matthew and Martin of Patrick. Michael and Matthew had large families, Martin had only a son and daughter. Nothing is known of Martin family, however members of the other Ryan families, stayed at Caplin Bay and inter-married into a number of families in that area. Over the years, many of Matthew's descendants moved out of Calvert. At least one of his grandsons went to British Columbia and in the 1950s, his son Ben moved to Corner Brook with most of his family. |
| Present Status: | There are now only two families with the Ryan surname at Calvert, one from each branch of the family. However, there is a large number of descendants of Matthew and Ann Ryan at Calvert, throughout other parts of Newfoundland and Canada, and the U.S.A. |
This page was last updated: Friday 10th February, 2006