Mac Jordan of Connacht

Mac Jordan of Connacht is the name of an Irish family of Anglo-Irish origins.

The family take their name from Jordan de Exeter, whose descendants became known as Mac Jordan, and were based in County Mayo.

The de Exeter's were originally from the town of Exeter, Devon, and are recorded in Dublin and Meath from the 1230's onwards. They included Henry de Exeter, Mayor of Dublin c.1240-41; Michael d'Exeter, Bishop of Ossory 1289-1302; Richard de Exeter, killed 1287; Sir Richard de Exeter, died 1327; and Sir Stephen de Exeter, fl. 1280-1316.

The descendants of Jordan de Exeter settled in Connacht, mainly in what is now County Mayo. Becoming steadily Gaelized over a number of generations, the family as a whole were known as the Mac Jordan, i.e., the sons of Jordan. Only the chief of the clan was entitled to be called de Exeter.

John de Exeter/John na Conairte Mac Jordan is commonly believed to be the common ancestor of all Jordans of Connaght, except for a family called Mac Jordan Duff, descended from Jocelyn de Angulo.

De Exeter family tree

Stephen, dead by 1280. Jordan, fl. 1239-58. John de Exeter, died 1261. =Johanna, alive 1280. =Basilia, fl. 1253 |
| |
|___________________ Richard de Exeter, d. 1287. Sir Stephen, d. 1316 | |
=Matilda, fl. 1318. | | |_________________
Meiler, k. 1289. Jordan Óge | |
| | |
Sir Stephen, fl. 1302. | ____| Sir Richard John, b.1270 Meiler, k. 1317. | | |
| |__________________ John na Conairte Jordan Bacach | |
|
Simon Richard of Derver Clan Jordan of Mayo fl.1335 fl. 1347.

References

*Knox, Hubert Thomas. "The History of the County of Mayo to the Close of the Sixteenth Century. With illustrations and three maps." Originally published 1908, Hogges Figgies and Co. Dublin. Reprinted by De Burca rare books, 1982. ISBN 0 946130 0 19.