Guide to British Isles Research       Compiled and annotated by Linda Jonas

Ireland and Northern Ireland

This is a guide to genealogical research for ancestors from Ireland and Northern Ireland. Many of the materials listed are available from the Family History Library through Family History Centers worldwide. The following items are only a select list of materials. These items are in the process of annotation: 

You should know the name of your immigrant ancestor, his approximate date of arrival in America, and the names of as many of his associates as possible. Especially helpful are the names of his parents, the name of his wife (if married in Ireland) and the surnames of any sisters married in Ireland. American records will sometimes mention the county of origin, and if you're lucky, you will find the name of the townland.

To find sources that will help you locate enough information to identify your immigrant ancestor, consult a good book on American genealogy. Two excellent ones are The Source: A Guidebook of American Genealogy and Greenwood's The Researcher's Guide to American Genealogy. One example of an American source that helps trace Irish immigrants is:

The Search for Missing Friends: Irish Immigrant Advertisements Placed in the Boston Pilot. This is a series of books listing advertisements for people searching for missing friends and family members. The Pilot was an Irish immigrant newspaper, so the notices are for immigrants living all over the U.S. and even in other parts of the world. The advertisements often include detailed descriptions, places of origin, previous residences, names of other relatives and other important identifying information. The index is on CD and in a series of books.

FINDING THE DATE OF ARRIVAL

U.S. Passenger lists were required by law starting in 1820. Some Canadian passenger lists start in 1865, but most of them are not indexed. A large number of Irish, primarily Catholic, immigrated to America during the Famine years (approx. 1846-1851). Many Protestant Irish, (especially Presbyterian) came to America much earlier, most of them coming between the years 1715-1775. You may be able to locate the approximate time of arrival and often the exact date by using the following:

New York Passenger Lists: The vast majority of immigrants arrived at the port of New York. For the years 1820-1850, the names of passengers are indexed on compact disc (see list below). From 1851-1891, the New York Passenger Lists are indexed on Ancestry.com, and you can see the actual passenger list. From 1892-1924 the passenger lists are indexed on ellisisland.org. Again, you can see the not only the index on this site but also the actual passenger manifests. For immigrants who arrived at other ports, see the following indexes on compact disc.

Filby, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index. This index is the best source for finding information about immigrants. The Passenger and Immigration Lists index is not an index to original passenger lists. It is an index to a wide variety of published records that include names of immigrants. These published records can include census records, land records, cemetery records, passenger lists, naturalization records, and much more. The index gives the name of the person, the place where he was residing at the date of the record, and the name and page number of the published source. Please note that the date may not be the date of your ancestor's arrival in America. The Passenger and Immigration Lists Index is on compact disc.

Passenger and Immigration Lists: Irish to America 1846-1865 is an index to Irish names found on passenger lists of New York 1846-1851 and Boston 1846-1865.

Passenger and Immigration Lists: Irish to America, Volume 2, 1846-1886 indexes Irish names found on passenger lists of Boston and New York.

Passenger and Immigration Lists: Irish Immigrants to North America 1803-1871. The stated dates are misleading. The information was taken from sources in the British Isles and America that identify 18^th and 19^th-century Irish immigrants.

Passenger and Immigration Lists, Boston 1821-1850 is an index to Boston passenger lists, National Archives Microfilm Series M277.

Passenger and Immigration Lists, Baltimore 1820-1850: Index to Baltimore passenger lists, National Archives Microfilm Series M255.

Passenger and Immigration Lists, New York 1820-1850 indexes New York passenger lists, National Archives Microfilm Series M237.

Passenger and Immigration Lists, New Orleans, 1820-1850 indexes New Orleans passenger lists, National Archives Microfilm Series M259.

Passenger and Immigration Lists, Philadelphia 1800-1850 is an index to Philadelphia passenger lists, National Archives Microfilm Series M425.

The surname (last name) recorded on American records was written and spelled by American clerks who may not have understood your ancestor's pronunciation of his name. In Ireland, the surname may be recorded quite differently. For example, the surname Thompson may be recorded in Ireland as MacComb (meaning son of Thomas). The best source for locating the origin and meaning of surnames, surname variants, surname distribution maps, and more is John Gresham's Irish Surnames. This massive work is on compact disc. There are also has a good number of books that can help you find more information on Irish surnames and given names (first names). See especially

MacLysaght, Edward, Irish Families: Their Names, Arms and Origins

MacLysaght, Edward, More Irish Families

MacLysaght, Edwad, The Surnames of Ireland

British Isles Genealogical Register (BIG R) is a list of researchers from all over the world who sent in their surnames for inclusion. The register lists the surnames being researched including the place[s] and time periods. When you located your ancestor's surname, you can obtain the name and address of the person researching your family. This register was compiled in 1994 and 1997 and put on microfiche.  The 2000 version of the BIG R is on compact disc.

Begley, Donal F., ed. Irish Genealogy: A Record Finder. The book has excellent, in-depth discussions on a number of records that are less-frequently used including the Registry of Deeds, cemetery inscriptions, and more.

Betit, Kyle and Dwight Radford. Ireland: A Genealogical Guide for North Americans. This is the most useful book on Irish genealogy for those living outside of Ireland because it covers the records held by the Family History Library and often provides film numbers. It also provides the addresses, telephone, and FAX numbers of major archives and libraries located in North America and Ireland, and discusses their Irish collections.

Falley, Margaret Dickson. Irish & Scotch-Irish Ancestral Research (2 vols.) is old (1962) but excellent. This has been the standard Irish reference book for many years.

Grenham, John. Tracing Your Irish Ancestors. It is one of the most widely used books on Irish family history. Especially useful are the county source lists.

How to Use Records of Northern Ireland is fiche number 6039322.

How to Use Records of Republic of Ireland is fiche number 6039323.

Kinealy, Christine. Tracing Your Irish Roots.

Major Genealogical Record Sources in Ireland is on FHL fiche 6020291.

Mac Conghail and Gorry. Tracing Irish Ancestors.

Maxwell, Ian. Tracing Your Ancestors in Northern Ireland: A Guide to Ancestry Research in the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland.

McCarthy, Tony. The Irish Roots Guide. This book concentrates on finding Catholics who were tenant farmer.

Mitchell, Brian. Pocket Guide to Irish Genealogy.

Research Outline: Ireland. Compiled by the Family History Department of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. If you acquire only one guide to Irish research, this should be it. This inexpensive guide is available for purchase at the McLean Family History Center and also for free download at familysearch.org..

Ryan, James G. Irish Records: Sources for Family & Local History, 1997. This excellent book includes county maps and genealogical sources for each county. It tells where to find church records for every parish.

Frank Smith's Inventories: This is probably the single most valuable finding aid to British Isles sources held in the Family History Library collection. Smith's Inventory of Genealogical Sources was compiled by Frank Smith and a team of researchers who searched periodicals, books, and microfilms in the Family History Library Collection and indexed the individual items found in these materials that often not been separately listed in the Family History Library Catalog. For example, the Family History Library Catalog will list the name of a periodical but will not list the individual articles contained within. Smith's Inventory will contain names of the articles. All serious researchers must use both the FHLC and Frank Smith's Inventories. Fiche 6110527.

Ireland at Your fingertips: Index of Irish Microfilms at the Family History Library indexes many will and probate records, parish registers, encumbered estate tenant lists, and more. It is on compact disc.

Richard J. Hayes, Manuscript Sources for the History of Irish Civilisation: Despite its title, this source is for finding information about people in Ireland, not just about the general history of Ireland. These volumes list the location of Irish Manuscripts. The first 11 volumes are on films 1440939 - 1440943. The Index to Persons is volumes 1-4; Index to Subjects vols. 5-6; Index to Places (by county) vols. 7-8, index to Dates vols. 9-10; and Lists of Manuscripts is volume 11. There is also a Supplement to Hayes at the National Library of Ireland and at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. The Supplement is not on microfilm.

Richard J. Hayes, Sources for the History of Irish Civilisation: Articles in Irish Periodicals, is an excellent source to see if an article has been published about your family in an Irish periodical. This index is found on films 0973222 to 0973230.

Public Record Office of Northern Ireland, Card Index of Names. The Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) has created a card index of names from various collections in its holdings.

Bartholomew, John. Philip's Handy Atlas of the Counties of Ireland, 1881, is on film 0912415.

Census of Ireland, 1871: Alphabetical Index to the Townlands and Towns of Ireland. Shows the civil parish, city, and county in which a townland is located. On fiche 6020345 - 6020353.

General Alphabetical Index to Townland & Towns, Parishes, & Baronies of Ireland (Based on the Census of Ireland for the Year 1851). Commonly called the Townland Index.

General Alphabetical Index to the Townlands and Towns of Ireland for the 1901 census includes electoral divisions and 1901 census schedule reference numbers. It is on film 0865092.

Lewis, Samuel. A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland (2 vols.) Published in 1837.

Lewis, Samuel. Atlas to the Topographical Dictionary of Ireland is a book of county maps on film 0496477.

Mitchell, Brian. A New Genealogical Atlas of Ireland contains county maps showing civil parishes, baronies, and poor law unions.

Parish Maps of Ireland shows all parish boundaries.

The Parliamentary Gazetteer of Ireland (10 vols.) was published in 1844. It is similar to Lewis's Topographical Dictionary, but it also contains statistical information from the 1831 and 1841 censuses. The gazetteer is on microfiche 6020358 - 6060382. Shows civil parish, barony, and county for each location.

Ordnance Survey Memoirs were written in the 1830s to accompany the Ordnance Survey Maps. They contain detailed information about parishes, including "the landscape and situation, buildings and antiquities, land-holdings and population, employment and livelihood of the parishes." Some parishes have very in-depth coverage listing such details as the names of people who emigrated or the names of people buried in the churchyard. The Memoirs cover the northern half of Ireland and are essential for understanding life in the years immediately preceding the Great Famine. See the table of Ordnance Survey Memoirs for a list of volumes and the parishes included. The entire series of Ordnance Survey Memoirs was recently indexed in the Ordnance Survey Memoirs: Index of People and Places (2002).

Irish Townland Maps are arranged by county and are on fiche 6342438 - 6342453 and 6343060 - 6343070.

Irish County Maps Showing the Location of Churches are in four volumes, one for each of Ireland's four provinces. They are county maps that show the locations of Church of Ireland (E), Roman Catholic (R), and Presbyterian (P) Churches. There are also tables stating the dates of commencement of records. These maps are on microfiche:

Registration of non-Catholic marriages began in Ireland on April 1, 1845. Civil registration of births, marriages, and deaths for everyone began on January 1, 1864.

Please note that the place listed in the civil registration index is the name of the registration district, not the name of the parish. If all you know is the name of your ancestor's county and you want to know the names of the registration districts for that county, consult the table of Superintendent Registrar's Districts by County or use Civil Registration Districts of Ireland which has three parts. Part I contains maps showing registration districts. Part II is an alphabetical index of districts that shows the county for each district. Part II is a list of counties that shows the districts in each county. It is on fiche 6036472.

The microfilmed Civil Registration Indexes are available from the Family History Library on the following films:

Many of the actual birth, marriage, and death certificates are on microfilm and can be ordered from the Family History Library, but certificates for some time periods were never filmed (birth certificates 1881-1899, marriage certificates from 1871-1899, and death certificates from 1871-1899, among others). Check the FHLC under IRELAND--Civil Registration.

Examples of some other records that can help find birth, marriage, and deaths:

The Foreign Register: births, deaths & marriages, 1864-1923, of Irish citizens in Continental Europe - Film 0101764.

Marine Register of Births & Deaths 1864-1884 (Ireland) - Film 0101765.

29th Report of the Registrar General of Marriages, Births & Deaths, with special report on Surnames of Ireland - Film 0476999

Marriages in Dublin Newspapers, 1731-1740 Film 0100213, item 9

The first civil census taken in Ireland was in 1813. It no longer exists. Thereafter, the census was taken every ten years from 1821 through 1911. Small parts of the 1821, 1831, 1841, and 1851 census still exist, but the 1861 through 1891 census returns were routinely destroyed within about two years after the census was taken and analyzed. They had been destroyed years before the fire in Four Courts in 1922. See "Irish Census Returns" in Donal F Begley, Irish Genealogy: A Record Finder for a list by county of surviving returns. The only virtually 100% complete Irish census returns are those for 1901 and 1911. The 1,173 rolls of film of the 1901 census [See Computer No. 0339917] are available through the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. The 1911 census returns for Ireland has also been microfilmed.

Census Extracts for the 1821 - 1841 censuses of Ireland are on film 0100158. You can order surviving census records on the following films:

The 1831 census fragments are for County Londonderry only. The 1841 Census is only for Killeshandra Parish, County Cavan. They are indexed on compact disc Census Index: County Londonderry, 1831 & County Cavan, 1841. The McLean Family History Center has this CD and also all of the 1831 census films for Co. Londonderry. The 1851 census fragments are only for County Antrim.

Thrift's Census Abstracts: In addition to the census fragments above, there are census abstracts compiled by genealogist Gertrude Thrift before the destruction of the records. Her abstracts are from 1821, 1841, and 1851 census records. They are found on FHL film 0596418. There is an index to Thrift's abstracts on microfiche 6035573. The four-digit number to the left of each index entry refers you to the abstract number on film 0596418.

The General Alphabetical Index to the Townlands and Towns of Ireland for the 1901 census is on film 0865092.

The Ireland 1901 Census Street Index is on fiche 6035493 - 6035495.

Householders Index: The Householders Index is a surname index to the Irish Tithe Applotment Books and to Griffith's Primary Valuation. Chapter 4 "Land Records" in John Grenham, Tracing Your Irish Ancestors describes the records. The Family History Library has produced a Resource Guide The Ireland Householders Index that tells step-by-step how to use this index. The Guide is available for purchase at FAmily History Centers. In addition, it available for download at familysearch.org. The counties of Ireland are arranged in alphabetical order in the Householders Index on films 0919001 through 0919007.

Tithe Applotment Books were compiled during the period from about 1823 to 1838. The Tithe Applotment Books for the Republic of Ireland are on 140 rolls of film 0256560 to 0256699. The Tithe Applotment Books for Northern Ireland are on films 0258443 to 0258470. In addition to the Householders Index, the Tithe Applotment Books for Northern Ireland have an every name index that is much easier to use. The index is on compact disc.

Griffith's Primary Valuation was published between 1848 and 1864. Revisions to the valuations showing updates to the occupiers and their property were recorded until modern decades. The Resource Guide The Ireland Householders Index states: "Griffith's Primary Valuation Lists consist of 22 rolls of microfilm. They are arranged by county and then by union and barony." The referenced 22 rolls of microfilm are 0844975 - 0844996. However, these are only for the Republic of Ireland. There is a separate series of valuation rolls for Northern Ireland. Although Griffith's is arranged by poor law union, the FHL has compiled a list by civil parish on fiche 6026722. Griffith's Valuation has been indexed on compact disc. This index is not complete, so if you don't find your ancestor's name, use the Householders Index or the index at otherdays.com.

Ireland Old Age Pension Claims used the 1841 and 1851 census returns as proof of age when those records still existed. You can order the census abstracts for Old Age Pension Claims held at the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland are on microfilms 0258525 to 0258548. These records are indexed in Josephine Masterson, Ireland 1841/1851 Census Abstracts (Republic of Ireland) and in Josephine Masterson, Ireland 1841-1851 Census Abstracts (Northern Ireland). Both books are on the compact disc, Genealogical Records: Irish Source Records 1500s -1800s.

There are many earlier censuses and census substitutes. The following are some examples:

Irish Flax Growers, 1796 (also known as Spinning Wheel Entitlement List) is on film 1419442. The index is on compact disc.

A List of Freeholders in Ireland: 1760-1788 is on film 0100181. See the Family History Library Catalog for the list of places covered.

Religious Census of 1766 includes members of all faiths and is from transcripts of Tenison Groves. Volume I covers Tyrone, Londonderry, Antrim, Fermanagh, and Tipperary. Volume II covers Longford, Louth, Meath, Kings, Wicklow, Cork, Limerick, Armagh, Dublin, Wexford, and Cavan. It is on film 0100173, items 1 and 2.

1659 census is on film 0924648.

Muster Roll of Ulster Army of 1642, on film 0897012.

For a good discussion of church records in Ireland, see James G Ryan, Irish Church Records.

Once you know that name of the civil parish where your ancestor lived and his denomination, you can find the church that your ancestor probably attended by using Brian Mitchell, A Guide to Irish Parish Registers. It is an alphabetical listing by county of all civil parishes in Ireland and the Church of Ireland, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, and other Protestant congregations associated with that parish. Each civil parish has a map reference number so that you can find the parish in Mitchell's A New Genealogical Atlas of Ireland.

Many church records are on microfilm through the Family History Library. To locate Northern Ireland church records that are not listed in the Family History Library Catalog, see An Irish Genealogical Source: Guide to Church Records, Public Record Office of Northern Ireland.

Catholic Parish Registers of Ireland. Catholic church records were not among the records destroyed in 1922 because they were not in the Public Record Office. The majority of the surviving Catholic Parish Registers have been microfilmed. Many are available from the Family History Library. See the Family History Library Catalog under IRELAND [COUNTY] [CIVIL PARISH] - CHURCH RECORDS. Maps of the Catholic parishes can be found in John Grenham, Tracing Your Irish Ancestors.

Index to prerogative marriage license bonds for the Church of Ireland ca. 1750-1849. This alphabetical index lists name of groom, name of bride, and year of marriage license bond. It does not list place of marriage. Film 0100876.

Index to Church of Ireland diocesan marriage licenses. These pre-1845 licenses were issued to Catholics as well as Protestants. Most of the actual licenses were destroyed in the 1922 fire; only the indexes survived. The complete set on 15 rolls of film 0100859 - 0100872. Years vary by diocese.

Index to Irish Marriages . . . in Walker's Hibernian Magazine 1771-1812 on Family Tree Maker CD 275.

PRONI Card index to Church of Ireland parish registers is on film 1238732 item 4.

PRONI Card index to Presbyterian registers [Northern Ireland] is on film 1238732 item 3.

In 1858 District Probate Registries were established in Ireland. The Dublin Principal Probate Registry had direct jurisdiction over the counties of Dublin, Kildare, Meath, Wicklow, and part of Offaly (King's), and a general jurisdiction over all of Ireland to 1920. Since that time, the Dublin Principal Probate Registry covers only the Republic of Ireland. The eleven district registries include Armagh, Ballina, Belfast, Cavan, Cork, Kilkenny, Limerick, Londonderry, Mullingar, Tuam, and Waterford.

Wills and administrations are calendared in Calendar of the grants of probate and letters of administration made in the principal registry and in the several district registries, 1858-1920. The calendar combines extracts from the records of the 11 district registries and the Principal Registry into one series. The extracts give the name of the deceased, residence & date of death, date & district of administration or probate, and names of executors or administrators. The calendars from 1858 to 1917 are on films 0100968 to 0101006. The "general index" on films 0100965 to 0100967 is a shortened index to the calendars.

Prior to 1858, there were twenty-eight diocesan courts that probated wills. In addition, the Prerogative Court of Armagh (PCA) had probate jurisdiction for all of Ireland over all persons with goods valued at more than five pounds in more than one diocese.

All of the original records of the PCA were destroyed in 1922; only indexes and six will books remain. The will indexes 1536-1858, surviving will books 1644-1834, and indexes to administration grants 1595-1858 are on microfilms 100893 to 100910.

Although the wills may no longer exist, there are many abstracts. See Genealogical Abstracts of Prerogative Wills of Ireland on films 0595939 - 0595945 and 0596139. These were done by Sir William Betham before the destruction of the records in 1922 and are arranged alphabetically. For administrations, see Prerogative Court Records, Dublin, Ireland, film 0100114, which is an alphabetical version of Betham's abstracts of grants of administration. See also Sir Arthur Vicars, ed. Index to the Prerogative Wills of Ireland, 1536-1810.. There are three formats: book, FHL fiche number 6026394, and on Family Tree Maker CD 275.

To find records in the twenty-eight diocesan courts, see the list of counties with the respective dioceses that handled wills and administrations prior to 1858 in Irish Counties and Their Dioceses. The diocesan indexes are on FHL films 0100911 - 0100917 and 0100958 - 0100964. For a general description of Irish probates, see chapter 8 "Wills & Administrations: A Prime Source for Family Research" in Donal F Begley, Irish Genealogy: A Record Finder. One good index is W.P.W. Phillimore and Gertrude Thrift, eds. Indexes to Irish Wills, available in three formats: on film 0100959, fiche 6036097 and on Family Tree Maker CD 275.

An excellent index to wills is Eneclann's Index of Irish Wills 1484-1858 at the National Archives of Ireland. This index is on compact disc.

The wills held in the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland have been indexed by surname on the following microfilms:

Ireland Registry of Deeds - The Registry of Deeds was established in 1708, and the records continue to the present time. Registration of deeds was not required, so the collection of deeds and other materials is far from complete. A multitude of types of records are in the Registry of Deeds. Some of the types of records included in this collection are deeds, mortgages, sales of land, leases, releases, assignments, business agreements, marriage settlements, and wills involving land. See Chapter 8 "The Registry of Deeds" in John Grenham, Tracing Your Irish Ancestors for a good description of the Registry. Also see Chapter 7 "The Registry of Deeds for Genealogical Purposes" in Donal F Begley, Irish Genealogy: A Record Finder.

The wills recorded in the Registry of Deeds have been abstracted for 1708-1832 in P.B. Phair and E. Ellis, Abstracts of Wills at the Registry of Deeds (3 vols.) 941.5 S2e; volumes 1 & 2 of this index are on film 0896887.

Surname Index to Deeds - The Surname Index to grantors has surname and given name of grantor and surname of grantee. The location of the property is not given in the index prior to 1833. After 1833, the name of the county is given. The index is on microfilm through the Family History Library.

Place Name Index to Deeds - One of the most common uses of this index is to find the name of the landowner in a particular townland. This index is divided by county, then by initial letter of the townland. The index records the surnames of both parties. Even if you don't find your ancestor's name, you should review all deeds for the townland because it will give you a better picture of what was happening in the area, and you may find mention of your family in someone else's deed. The Place Name Index is on microfilm through the Family History Library.

Although the Registry of Deeds is an important source, the vast majority of leases, tenant lists, etc. were not recorded there but were retained in the estate records of the landowner. Estate records are the single best source for finding information about Irish families. You will need to find the name of the landowner first. A few ways of doing that are using Griffith's Valuation and by using the place name index to the Registry of Deeds, both discussed above. You can also use the Return of Owners of Land on One Acre and Upwards, 1876 on Family Tree Maker compact disc 275.

Once you know the landowner's name, consult Hayes, Manuscript Sources for the History of Irish Civilization (discussed above) to locate the records. Also consult Public Record Office of Northern Ireland Guide to Landed Estate Records.

The Genealogical Manuscripts Collection from the Genealogy Office in Dublin Castle. See John Grenham, The Genealogical Office, Dublin for a full description of the nature of the records. This is a significant collection of about 148 rolls of microfilm, films 0100103 to 0100250. Some of the manuscripts are indexes to other manuscripts. Many of these indexes have been consolidated by Virginia McAnlis into a four-volume series of books, The Consolidated Index to the Records of the Genealogical Office, Dublin, Ireland [941.5 A3mv].  After checking this source, see page 10 of The Genealogical Office, Dublin for a complete listing of indexes to the Genealogical Manuscripts collection.

Tenison Groves Collection is a genealogical collection of muster rolls, householders, wills, deeds, and parish registers on FHL films 0258497 - 0258524. The index is on 0258471 - 0258497. The collection is also indexed as Series T808 in the PRONI Card Index to Names (see above).

Albert E. Casey Collection. Dr. Albert E. Casey was an American with ancestry in the areas of counties Cork and Kerry roughly designated as the Abbeyfeale-Millstreet- Killarney triangle. He compiled fifteen volumes of records containing 30,000 pages, and approximately 3,000,000 personal names. His work is entitled O'Kief, Coshe Mange, Slieve Lougher and Upper Blackwater in Ireland. Many researchers refer to the collection as "O'Kief." Included are cemetery inscriptions, abstracts from church records, and more. Casey's materials are housed in Samford University special collections, but it is also available on microfilm. The entire collection is on films 823801-823809. Tracing Your Cork Ancestors (book 941.95 D27mt) lists many of the records included. There is also a descriptive index on film 1145967.

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