Irish Research

Census

Ireland took censuses every 10 years from 1821-1911. However, few records survived before 1901. A fire in the Dublin Public Records Office in 1922 destroyed many of these records


1901 and 1911 census are available here


For pre-1800 families, indexes and originals of census substitutes are available here

Civil Records

In 1845, the government mandated that all marriages be recorded. However, in practice, only non-Catholic marriages were recorded until full registration was enacted in 1864


Beginning in 1864 all birth, marriages, and deaths were recorded. These Records can be searched through General Register Office of Ireland


Records for Northern Ireland dated after 1921 can be searched at General Register Office of Northern Ireland

Note: Irish and British history have been intertwined for hundreds of years.  Check British military records, immigration records and census records

Irish Surnames

Irish surnames can have many variations. Letters were used interchangeably, prefixes were added and removed and nicknames were often listed


Traditional Irish Naming patterns are great clues!

Daughters were often named in a similar pattern

Prioritiing learning the birth order of all chidren, living and deceased

When a child died, his/her name was often used again for the next-born son/daughter

Church of Ireland

The Church of Ireland was the national faith of Ireland until 1871


The Church’s archives is called Representative Church Body and has published a downloadable directory to parish records

Immigration

During the Irish Potato Famine – 1845 to 1951 – 2.5 millon people emigrated from Ireland. Approximately 650,000 of these immigrants arrived in the New York Harbor through Ellis Island. A large number of immigrants came through the Port of Quebec in Canada


Library and Archives Canada contains several database that may be of help in your immigration research


The Ship’s List contains immigration information for Canada, the United States, Australia and South Africa

Useful Websites