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Family
History Basics
Irish
Genealogy: Hidden Gems in the Emerald Isle
It’s
estimated that nearly forty million Americans descend from the Emerald
Isle, making Irish genealogy a popular hobby nationwide. But given Ireland’s
somewhat tragic history – famine, civil war, and a devastating fire
– you’re lucky to find many surviving records with which to
start your research. Still, you can trace your roots back to Ireland with
some basic knowledge of the resources that do exist. We’ve listed
five of those resources below:
Or
you can start searching now at Ancestry.com
Top
Five Irish Resources:
- Census
Records: Ireland’s oldest surviving census dates from
1901. Earlier census records were lost in a fire that destroyed Dublin’s
Public Record Office in 1922. However, you might try the U.S. Federal
Census which, depending on the year, might include an ancestor’s
birthplace and year of immigration.
Search the U.S. Federal
Census
- Immigration
Records: Ships’ passenger lists and naturalization records
can include facts about your ancestors ranging from birthplace and port
of departure to destination in America. The New York Passenger Lists
Index is particularly helpful since more than one million Irish immigrants
entered the United States through ports in New York.
Search the U.S. Immigration
Collection
- Parish
Records: Irish churches, both Catholic and Protestant, preserved
many of Ireland’s surviving vital records – including birth,
marriage, death, and burial records. Parish registers are also some
of the oldest known records for Ireland, many of them dating from the
late Middle Ages.
Search Irish parish
and probate records
- Griffith’s
Primary Valuation: From 1847 to 1864, the Irish Valuation Office
conducted a land occupation survey for the purpose of determining taxes.
Virtually the next best thing to a census, the Griffith’s Valuation
included about one million landowners and tenant farmers along with
descriptions of their respective properties.
- Civil
Registration: Ireland’s civil registration records (births,
deaths, and marriages) date back to the nineteenth century. A large
collection covering 1845 to 1921 has been indexed and is now available
at the General Register Office at Joyce House in Dublin.
Where
to Find Them:
- Ancestry.com:
Ancestry.com houses the largest assortment of family history records
on the Web. Included in their collection are several databases devoted
to Irish genealogy.
Visit Ancestry.com
- LDS
Family History Library: Based in Salt Lake City, the Family
History Library is the largest repository for Irish records in the United
States. The LDS Church also operates small satellite centers across
the country where you can order microfilmed copies.
Visit
the LDS Family History Library
- National
Archives of Ireland (NAI): With headquarters in Dublin, the
NAI houses census, civil registration, and immigration records. You’ll
also find estate and tax records such as Griffith’s Primary Valuation.
Visit the National Archive
of Ireland
- National
Library of Ireland (NLI): In addition to their genealogical
records, the NLI offers an assortment of documentary materials such
as manuscripts, periodicals, and photographs.
Visit the National Library of Ireland
- Public
Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI): Located in Belfast,
the PRONI offers much of the same information as the NAI.
Visit the Public Record Office of
Northern Ireland
Are
you ready to find your Irish ancestors?
Start searching now!
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