Why is Irish genealogy so tricky?
4-5 minute read
By Niall Cullen | February 3, 2020
There's no denying that Irish family history research can be challenging. To help, we've put together these handy tips for getting over the toughest of hurdles.
If you've made any progress in tracing your Irish ancestors, there are certain road bumps you've undoubtedly met on your journey.
Let's take a look at the most common issues and help you get past them.
1. Missing Irish census records
The vast majority of Ireland's 19th-century census records were destroyed in a fire at the Public Records Office of Ireland in 1922. Only fragments survive. So, unlike in the UK or USA, you can't keep track of your 19th century Irish ancestors every ten years in census records.
Instead, you'll need to explore substitutes and other land records from the time. Findmypast has a really useful collection of these records, including:
- Griffith's Valuation 1847-1864 - over 2.9 million records, covering the entire island in the mid-19th century.
- Griffith's Survey Maps & Plans, 1847-1864 - the accompanying maps and town plans for Griffith's, so you can see what your ancestor's homestead looked like at the time.
- Landed Estates Court Rentals 1850-1885 - almost 500,000 records of tenants in Ireland during the 19th century.
You can also explore other Irish records from the 19th century to plug the gaps. Street directories, court registers and workhouse records are particularly valuable.
2. Civil registration started later in Ireland
When compared to England and Wales, civil registration began relatively late in Ireland. Births and marriages were registered from 1864. Non-Catholic marriages were registered from 1845 with Catholic marriages also beginning in 1864. Obviously, this means there are no birth, marriage and death records for any event before those dates. Ireland's parish records are the main source you'll need to overcome this problem.
Findmypast holds over 10 million Irish Catholic Parish Registers, covering the entire island. Coverage varies by parish but most of these date back into the 18th century.
3. Irish placenames
One of the most common problems researchers tracing Irish roots are faced with is the myriad of placenames encountered. Administrative districts in Ireland have changed over time so you'll need to know the difference between a parish, townland, civil registration district, barony and county.
The civil registration districts map for Ireland.
While there is no quick fix to this problem, our handy civil registration districts map above will help you to see how some districts cross county borders. As soon as you have pinpointed an Irish ancestor to a location, it is worth doing some research into the placenames in that area so you can interpret them correctly as you find more family records.
4. Getting back further in Irish family history
A classic challenge for Irish family researchers, a combination of the above problems means that tracing your ancestors back into 18th-century Ireland and beyond can be tricky. But there is always hope. Findmypast have some fantastic Irish resources dating back to medieval times and earlier, that you may not have considered searching. Highlights of our early Irish records include:
- Original Wills, Of The Diocese Of Dublin 1272-1858 - over 100,000 records to help trace your Dublin ancestors.
- Farrar's Index To Irish Marriages 1771-1812 - a valuable resource for a period that few church records survive.
- Catholic Qualification & Convert Rolls 1701-1845 - a fascinating collection detailing those who converted or pledged loyalty to the Crown during Ireland's harsh penal laws.
- Ireland, Court Of Exchequer Bill Books 1627-1884 - over one million records detailing if your ancestor had their day in court, dealing mainly in matters of equity.
- Ireland, Court Of Chancery Bill Books 1627-1884 - a collection detailing the legal proceedings of family disputes and more in the Court of Chancery.
- Irish Prison Registers 1790-1924 - discover if your ancestor spent time in an Irish gaol with the stories of 3 million Irish prisoners in this index.
5. Irish naming patterns
There are certain anomalies associated with Irish names that you should be aware of as you strive to build your Irish family tree. Traditionally, most Irish families named their children as follows;
• The eldest son would be named after his paternal grandfather
• The second son would be named after his maternal grandfather
• The third son would be named after his father
• The fourth son would be named after his father’s oldest brother
There was also a similar pattern for naming Irish girls, although it wasn’t followed as closely as it was for boys.
Obviously, this means you'll find the same name popping up in families generation after generation. This can become confusing the further you go back so make you're focusing on the right ancestor by cross-referencing and double-checking all of your information.
6. Poor Law and workhouses
Following the Great Irish Famine and nationwide food shortages, many Irish found themselves in poverty and struggling to make ends meet. If you're experiencing difficulty locating your ancestor in the notoriously challenging rural areas of Ireland, or cannot find them at a home address, it may be worth broadening your search. Try tracing them through workhouse, union, or government loan records. Here's just a few of our workhouse and union records, including the Poverty Relief Loans index, which is entirely exclusive to Findmypast.
- Clare Poor Law Unions Board Of Guardians Minute Books, 1839-1924
- Waterford Poor Law Union Board Of Guardians Minute Books, 1848-1922
- Galway Poor Law Union Records, 1849-1921
- Ireland, Poverty Relief Loans, 1821-1874
You may even discover more than you bargained for. Workhouse records specifically recorded their staff and suppliers as well as residents, and poverty relief loan records also noted two guarantors, which were often family members or close neighbours.
7. Consider social history
Taking social and political history into account when researching more challenging areas is hugely important, and could be conducive to your success. If you're looking to gain a broader idea of the social landscape at the time, make sure to search our expansive collection of Irish newspapers, which are updated regularly.
An article from the Freeman's Journal, 1846.
These can tell you everything from infrastructure changes, local history, stories around specific ancestors, or contemporary political issues, which may help point you to the right record set for your research.
Trace your Irish ancestry today
With more Irish family records than any other website, Findmypast gives you the best chance of overcoming these obstacles and finding out more about your Irish roots. If you have an incredible story to share, make sure to tag us @findmypast on social media.
