Ireland Record Finder

The table below can help you decide which type of Irish records to search. Similar types of records in the country to which your ancestor immigrated may provide the information you need.

"Step 1. In column 1 select a research goal. Choose an ancestor you would like to know more about. What new information would you like to learn about that person?

Step 2. In column 2 find the types of records most likely to have the information you need.

> Read the FamilySearch Wiki articles about those types of records. They explain what the records might tell you, how to search them, and how to find them in the FamilySearch Catalog. Some records are not at the library.

Step 3. In column 3 find additional record types that may be useful.

> Records of previous research (such as Genealogy, Biography, History, Periodicals, and Societies) are useful for most goals but are not listed unless they are especially helpful.

What you are looking for:	Try these records first:	Other useful records:
Age	Census, Church Records, Civil Registration	Cemeteries, Military Records
Birth date	Church Records, Civil Registration	Cemeteries, Military Records, Newspapers, Occupations
Birthplace	Church Records, Civil Registration	Census, Newspapers, Military Records, Occupations
Boundaries of parishes, districts, and counties	Gazetteers	History, Maps
Coats of arms	Heraldry
Death	Cemeteries, Church Records, Civil Registration, Newspapers	Court Records, Probate Records, Land and Property
Historical background	Genealogy, History	Church History
Emigration date	Emigration and Immigration	Church Records,Naturalization and Citizenship
Language helps	Language and Languages
Living relatives	Civil Registration, Directories	Newspapers, Periodicals, Societies
Maiden name	Church Records, Civil Registration	Newspapers
Marriage	Church Records, Civil Registration	Biography, Genealogy, Newspapers, Nobility
Occupation	Census, Church Records, Civil Registration, Directories, Occupations, Probate Records	Court Records; Poorhouses, Poor Law, Etc.
Parents, children, and other family members	Census, Church Records, Civil Registration, Probate Records	Land and Property; Poorhouses, Poor Law, Etc.; Schools
Physical description	Court Records, Military Records	Biography, Newspapers, Occupations
Place-finding aids	Gazetteers, Maps	Directories, History, Land and Property, Periodicals, Taxation
Places of residence	Census, Church Records, Directories	Land and Property, Names (Personal)
Place of residence when you know only the county	Civil Registration, Directories, Land and Property, Probate Records, Taxation	Church Records
Previous research (compiled genealogy)	Biography, Genealogy, Societies	Nobility, Periodicals
Record-finding aids	Archives and Libraries, Genealogy	Periodicals, Societies
Religion	Biography, Church Records, Civil Registration	Census, Cemeteries, Genealogy, History
Understanding names	Names (Personal)