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 Family History Library 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.
"
| 1. If You Need | 2. Look First In | 3. Then Search |
| 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) |
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