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.

• Column 1 lists the types of information you may need.
• Column 2 lists the sections of this outline that discuss the records that are most likely to have the information you need.
• Column 3 lists other sections that may be useful.

The section headings used in columns 2 and 3 are the same headings as those used in the Locality Search of the Family History Library Catalog. Records containing previous research (biography, genealogy, history, nobility, periodicals, and societies) may be helpful for most types of information. These have not been repeatedly listed unless they are especially helpful for the information you need.

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)