British Isles DNA by County

Ireland and Northern Ireland 

Resources

Content by
Linda Jonas ©2006

Ireland and Northern Ireland

This is a guide to genealogical research for ancestors from Ireland and Northern Ireland. Many of the materials listed are available from the Family History Library through Family History Centers worldwide. The following items are only a select list of materials. These items are in the process of annotation. 

You should know the name of your immigrant ancestor, his approximate date of arrival in America, and the names of as many of his associates as possible. Especially helpful are the names of his parents, the name of his wife (if married in Ireland) and the surnames of any sisters married in Ireland. American records will sometimes mention the county of origin, and if you're lucky, you will find the name of the townland.

To find sources that will help you locate enough information to identify your immigrant ancestor, consult a good book on American genealogy. Two excellent ones are The Source: A Guidebook of American Genealogy and Greenwood's The Researcher's Guide to American Genealogy. One example of an American source that helps trace Irish immigrants is:

The Search for Missing Friends: Irish Immigrant Advertisements Placed in the Boston Pilot. This is a series of books listing advertisements for people searching for missing friends and family members. The Pilot was an Irish immigrant newspaper, so the notices are for immigrants living all over the U.S. and even in other parts of the world. The advertisements often include detailed descriptions, places of origin, previous residences, names of other relatives and other important identifying information. The index is on CD and in a series of books.