Researching Irish ancestors from Northern Ireland involves utilizing key resources like PRONI for archival records such as census and church records, GRONI for vital records, and online databases like Ancestry and FindMyPast for comprehensive genealogical data including military records and parish registers.
Researching Irish ancestors from Northern Ireland is straightforward, given the wealth of archives, libraries, and online databases providing genealogical records. Resources like the Public Records Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) and the General Register Office for Northern Ireland (GRONI) provide all the necessary records, from vital records to land records.
This guide lists all the best resources for researching Irish ancestors from Northern Ireland.
Archives and Libraries
Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI)
The devolved government of Northern Ireland established the PRONI in 1923, soon after the partitioning, to preserve and access the territory’s archival heritage. These offices are currently headquartered at 2 Titanic Boulevard, Titanic Quarter, Belfast, Northern Ireland, but records dating back to the 1600s are largely available online.
Some of the records preserved at PRONI include school, church, land, census, street directories, and probate records.
The National Archives of Ireland (NAI)
In 1988, the Irish government merged the Public Record Office and the State Paper Office to form the NAI, which has a mission to integrate and make available current and past Irish records. NAI has its head offices in Bishop Street, Dublin, and grants users access to census records and fragments, military records, and probate records online.
Note that records in the NAI cover both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Linen Hall Library
Linen Hall Library was founded in the late 18th century by the Belfast Reading Society and has its offices at 17 Donegall Square North, Belfast. The library and cultural center has been vocal in Irish ancestry research focused on Northern Ireland, providing literature about local heritage and an extensive collection of historical newspapers.
General Register Office of Northern Ireland (GRONI)
Like PRONI, GRONI was also established in 1922 to manage the civil registration service for Northern Ireland. It is the go-to place for most vital records, including birth to death certificates.
Online Databases
Most Irish historical records are now digitized, and various organizations and volunteers have compiled several records in one database to help centralize your research. With about four online databases, you can access a myriad of Irish records dating back to the 1600s. The categories span civil records, military records, historical directives, and graveyard records.
Below are the best online resources that can contribute immensely to your ancestry search in Northern Ireland.
Ancestry
Ancestry is a leading online database for family history research. It boasts extensive coverage of records, particularly in the 19th and 20th centuries, and grants you access based on your subscription. It’s your go-to website for Irish church records, census records, Griffith’s Valuation, and civil registration records.
FindMyPast
The London-based genealogy research site was initially established as a Federation of Family History Societies department. Its primary mandate is to provide comprehensive access to an array of history and family history research records.
Like Ancestry, FindMyPast may need a subscription for about $60 to easily access Irish census records, land records, migration records, Military records, Parish records, and more.
FamilySearch
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints founded this site in 1894 to provide historical and genealogical records to help the Irish diaspora and locals connect with their ancestry. FamilySearch has been a crucial resource for genealogists thanks to its vast coverage of records and assistance in building a family tree.
Some of the crucial records on this site are fragments of the 1901 and 1911 Irish censuses, Tithe Applotment books, and Griffith’s Valuation.
RootsIreland
As the name suggests, the RootsIreland site by the Irish Family History Foundation offers information on Northern Ireland’s heritage matters. Since its establishment in 2003, RootsIreland has strived to provide as many Irish genealogy records as possible, some dating back to the 1600s.
In addition to all the Northern Ireland-related records you find on Ancestry and FindMyPast, RootsIreland also provides transcriptions of headstones and an extensive collection of parish registers.
IrishGenealogy.ie
The Department of Culture Ireland launched the IrishGenealogy.ie., site in 2011 to facilitate and democratically access Irish genealogical records. Although this site has headquarters in Dublin, it has a wealth of resources in Northern Ireland. Unlike other online databases highlighted here, IrishGenealogy.i.e. site only focuses on church and civil registration records dating back to the 1860s.
Other Valuable Resources
Understanding your Irish ancestry from Northern Ireland will not only be about gathering records and joining the dots. It should also entail understanding the culture and history that influenced the decisions and actions of your ancestors. Therefore, you need more information than birth names, dates, and migration patterns.
The resources provided below should be your first priority when you want to learn more about your Northern Irish heritage, including the geographical and social settings back then. The maps, surveys, newspapers, wills, and testaments are necessary for succeeding in an Irish ancestry search.
PRONI Historical Maps Viewer
PRONI has a map viewer dedicated to researchers seeking historical Irish maps for their historical or genealogical research. Maps such as the Ordnance Survey maps of Northern Ireland can help pinpoint a locality or gravesite in any region of the six Northern Ireland counties.
Historical maps from the 18th century can also help you understand modern naming variations and border changes, eventually breaking brick walls and expanding your research. The Historical map is access-free and lets you search a location by name.
Emerald Ancestors
Emerald Ancestors is another valuable resource for researching Irish ancestors from Northern Ireland, mainly due to its collection of probate records and will abstracts. While the site also has civil records and other vital resources, the wills and testaments have proven critical in Irish research as they help circumvent the gap caused by the Irish lack of records of the 19th century.
Ulster Historical Foundation
Northern Irish genealogical research would be incomplete without consulting the Ulster Historical Foundation (UHF) established by the Presbyterian Historical Society of Ireland to preserve the heritage of the island’s north region.
In addition to parish, census, gravestone records, etc., from the early 17th century, UHF also provides school records including attendance records for a majority of schools in Northern Ireland.
Irish Ancestry from Northern Ireland
Gather some basic information about your ancestors from Northern Ireland and pick it up with the resources provided here to see if you make a breakthrough. Everything you may need, from civil records to maps, is available in the resources highlighted here. You only need to search, open, and download for confirmation and documentation.