Major Indexes and Databases

The Family History Library has several sources that can help you access previous research or refer you to others who are interested in sharing research:

International Genealogical Index. The International Genealogical Index provides names and vital information for more than 1.4 million deceased people who lived in Ireland. This valuable tool lists birth, christening, and marriage dates and places. The index for Ireland includes names extracted by volunteers from parish registers and civil registration and names submitted by other researchers.

The International Genealogical Index is available on microfiche and on compact disc as part of FamilySearch™ (see the “Records at the Family History Library” section of this outline).

Ancestral File. Ancestral File, a part of FamilySearch™, contains family history information linked together in family groups and pedigrees contributed since 1979. Ancestral File contains information on thousands of Irish families. It can print pedigree charts, family group records, and individual summary sheets for any person in the file.

Family Group Records Collection (Archive and Patron). More than eight million family group record forms—including many for Irish families—have been microfilmed and incorporated into the Family Group Records Collection. The collection is divided into two major parts: the Archive section and the Patrons section. The film numbers for both parts are listed in the Author/Title Search of the catalog under FAMILY GROUP RECORDS COLLECTION.

Family Histories

Some Irish families write histories or newsletters that contain biographies, photographs, and other genealogical information.

The Family History Library has a number of these Irish family histories and newsletters. They are listed in the Surname Search of the catalog under the major surnames discussed in each publication. Allied families may not be listed.

Many Irish family histories are also indexed in:

de Breffny, Brian, ed. and comp. Bibliography of Irish Family History and Genealogy. Dublin: Golden Eagle Books, 1974. (FHL book Ref 941.5 D23d computer number 0189535.)

Grenham, John. Tracing Your Irish Ancestors: The Complete Guide (see the “For Further Reading” section).

Maclysaght, Edward. Bibliography of Irish Family History.

These books are arranged alphabetically by surname and together list over thirteen hundred family histories.

Indexes to Genealogical Collections

The Family History Library has some unique collections of genealogical information on Irish families, including published and unpublished collections of family lineages, research files of prominent genealogists, and a few surname indexes. The following sources index many of the library's genealogical collections:

Surname Index. 3 vols. Dublin: Genealogical Office. (FHL book Ref Q 941.5 A5g; film 928,034 items 1-3 computer number 0383556.) This index lists pedigrees and other records deposited at the Genealogical Office, Dublin. It also lists the pedigrees found in the Genealogists Magazine (1929-59) and The Irish Genealogist (1937–). The supplementary volume of this series provides call numbers for those records, pedigrees, and periodicals available at the Family History Library.

McAnlis, Virginia Wade. The Consolidated Index to the Records of the Genealogical Office, Dublin, Ireland. Vols. 1-4. Issaquah, WA: Virginia R. McAnlis, 1994. (FHL book 941.5 A3mv.) This index to the manuscripts of the Genealogical Office gives microfilm numbers for the National Library of Ireland and the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Hayes's Sources.

Smith's Inventory of Genealogical Sources: Ireland. This manuscript indexes many periodicals and journals available at the Family History Library that contain family pedigrees.

Pedigree Index. 3 vols. Typescript. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, [1964?]. (FHL book Ref Q 941.5 A5gp; film 255,494; computer number 0170953.) This index gives film numbers for many pedigrees available at the Family History Library.

The following guide and supplements index printed sources containing pedigrees of at least three generations. These guides are excellent for finding Irish pedigrees:

Marshall, George W., ed. The Genealogist's Guide. 1903. Reprint. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1980. (FHL book Ref 929.142 M356g 1980; film 496,451 computer number 0191131.) This is the main volume of these three sources.

Whitmore, John Beach, comp. A Genealogical Guide: An Index to British Pedigrees in Continuation of Marshall's Genealogist's Guide (1903). London: Walford Brothers (sold guide for compiler), 1953. (FHL book Ref 929.142 M356g supp.; fiche 6054492 computer number 0375591.) This source supplements Marshall's guide.

Barrow, Geoffrey B., comp. The Genealogist's Guide: An Index to Printed British Pedigrees and Family Histories, 1950-1975. London: Research Publishing Co., 1977. (FHL book Ref 929.142 M356g 1950-1975; fiche 6026284 computer number 0008520.) This source supplements Marshall's and Whitmore's guides.

Research Coordination

You can use Ancestral File to identify others who are searching your family line and to register your interest in coordinating research.

You can also use the following publications to identify the names and addresses of individuals researching the same family name. Search all editions of both publications, since both are published yearly and specific family names may appear in only one edition. You may have to do some research to connect your family with a family of the same surname listed in one of these sources.

Johnson, Keith A., and Malcolm R. Sainty. Genealogical Research Directory: National and International. Sydney: (The Editors of the) Genealogical Research Directory, 1997. (FHL book Ref 929.1025 G286grd computer number 0397541.)

Park, Keith, and Tracey Park. Family History Knowledge - UK 1992. 2d ed. Melksham, England: Family History Club, 1992. (FHL book Ref 942 D27pk computer number 0675858.)

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