14 Books That Will Help Your Irish Genealogy Research

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Can you believe that 10% of Americans claim they have Irish ancestry, according to the census? That’s 32 million people, which is second only to people with German ancestry!

Everyone knows about St. Patrick’s Day, but did you know that March is Irish American Heritage Month? In honor, I wanted to share some books on Irish genealogy.

The Family Tree Irish Genealogy Guide: How to Trace Your Ancestors in Ireland by Claire Santry

Santry teaches readers how to find their immigrant ancestors, their family’s county and townland, and other resources for the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. She also overviews naming patterns, geography, case studies, and resource lists to help researchers.

Tracing Your British & Irish Ancestors: A Guide for Family Historians by Jonathan Scott

This book guides researchers through the national, regional, and local archives in Britain and Ireland and how to use them.

How to Trace Your Irish Ancestors: An Essential Guide to Researching and Documenting the Family Histories of Ireland’s People by Ian Maxwell

This brand-new edition reviews 18 types of sources from civil registration and election records to church records. It also shares what’s available locally and what’s online.

How to Trace Your Family Tree in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales: the Complete Practical Handbook For All Detectives of Family History, Heritage and Genealogy by Kathy Chater

Kathy Chater reveals when and where different records in Ireland and the UK were kept and how to find them. Sources such as newspapers, parish records, and criminal records are overviewed.

A New Genealogical Atlas of Ireland by Brian Mitchell

This atlas has maps with all Catholic parishes in Ireland, as well as Presbyterian congregations in Northern Ireland. It also gives helpful information on records for ancestors born after civil registration began in 1864. Each county has several maps covering parishes, dioceses, poor law unions, and more.

Tracing Your Irish & British Roots by W. Daniel Quillen

Quillen gives tips specific to researchers of Ireland and UK records. He also offers helpful information on how to prepare for a research trip to Ireland and the UK.

Passenger Lists from Ireland by J. Dominick Hackett and Charles M. Early

If your family arrived before the Famine, this book may be helpful for your research. It lists over 5,000 people who immigrated between 1811 and 1816 and has the ship, date of arrival, ports of departure and entry, and point of origin.

Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet by Chris Paton

In this updated version (2019), Paton outlines many different online sources available to researchers. Resources for people with ancestry from the Republic and Northern Ireland are included, as well as case studies.

Tracing Your Irish Ancestors by John Grenham

The latest edition of this book details county-by-county resources, as well as online resources and DNA testing information.

Passengers from Ireland: Lists of Passengers Arriving at American Ports Between 1811 and 1817 by Donald M. Schlegel

Schlegel compiled passenger data published New York's the Shamrock and Hibernian Chronicle newspapers. Passenger names, ship name, point of departure, and more are listed.

Tracing Your Northern Irish Ancestors: A Guide for Family Historians by Ian Maxwell

Books specific to Northern Ireland are hard to find. Maxwell guides researchers around the challenges of the destruction of many Irish records and how to use the information still available.

The Surnames of Ireland by Edward MacLysaght

This is the definitive book on Irish names and their origins. It details over 4000 names and where they are from.

Book of Ulster Surnames by Robert Bell

Bell offers a handbook to surnames from Ulster, with over 500 of the most common family names. He gives a history of each name, its original form, where it came from (Ireland, Scotland, England, Wales or France) and why it changed to what it is today.

Journeys Home: Inspiring Stories, Plus Tips and Strategies to Find Your Family History by Andrew McCarthy

Yes, Andrew McCarthy of Brat Pack fame. This book is more inspirational than a manual, but still an interesting resource. Inside are many stories of how he and others discovered their Irish ancestry.

What’s your favorite book on Irish American genealogy? Please share!