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Civil Records

Civil registration of Non-Catholic marriages began in Ireland in 1845. Registration for all births, deaths and Catholic marriages started in 1864. From 1864 to 1877 the indexes are organized on a yearly basis for each category, births, marriages and deaths, covering the whole island and all names are recorded in alphabetical order. The same is true for Non-Catholic marriages between 1845 and 1863. From 1878 the yearly volume is divided into four quarters with each quarter covering three months. 1st quarter, January to March, 2nd quarter, April to June, 3rd quarter, July to August, 4th quarter September to December. The indexes list the surname, Christian name, registration districts, volume and page number. In the case of deaths the age at death is given, and in the case of a child under 1 year, the age is recorded as 0.  

Births.

Persons required to register a birth were, the parents, the occupier of the house where the birth took place, the nurse or midwife, or any person who was present at the birth of the child. Lawfully, notice of all births had to be given the Registrar within 21 days, and full details within 3 months of the event. There was no legal obligation to register the child's Christian name, and that is why, in some cases, the registers record simply, Male or Female. The information that they were required to supply was.

  1. the date and place of birth.
  2. the name (if any).
  3. the sex.
  4. the name, surname and dwelling place of the father.
  5. the name, surname, maiden name and dwelling place of the mother.
  6. the rank, profession or occupation of the father.
  7. the name of the informant and his/her address and qualifications e.g. present at birth.

Deaths.

Persons required to register a death were, a person present at the death, a person attending the deceased during his/her last illness, the occupier of the house where the death took place, or someone living in that house, or any person who was present or who had knowledge of the circumstances of the death. Lawfully, notice of all deaths had to be given to the Registrar within 7 days, and full details within 14 days of the event. The information that they were required to supply was.

  1. the date and place of death.
  2. the name and surname of the deceased.
  3. the sex of the deceased.
  4. the condition of the deceased as to his/her marital status.
  5. the age of the deceased at last birthday.
  6. the rank, profession or occupation of the deceased.
  7. the certified cause of death and the duration of the final illness.
  8. the name of the informant and his/her address and qualifications, e.g. present at death.

Marriage.

From 1845 for Protestants and for everyone including Catholics from 1864, were required to have the clergyman who preformed the ceremony, fill in  the certificate and forward it to the Registrar within 3 day of the marriage. The information that they were required to supply was.

  1. the date when married.
  2. the names and surnames of the bride and groom.
  3. their ages. ("Full, if over 21, or "Minor", if under 18.)
  4. their status e.g. bachelor, spinster, widow or widower.
  5. their rank, profession or occupation.
  6. their residence at the time of marriage.
  7. the surname, Christening name and rank, profession or occupation of the fathers of each of the parties.

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