Ireland, Select Births and Baptisms, 1620-1911

This database is an index containing details extracted from a variety of Irish birth records.

Historical Background

Civil registration for all births, marriages, and deaths began in Ireland in 1864 (registration of non-Catholic marriages had begun in 1845). Irish church records include both those of the Catholic Church, which historically has represented about 80 percent of the population, and the Church of Ireland, the official state church from 1536 through 1870. While the bulk of Church records begin in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century, some do extend back into the 1600s.

What’s in the Records

Volunteers extracted the birth and baptism details in this index from microfilmed copies of church, civil, and other records of births housed in various repositories throughout Ireland. These extractions have been combined with family records to create a robust collection of births and baptisms.

Details in the entries vary depending on the original record, but they may include

• name
• birth date
• birthplace
• christening date
• gender
• father’s name
• mother’s name
• source information

Because this database includes details extracted from family records, researchers will want to confirm facts with original and primary sources.