County Armagh, Ireland Genealogy

Guide to County Armagh ancestry, family history and genealogy: birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, parish registers, and military records.

History
Ancient Armagh was the territory of the Ulaid before the fourth century AD. It was ruled by the Red Branch and the Red Branch play an important role in the Ulster Cycle, as well as the Cattle Raid of Cooley. However, they were eventually driven out of the area by the Three Collas, who invaded in the 4th century and held power until the 12th. The Clan Colla ruled the area for 800 years. The chief Irish septs of the county were descendants of the Collas. Armagh was the seat of St. Patrick, and the Catholic Church continues to be his see. County Armagh is presently one of four counties of Northern Ireland to have a majority of the population from a Catholic background.This is according to the 2011 census.

The southern part of the County has been a stronghold of support for the IRA, earning it the nickname "Bandit Country". South Armagh is predominantly nationalist, with most of the population being opposed to any form of British presence, especially that of a military nature. On 10 March 2009, the CIRA claimed responsibility for the fatal shooting of a PSNI officer in Craigavon, County Armagh—the first police fatality in Northern Ireland since 1998. The officer was fatally shot by a sniper as he and a colleague investigated "suspicious activity" at a house nearby when a window was smashed by youths.

The population of Armagh is roughly 174,792 people.

General County Research Information
County Armagh (Irish: Contae Ard Mhacha) is one of the six counties of Northern Ireland. Further information about County Antrim is available at the Genuki site.

Archives and Libraries
Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) 66 Balmoral Avenue Belfast BT9 6NY Ireland E-mail Proni

General Register Office Oxford House 49/55 Chichester St Belfast BT1 4HL Ireland E-mail Proni Register of births and deaths in Northern Ireland since 1864. Marriage records from 1922 onward.

Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland Colby House Stranmillis Court Malone Lower Belfast, BT9 5BJ Ireland E-mail

Civil Jurisdictions and Parish Research Information

 * List of County Armagh Civil Parishes
 * List of County Armagh Catholic Parishes

Census Records

 * 1901 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1911 - at FamilySearch — index

Church Records
Presbyterian Historical Society Church House Fisherwick Place Belfast BT1 6DW Ireland

Moravian Church 25 Church Road Gracehill Ballymena County Antrim Ireland E-mail

Religious Society of Friends 4 Magheralave Road Lisburn BT28 3BD County Antrim E-mail

Online Records
 * 1623-1866 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1701-1845 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Civil Registration

 * 1845-1913 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1845-1958 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Directories

 * 1856 - at FamilySearch — index

Land and Property

 * 1831-1856 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Maps

 * 1885 County Map: Courtesy of London Ancestor
 * Bygonesandbyways -- Townland maps for a few parishes in the center of the county

Military

 * 1914-1918 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Probate Records

 * 1595-1858 - at FamilySearch — index

Societies
Family history societies often publish helpful journals, transcripts, compiled genealogies and host helpful websites. They may have ongoing projects to transcribe records and create indexes. Most societies publish queries in their journals and maintain lists of members’ research interests that may be helpful to you. You may want to join one of these societies, reap the benefits of their expertise and resources or support its efforts.

Websites

 * RootsChat Antrim Resources and Help pages. (Free).


 * FHL Favorites


 * Irish Genealogy


 * Ancestry Ireland

General County Research Information
Further information about County Armagh is available at the GenUKI site.

Archives and Libraries

 * Public Record Office of Northern Ireland


 * Ulster Historical Foundation


 * Armagh County Museum The Mall East Armagh BT61 9BE


 * Armagh Public Library Abbey St. Armagh BT61 7DY Tel: 028 37523142 - Fax: 028 37524177 E-mail: admin@armaghpubliclibrary.co.uk

Civil Jurisdictions and Parish Research Information

 * List of County Armagh Civil Parishes
 * List of County Armagh Catholic Parishes

Societies
Family history societies often publish helpful journals, transcripts, compiled genealogies and host helpful websites. They may have ongoing projects to transcribe records and create indexes. Most societies publish queries in their journals and maintain lists of members’ research interests that may be helpful to you. You may want to join one of these societies, reap the benefits of their expertise and resources or support its efforts.

North of Ireland Family History Society c/o Graduate School of Education The Queen's University of Belfast 69 University Street Belfast BT7 1HL, Northern Ireland Internet: North of Ireland family History Society

Websites

 * FHLFavorites.info for some great sites.
 * County Armagh, Northern Ireland GenWeb (Free)].
 * RootsChat