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. Ireland Online Genealogy Records Ask the Community

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.

Civil Jurisdictions and Parish Research Information

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

Census Records

 * 1901 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1911 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection;  index

Church Records
Online Records
 * 1623-1866 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1701-1845 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

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

Civil Registration

 * 1845-1913 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1845-1958 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

Directories

 * 1856 Henderson's Ulster Directory, Ireland 1856 at MyHeritage — images ($)
 * 1880 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index, images available on Findmypast
 * 1884 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1888 Bassett's Book of County Armagh, Ireland 1888 at MyHeritage — images ($)

Land and Property

 * 1831 - 1856 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1847-1864 Ireland, Griffith's Valuations, 1847-1864 at MyHeritage — index & 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 - How to Use this Collection; index and images

Probate Records

 * 1595-1858 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; 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.

North of Ireland Family History Society Unit C4, Valley Business Centre 67 Church Road Newtownabbey Co. Antrim Northern Ireland BT36 7LS Email: [mailto:Nquire@nifhs.org Nquire@nifhs.org] Website

Websites

 * GENUKI - Armagh
 * RootsChat - Antrim Resources and Help pages
 * Irish Genealogy