Return to Map
Clare (An Clár)
This research guide is designed to help you find your Irish ancestors in our genealogy print collection. The McClelland Library uses the Dewey Decimal Classification System to make our print materials findable through the online catalog and while browsing our shelves in person. Below you will find books to help you locate your ancestors in county Clare.
929.1: Books under this dewey number at the McClelland Library are primarily about how to get started with genealogy research and where to find certain sources.
Tracing your Irish Ancestors by John Grenham
Call Number: Geneal. 929.1072 G865t Publication Date: 1999
A comprehensive guidebook for Irish genealogy; includes tips for where to begin, what to expect, and brief exploration of internet source. Grenham provides major source lists of Civil, Census, Church, and Land Records, Wills, Genealogy office, Deed Registries, Newspaper and Directory listings, and a reference guide of Sources by County.
Irish Towns, a Guide to Sources edited by William Nolan and Anngret Simms
Call Number: Geneal. 929.1072 Ir47 Publication Date: 1998
Provides brief overview of the history of towns and territorial divisions in Ireland, including several maps, drawings, and prints. Also includes source listing of records of Central and Local Government after 1700, Estate and Church records, Newspapers, Directories, and Gazetteers, and a select bibliography of publications on Irish Towns in the period from 1500-1980, printed between 1969 and 1993.
Tracing your Clare Ancestors by Brian Smith & Gerry Kennedy
Call Number: Geneal. 929.1072 Sm527g
Publication Date: 2013
Contains a listing of resources available for family history research for Clare, where the records can be found, and tips for how to utilize each resource to “best effect”. Source lists provided include Administrative Divisions, Civil Registration, Census and Census Substitutes, Church Records, Gravestone Inscriptions, Land and Related Records, and Wills, Administrations, and Marriage Licenses. Also included are Commercial and Social Directories, Newspapers (current and historical) specific to Co. Clare and the surrounding area, alphabetical listing of known Merchant Tribes and Clare families with references to other texts/sources that reference each family, and a list of useful addresses for obtaining information and records in or pertaining to Clare.
929.3: Books under this dewey number at the McClelland Library are primarily Genealogy Sources or books of compiled resources put together by genealogists.
Families of County Clare, Ireland by Michael C. O’Laughlin, president, I.G.F.
Call Number: Geneal. 929.34193 OL12f 2000
Publication Date: 2000
Contents include a map of County Clare (2000), Ortelius Map of Clare 1576, Ancient Tribes and Tribal Name Chart, Map of Ancient Thomand, list of Old Irish Families, Cromwellian Settlement Map, Settler Families, Ancient Families listed in Keatings History, 190 Birth Index & Clare Names, 1855 Griffiths Valuation, Periodicals, Passenger list of Waterloo, and Families of Co. Clare listed alphabetically. Also contains and Index of Surnames and Arms of Clare Families.
929.4: Books under this dewey number at the McClelland Library are primarily about names. Books in this section can contain information about surnames, forenames, and even baby names. While these books may have information in general about your surname, they do not contain lineage information.
The Surnames of Ireland by Edward MacLysaght
Call Number: Geneal. 929.4094 M226s 1991 Publication Date: 1991
Date Range: 1848-1864
Contains location of ancient territories, population groups, relevant abbreviations and explanation of technical terms used in guide. Pages 1-303 provide alphabetical listing of surnames, followed by an appendix of English and Scottish surnames in Ireland, and an appendix providing a simplification of Gaelic forms of surnames.
929.5: Books under this dewey number at the McClelland Library are primarily about Cemeteries.
A Guide to Irish Churches and Graveyards by Brian Mitchell
Call Number: Geneal. 929.50941 G9415
Publication Date: 1990
Guide to the cemeteries and graveyards listed by county with civil parish, townland, Ordnance Survey sheet number, religious denomination of church, and indication of whether cemetery or graveyard remains attached to church. There is a number preceding each listing that provides reference to map location in author’s atlas, A New Genealogical Atlas of Ireland. Especially helpful in locating approximate birthdates, person’s residence at time of death, possibly family information (if family plot).
929.6 – 929.8: Books under this dewey number at the McClelland Library are primarily about family Heraldry. Heraldry includes family crests and tartans.
The Poolbeg Book of Irish Heraldry by Micheal O` Comain
Call Number: Geneal. 929.6 012p Heraldry Publication Date: 1991
An introduction to Irish heraldry this guide is a good starting point as it contains general guidelines for researching. Included on pages 71-98 is a Heraldic Dictionary that provides the meanings of a variety of images, heraldic terminology, and variations in spelling of terms and phrases.
Fairbairn’s Crests of the Families of Great Britain and Ireland by James Fairbairn
Call Number: Geneal. 929.6041 F1507f Heraldry Publication Date: 1986
Contains survey of over 30,000 families, geographical associations, legends and mottos. Index of family names are arranged alphabetically on pages 1-522, glossary of terms pages 523-530, and alphabetical index of mottoes on pages 531-599. Also included is an index of plates of Crests, Orders and Regalia, Flags, Ornamental Lettering, Monograms, Heraldic Illustrations, Foreign Crowns, and Principal Cities, and Regalia of Scotland.