Down (An Dún)

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. 

Tracing your Northern Irish Ancestors: A Guide for Family Historians by Ian Maxwell

Call Number: Geneal. 929.1072 M4512t 2011

Publication Date: 2011

Provides information on locating information and records specifically for the counties in Northern Ireland, and Ulster Plantation. Contains general suggestions and tips for researching, guides to locating Census Records for years 1821-1911 (one for each decade), and Pension claims. Also includes locating Civil Registration, Birth-Marriage-Death Certificates, information on locating eighteenth century records (including Survey of Downpatrick 1708, Protestant Householders 1740, Householders Returns 1766, Armagh Census 1770, and Catholic Migrants from Ulster 1795-1796). Contains location information Muster Rolls for 1630-1640, Civil Survey of Ireland, Poll Tax Returns, 1659 Census of Ireland, Regiments of Infantry and Plantation of Ulster records.  Church records of various religious sects, school and education records, Valuation and Tithe Records, Land and Estates, as well as Wills (before 1858/1858-1900/ &from 1900). Provides Directories, Almanacs, and Newspapers.

Ireland: County Down, Genealogy and Family History compiled by The Irish Genealogical Foundation

Call Number: Geneal. 929.34165 C8328

Publication Date: 2002

Offers a comprehensive starting point for for family searches narrowed down to County Down. Part one includes a birth index, national resource list, Mayo local resource list, and names of Down family search listing.  Part two contains Coats of Arms and Genelogical notes, Arms connected to Down taken from the Irish Book of Arms with original listings of specific locations for families. Also provides list of names appearing in the Books of Survey and Distribution.  Part three contains notes from Irish Pedigrees and Landed Gentry with early family trees of a selection of Down families.  Part four includes an Index of Place Names, tips on finding locations, and a county map.

‘Men and Arms’: The Ulster Settlers, c.1630 edited by R.J. Hunter

Call Number: Geneal. 929.3416 M52

Publication Date: 2012

Contains Muster Roll of Ulster Province with entries from counties Cavan, Armagh, Fermanagh, Tyrone, Londonderry, Antrim, Donegal, Down, and Monaghan.  Each entry provides the name of the Baronry, landowner’s name and title, amount of acreage/size of the baronry, men serving or holding arms listed with full name and types of arms held, and list of men not assigned arms.

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.

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).

Gravestone Inscriptions: Co. Down compiled by R.S.J. Clarke

Call Number: Geneal. 929.5094 C556g v.10

Publication Date: 1973

*Multiple Volumes*

Volume 10: Contents include gravestone inscriptions for: Ballymageogh Roman Catholic Graveyard, Ballymartin Roman Catholic Graveyard, Glasdrrumman Roman Catholic Graveyard, Kilhorne Church of Ireland Graveyard, Kilkeel Old Graveyard, Kilkeel Church of Ireland Graveyard, Kilkeel Moravian Graveyard, Mourne Abbey Graveyard, Mourne Presbyterian Graveyard, Tamlaght Graveyard, and indexes to graveyards and surnames.

Volume 12: Ballyblack Presbyterian Graveyard, Grey Abbey Grounds, Kircubbin Presbyterian Graveyard, Loughinisland Graveyard (Addenda and Corrigenda), and Magheradrool Graveyard (Addenda and Corrigenda).

Volume 17: Balloo House Mausoleum, Ballygilbert Presbyterian Church, Bangor Abbey Graveyard, Bangor Church of Ireland Church, Bangor First Presbyterian Church, Castle Park,Bangor, Clandeboye House, Conlig Presbyterian Church, Groomsport Church of Ireland Church, and Groomsport Presbyterian Church.

Volume 18: Annahilt Graveyard, Annahilt Presbyterian Graveyard, Cargacreevy Presbyterian Graveyard, Eglantine Church of Ireland Graveyard, Gilnahirk Presbyterian Graveyard, Hillsborough Graveyard, Hillsborough Society of Friends Graveyard, Hillsborough Hill Monument, Kilwarlin Church of Ireland Graveyard, Kilwarlin Moravian Graveyard, Kilwarlin Roman Catholic Graveyard, Loughaghrey Presbyterian Graveyard, Lurganville Roman Catholic Graveyard, Maze Presbyterian Graveyard, Moira Graveyard, Moira Non-subscribing Presbyterian Graveyard, Moira Presbyterian Graveyard, Carryduff Presbyterian Graveyard (Addenda), Castlereagh Presbyterian Graveyard (Addenda), Drumbo Church of Ireland Graveyard (Addenda), and Knockbreckan Reformed Presbyterian Graveyard (Addenda).

Volume 19: Ballooly Roman Catholic Graveyard, Donaghcloney Graveyard, Donaghcloney Presbyterian Graveyard, Dromara Graveyard, Dromara First Presbyterian Graveyard, Dromara Second Presbyterian Graveyard, Dromara Non-subscribing Presbyterian Graveyard, Dromara Roman Catholic Graveyard, Drumlough Presbyterian Graveyard, Finnis Roman Catholic Graveyard, Garvaghy Graveyard, Garvaghy Presbyterian Graveyard, Kilkinamurry Presbyterian Graveyard, Magheralin Old Graveyard, Magheralin Church of Ireland Graveyard, Waringstown Graveyard, and Waringstown Presbyterian Graveyard.

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.