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Kerry (Ciarrai)
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 Kerry.
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 Kerry Ancestors by Michael H. O’Connor
Call Number: Geneal. 929.1072 Oc57t 2001
Publication Date: 2001
Contents include Administrative Divisions, Censuses and census substitutes, Church, Military and Education Records, Civil Registration of Births, Marriages and Deaths, Commercial and Social Directories, Wills and Administrations, Memorial Inscriptions, Land Tenure and Ownership, Newspapers and Family Histories, National and Local Government Records (including Grand Juries by with year and case description and Poor Law Union Boards of Management with Union name/manuscript/and time period), and useful addresses for searching sources in Kerry.
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 Kerry, Ireland by Michael C. O’Laughlin, president, I.G.F.
Call Number: Geneal. 929.34196
Publication Date: 2000
Contains a map of County Kerry (2000) and old Ortelius Map of Kerry in 1576, as well as an ancient sketch of Kerry Castle. Also provides some Settler Families, Denny Muster Roll from 1598, Palatine Families, Irish Forces at Settlement Tralee with Chart of Settlers before 1641 and Chart of Settlers after 1641. Sources, Old Kerry Newspaper list, 1776 List of Papists, and Ancient Families of Co. Kerry with Kerry Family History Sources. Index of Families of County Kerry with surnames and locations listed alphabetically on pages 1-157.
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.