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Leitrim (Liatroim)

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 Leitrim.

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.

929.3: Books under this dewey number at the McClelland Library are primarily Genealogy Sources or books of compiled resources put together by genealogists.

Ireland: County Cavan & Co. Leitrim Genealogy and Family History published by The Irish Genealogical Foundation

Call Number: Geneal. 929.34169 G2862

Publication Date: 2001

Offers a comprehensive starting point for for family searches narrowed down to Counties Leitrim and Cavan. Part one includes a birth index, national resource list, Cavan local resource list, Leitrim local resource list, family search listing, and passenger list of passengers from Cavan and Leitrim taken from “Names of Irish Passengers to America” (181810-1817).  Part two contains a Cavan town map, Parliament list (Irish House of Commons, 1727-1798), Freemen (Cavan, 1697-1838 with gaps), and the 1659 Census in Leitrim taken from The Irish Archives. Also included in Part two are family history notes, ‘Irish Pedigrees” and ‘King James Irish Army map of the 4 Masters: Cavan and Leitrim Families. Part three is comprised of place names and locations, and a lengthy Surname Index.

Irish County Maps Showing the Locations of Churches in Connaught Province compiled by The Genealogical Department of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Call Number: Geneal. 929.34171 Ir43c

Publication Date: 1976

Date Range: 1699-1855

Contains Irish county maps showing the locations of churches in Connaught Province counties: Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Roscommon, and Sligo.  Also provides civil parish records listing the civil parish, location of chapel, and starting date of records. Denominations listed are Church of Ireland, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, and “Others”.  Galway maps and civil parish records are found on pages 8-16.

South Leitrim Roots Book: Exploring Family Origins and old Carrick-On-Shannon compiled by Noel Farrell

Call Number: Geneal. 929.34176 F2476e

Publication Date:

Contains 1906 and 1911 Leitrim Census records, Kiltoghert Electors List 1940/41, list includes names that do not appear on other census records due to emigration, information on local newspapers and how to retrieve indexed editions, Griffith’s Valuation, list of Leitrim Pubs in 1889, Slater’s Directory, and old town maps.

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.