Why Use Irish American Newspapers for Irish Genealogy Research?
When compared to other genealogy resources, Irish-American newspapers articles add dimensions to your family tree that you can’t get otherwise. Use the stories published in newspapers to help you build a narrative around your Irish family history and Irish ancestors. Uncover more than just the names of your ancestors. Understand the people they were, the lives they lived, and how this shaped your family heritage.
With publications dating back to the 1810s, you can trace your Irish ancestry back to some of the earliest Irish immigrants. One of the largest influxes of Irish immigrants occurred between 1820 to 1860 when over 1.9 million Irish arrived in the United States driven by famine and job opportunities in the United States. As a result, today, approximately 33 million Americans are of Irish descent (according to recent U.S. Census records).
Unique Irish Genealogy Records Found in Newspapers
Irish-American newspapers preserved valuable Irish birth, marriage, and death records potentially not found elsewhere until after the 1860s. These vital public records or civil registration did officially not start in Ireland until 1864. Prior to then, Irish churches held the only official records of births, marriages and deaths. However, these announcements were often published in early Irish American newspapers. Today, these newspaper announcements may be some of the only Irish genealogical records you can find as many Irish churches were destroyed along with the original records.
Discover the stories of each person and events that defined their new life in America. Did your Irish ancestors help build the Erie Canal which largely used Irish people? Or perhaps, they fought in one of the many Irish regiments during the Civil War. Uncover the answers to these questions and more by searching by name. If you know the Irish surnames of your ancestors, start by searching that first and then work your way backwards.
Our archives also include official passenger lists of Irish immigrants from Ireland, Northern Ireland & England. To help narrow your online search, remember the majority of Irish immigrants landed in ports along the East Coast, such as New York and Boston. Passenger lists can help identify which Irish province your ancestors lived in before immigrating, providing more information to further trace your family history and give you a better understanding of your Irish heritage.
Irish Genealogy Resources from GenealogyBank
You don’t have to be a professional genealogist to learn about your family history. Tracing your Irish ancestors is easy with GenealogyBank’s extensive collection of Irish American Newspapers. With a little luck of the Irish, you’ll be well on your way to discovering your Irish heritage.