Northern Ireland genealogy – best online resources

Castle Coole is a magnificent neo-classical house located near Enniskillen, co. Fermanagh.

For clarity's sake, therefore, I chose four databases that are specifically targetted to Northern Ireland genealogy research and would suggest that anyone looking for ancestors in the six counties also takes a look at my other lists of (both free to use and pay-to-view) online resources. Links are at the bottom of the page.

All of the websites or databases below have earned their place in this list by offering free access to a good proportion, if not all, of their information.

The sites are listed here in alphabetical order.

• Belfam

  The Belfam (Belfast Family History & Community) website has a fully searchable index to the Belfast census returns for both 1901 and 1911. Successful searches produce transcribed records of the household returns showing name, address, age, occupation, religion, marital status, place of birth etc. In addition, the site contains personal accounts from families whose not-so-distant ancestors appear in these censuses. There is also a photo gallery of Belfast at the time the censuses were taken.

  
  

• PRONI

  Established in 1923 following the partition of the island into the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland is the official repository for public records for the six counties of Antrim, Armagh, Derry (Londonderry), Down, Fermanagh and Tyrone.

  This free site offers databases containing details of those who signed the Ulster Covenant (1912), records of pre-1840 Freeholders, and the first phase of the Will calenders (1858-1900) project. You can also download several very useful advice guides specific to Northern Ireland genealogy research such as National School Records.

  Of course, the site also includes details of which microfilms or paper records are available for viewing at PRONI for each church and for which years.

  
  

• Ulster Ancestry

  Ulster Ancestry is a commercial website for an organisation of professional genealogists who you can commission to carry out research into your Northern Ireland genealogy.

  While the business of much of the site is to target potential customers, it also has a large and very useful selection of free databases. These include muster rolls (dating back to 1631), local directories, gravestone inscription, clergy lists, some marriage records and a significant number of ship passenger lists.

  Fascinating stuff. And the organisation is to be applauded for placing it online for free access.

  
  

• Ulster Directory

  Don't be put off by the advertisement in the middle of the landing page when you follow this link.

  While the ebook of the Belfast and Ulster Directory for 1852 has to be purchased, the more recent edition of this Directory, published in 1910, can be searched on this site. A list of 160 towns runs below the advertisement and when you follow a link, you'll find brief details of the town (market day, number of inhabitants), information about post office officials and local places of worship (and their clergy), plus a list of adult inhabitants, their occupations and, in some instances, their address. This directory is unlike most others published before it which tended to list only gentry, local officials and tradespeople.

  This database is, therefore, a useful addition to Northern Ireland genealogy resources while the long wait for free online census records continues.
  

Don't limit your Northern Irish ancestor search to sites that are dedicated purely to Northern Ireland. Genealogy records for Antrim, Armagh, Derry (Londonderry), Down, Fermanagh and Tyrone are also held in the Republic. So take a look at some of my other recommendations, too.

A list of FREE online resources for Republic and Northern Ireland genealogy.

A list of Irish genealogy databases that charge for access.

Go to Irish Genealogy Toolkit Home page.