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Galway (Gaillimh)

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 Galway.

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. (Galway is page 156 in the reference guide)

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 Galway Ancestors by Peadar O’Dowd

Call Number: Geneal. 929.1072 Od59g

Publication Date: 2010

Contains a listing of resources available for family history research for Galway, where the records can be found, and tips for how to utilize each resource to “best effect”.  Source lists provided include Administrative Divisions, Civil Registration, Census and Census Substitutes, Church Records, Gravestone Inscriptions, Land and Related Records, and Wills, Administrations, and Marriage Licenses.  Also included are Commercial and Social Directories, Newspapers (current and historical) specific to Galway and the surrounding area, alphabetical listing of known Merchant Tribes and Galway families with references to other texts/sources that reference each family, and a list of useful addresses for obtaining information and records in or pertaining to Galway.

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

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.

Register of the Parish of St. Nicholas, Galway 1792-1840 edited by Brigid Clesham

Call Number: Geneal. 929.34174 C597r

Publication Date: 2004

Date Range: 1792-1840

Register of the Parish of St. Nicholas in Galway, including records of 908 baptisms dated between 1800-1839, 410 marriage entries dated 1792-1839, and 39 burials dated 1800-1803, 1818, 1820, 1832, 1834 and 1836-1838.  Also included: Appendix A) listing of British Army and Militia regiments stationed in Galway between 1792-1840; Appendix B) Bibliographical information on the parish clergy in chronological order from 1792-1840.

Galway-Ballinasloe Family Roots, Kilkenny & Creagh Parish; Exploring Family Origins in Ballinasloe Town published by Noel Farrell

Call Number: Geneal. 929.34174 F2476e

Publication Date: 1998

Date Range: Varies, includes materials from 1854, 1894, 1901, 1911, 1934, & 1940

Booklet contains church records in brief for several parish locations in Galway, townland map of Ballinasloe, listing of Ballinasloe and Aughrim pubs in 1894, and Ballinasloe, Aughrim, and Creagh pubs in 1934.  Also includes 1901 Census, Slater’s Directory 1894, 1940 Electors List, 1858 Griffiths Valuation, and Map of Ballinasloe 1865.

Families of County Galway, Including Galway City and County by Michael C. O’Laughlin

Call Number: Geneal. 929.34174 OL12f 2002

Publication Date: 1998

Contains listing of early family surnames of Galway dating from around the 12th century through the 19th century with some alternate spellings, listing of ancient tribal names, Viking and Norman invasions, Chieftains and Territories, and modern or post-19th century surnames.  Pages 31-170 contain list of families in Galway County, with brief history and locations where each is found.

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.