Nature of Source
Documents relating to the administration of an estate which includes title deeds, agents’ reports, correspondence, rentals, household accounts, estate maps, valuations, wage books, maps and surveys. Estate records could also hold militia and yeomanry musters which give the names of men available to serve as local defence volunteers. Other estate records that contain the names of individual tenants and workers and sometimes the children include leases, rent rolls, rent ledgers and wage books.
Many of the wealthy Irish land owning classes had links to England and therefore the estate papers relating to their Irish land and property can be found in English repositories. Estate papers can be found at The National Archives at Kew, the British Library and County Record Offices. If the name of an estate owner is known, a search of The National Archives Discovery catalogue and other online catalogues should be undertaken. The Bodleian Library, part of Oxford University, also houses a number of papers from relating to the estates of prominent Irish families.
The Landed Estates Court Rentals can provide further information on land and property tenure. The records originated from two Encumbered Estates Acts in 1848 and 1849. The Acts allowed for the sale of the many estates that went bankrupt during the famine years. However in many cases the estate was entailed so the Acts also removed these restrictions. The Landed Estates Court Rentals were in effect sales catalogues and included urban and rural properties. The documents provide the date and place of sale with a description of the estate and its location together with a map. The details of the owner is given with a list of tenants with their rents and tenure. If the property was held by lease then the particulars will name those contracted and could involve one or more generations. Landed Estates Court Rentals can be searched online at Findmypast.
Published rentals include The O’Brien Rentals which includes most of those published between 1849 and 1885 and The Quit Rent Office set which is less complete and covers rentals after 1885. These two sets are held at the National Archives of Ireland and two others at the National Library of Ireland and the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland.
Where Found
Public Record Office of Northern Ireland
The archives holds privately deposited archives of estates, spanning 300 years. Records include estate papers covering early leases, rentals listing tenants’ names, detailed maps, surveys, account books and wage books.
National Archives of Ireland
The archives hold a number of landed estate collections including legal documents, maps or plans of property, deeds, rent rolls, valuations and correspondence letters
The National Library of Ireland
The library holdings from the large estates include original deposited manuscripts and papers such as lease agreements, title deeds, rent payment ledgers, maps and rentals listing tenant names.
Trinity College Library Dublin
The library holds extensive landed estate papers of prominent families such as the Earls of Donoughmore (Co. Tipperary) and others. The records span mostly from the 17th through to the 20th centuries and include documents such as deeds, correspondence, rentals, household accounts, estate maps, surveys, leases, rent rolls and wage books.
Boole Library
University College Cork. The library holds several estate record collections and related material, primarily within its Special Collections & Archives.
The University of Galway Library
The estate records cover properties and families mainly in Galway and surrounding counties, spanning mainly the 18th and 19th centuries. The archival holdings include title deeds, agents’ reports, correspondence, rentals, household accounts and estate maps. The library also hosts a Landed Estates Database that helps locate surviving archival collections or family names connected to estates.
Cork City and County Archives
Collections include Solicitors & Landed Estate Papers which can include various types of deeds such as leases, mortgages, charters, marriage settlements and wills, as well as court/case documents and legal minutae, financial and business records such as rental ledgers and wages books, business correspondence, and sometimes personal and family correspondence.
Period Covered
1700 – 1900
Genealogical Value
- Names, addresses, occupations, ages of tenants.
- Sometimes the tenant’s children and their ages are given.
Further References
Family History Guides
- Adolph, Anthony. Collins Tracing Your Irish Family History: HarperCollins, 2007
- Begley, Donal. Handbook on Irish Genealogy: How to Trace Your Ancestors and Relatives: Heraldic Artists, 1984
- Connell, Gretta. Tracing Your Westmeath Ancestors: Flyleaf Press, 2012
- Corrigan, Mario & Durney, James & Kiely, Karel. Tracing your Kildare Ancestors: Flyleaf Press, 2014
- Davis, Bill. Irish Ancestry – A Beginner’s Guide: FFHS, 2001
- Falley, Margaret Dickson. Irish and Scottish-Irish Ancestral Research: GPC, 1981 (1962)
- Franklin, Margaret. Tracing your Limerick Ancestors: Flyleaf Press, 2011
- Grenham, John. Irish Ancestors, A Pocket Guide to Your Family History: Gill & Macmillan, 2004
- Grenham, John. Tracing Your Irish Ancestors: Gill & Macmillan, 2011
- Hamrock, John. Tracing your Roscommon Ancestors: Flyleaf Press, 2007
- Kinealy, Christine. Tracing Your Irish Roots: Appletree Press, 2009
- McCarthy, Tony. The Irish Roots Guide. Dublin: The Lilliput Press, 1991
- McCarthy, Tony & Cadogan, Tim. Tracing Your Cork Ancestors: Flyleaf Press, 2011
- Maxwell, Ian. Tracing Your Ancestors in Northern Ireland: A Guide to Ancestry Research in the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland: Stationery Office, 1997
- Maxwell, Ian. Researching Armagh Ancestors: A Practical Guide for the Family and Local Historian: Ulster Historical Foundation, 2000
- Maxwell, Ian. Researching Down Ancestors: A Practical Guide for the Family and Local Historian: Ulster Historical Foundation, 2000
- Maxwell, Ian. How To Trace Your Irish Ancestors: How To Books, 2009
- Maxwell, Ian. Your Irish Ancestors: A Guide for Family Historians: Pen and Sword, 2008
- Maxwell, Ian. Tracing Your Northern Irish Ancestors: A Guide for Family Historians: Pen and Sword, 2010
- Meehan, Helen & Duffy, Godfrey. Tracing Your Donegal Ancestors: Flyleaf Press, 2008
- Mitchell, Brian. A New Genealogical Atlas of Ireland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 2009
- Mitchell, Brian. Basic Guide to Irish Records for Family History: Clearfield Company, 2009
- Mitchell, Brian. Tracing Derry-Londonderry Roots: Clearfield Company, 2014
- Mitchell, Brian. NEW Pocket Guide to Irish Genealogy Paperback: Clearfield, 2020
- O’Connor, Michael H. Tracing your Kerry Ancestors: Flyleaf Press, 1994
- O’Dowd, Peadar. Tracing your Galway Ancestors: Flyleaf Press, 2010
- Ouimette, David. Finding Your Irish Ancestors: A Beginner’s Guide: Ancestry.com, 2005
- Paton, Chris. Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet: A Guide For Family Historians: Pen & Sword Books, 2013
- Prochaska, Alice, Irish History from 1700: A Guide to Sources in the Public Record Office: British Records Association, 1986
- Raymond, Stuart. Irish Family History on the Web: The Family History Partnership, 2007
- Roulston, William. Researching Scots-Irish Ancestors: The Essential Genealogical Guide to Early Modern Ulster, 1600-1800: Ulster Historical Foundation, 2005
- Ryan, James. Irish Records: Sources for Family & Local History: Flyleaf Press, 1997
- Ryan, James & Smith, Brian. Tracing Your Dublin Ancestors: Flyleaf Press, 2009
- Ryan, James. Tracing your Sligo Ancestors: Flyleaf Press, 2012
- Smith, Brian. Tracing your Mayo Ancestors: Flyleaf Press, 2010
- Smith, Brian & Kennedy, Gerry. Tracing Your Clare Ancestors: Flyleaf Press, 2013
- Stewart, Alan. My Ancestor Was Irish: A Guide to Sources for Family Historians: Society of Genealogists, 2012
Other
- Bradshaw’s Railway Map Great Britain and Ireland 1852: Mapseeker Publishing, 2013
- Connolly, S.J. The Oxford Companion to Irish History: Oxford University Press, 2007
- Coogan, Tim, Pat. The Famine Plot: England’s Role in Ireland’s Greatest Tragedy: Palgrave Macmillan, 2013
- Dickson, R.J. Ulster Emigration to Colonial America, 1718-1775: Ulster Historical Foundation, 1976
- Grenham, John. The Little Book of Irish Clans and Tartans: Book Sales, 1995
- Robinson, Philip. Plantation of Ulster: Ulster Historical Foundation, 2000
- Smith, Paul & Turner, Keith. Railway Atlas of Ireland Then & Now: Ian Allan Publishing, 2014
Websites
Public Record Office of Northern Ireland
Information Leaflet: Encumbered Estates. The information leaflet gives an overview of encumbered estates
Public Record Office of Northern Ireland
Information Leaflet: Introduction to the Irish Encumbered Estate Papers. The leaflet summarises some of the most interesting and significant content within the Irish Encumbered Estates archive held in PRONI.
National Archives
Family and Landed Estate Collections. Explore family histories, land ownership, and social conditions, and learn how to access them at the National Archives of Ireland and other repositories.
Ancestor Network
Rentals as a Resource for Irish Family History. This article deals with rentals, records of rent payments by tenants on Irish estates particularly during the 18th and 19th centuries.
John Grenham
Estate Records
Ask About Ireland
Big Houses of Ireland. At the beginning of the 19th century there were over 4000 Big House Country Estates in Ireland; today there are less than 100. Find out what happened to them in this section: ‘The Big House Experience’ by Dr. Terence Dooley.
Ask About Ireland
Background to Landed Estates.
Landed families of Britain and Ireland
Results of long-term research into the landowning families of the British Isles and the country houses which they owned. Each post will concern the history and properties of a particular family, making it possible to trace both the links from families to houses and from houses to their owners over time.
Irish Genealogy Toolkit
Land and property records in Ireland. The guide gives This page gives a summary of the main Irish land and property resources.
Irish Genealogy Toolkit
Landed estates court rentals.
Ireland Reaching Out
Guide to using Freeholder Lists. 8 FAQs about Irish Freeholder Lists. So where are these lists? And can they be searched online?
FamilySearch Research Wiki
Ireland Land Records. The article discusses some of the major types of Irish land records, what they contain and how to access them.
University of Limerick
Research guide: Estate and family history. This guide provides an overview of the sources relating to the topic of estate and family history held in the Special Collections and Archives department at the Glucksman Library.
The Genealogist
A sense of place. Chris Paton explains what Irish land records reveal.
Timeline
Irish Land Records: Census Substitutes.
General Ireland Resources
Irish Genealogy
Irish Genealogical Research: Getting Started. The site offers practical advice and guidance for people beginning their journey into Irish family history research with a number of key recommendations.
FamilySearch Learning Center
Getting Started in Irish Genealogy presented by Marie E. Daly. Lecture designed to acquaint beginning genealogist with strategies and sources for getting started in Irish genealogy
John Grenham
Irish Ancestors. The website is dedicated to Irish ancestry and genealogy research. It offers various tools and resources for people interested in tracing their Irish family history. Key features include a surname search and place name search and guides to researching Irish ancestry.
The Irish Times
How to trace your Irish family history: a step-by-step guide, by John Grenham.
Timeline Research Ireland
Tracing Irish Ancestors Online. A free up to date guide by Nicola Morris.
Irish Genealogy
The site provides information about available church records for family history research in Ireland.
Irish Archives Resource
IAR does not hold any collections itself but helps researchers locate archival records and collections in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland by entering the name of a person, place or subject. The catalogue includes many organisations, societies, political organisations and businesses.
RASCAL
Research and Special Collections Available Locally. An electronic gateway to research resources in Ireland. You can use this website to search and browse information about the wide range of research and special collections held in libraries, museums and archives across the region.
Fianna Study Group
The site offers a comprehensive resource for individuals researching Irish ancestry including:
- Transcriptions of primary sources including birth, death and marriage records.
- Guides to Irish genealogical research, including basics, frequently asked questions and detailed instructions on searching records and understanding Irish naming patterns.
- Articles and timelines covering Irish history.
- County-specific resources devoted to each county in Ireland.
- Emigration and migration help including passenger lists, ship records and resources for tracing Irish ancestors who moved to the USA, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand.
Irish Genealogical Research Society
The Society, founded in 1936, is dedicated to promoting the study of Irish genealogy and preserving genealogical materials, particularly those compiled before the loss of many documents in the 1922 Public Record Office fire in Dublin. The Society manages an extensive reference library of printed and manuscript genealogical materials, considered the most important private collection of Irish genealogical resources globally. Details on how to access these materials are available on their website, along with specifics about their contents. The society offers guidance to family historians through its publications and various other resources.
Online Historical Population Reports
Histpop. University of Essex. The collection provides online access to the complete British population reports for Britain and Ireland from 1801 to 1937 including official reports, legislation and essays on the censuses including statistical analysis. The documents on the site include indexes to parishes, townships and places used in the official reports.
Findmypast
Ireland Census Reports. Learn about the community in which your ancestor lived with census reports detailing population and area statistics from the latter half of the 19th century up to the early 20th century. The reports provide statistical details regarding the number of inhabitants in a given townland. The statistical details are broken down by gender, age, or other similar categories.
Findmypast
Ireland Statistical Surveys. Search these surveys from the early 1800s to learn about the history, customs, politics, and industries of these 10 counties: Cavan, Clare, Cork, Donegal, King’s (Offaly), Leitrim, Mayo, Meath, Roscommon, and Tyrone. Discover what pre-famine life looked like for your ancestor.
Townland Resources
Irish Genealogical Research Society
Index of Townlands, 1901. The site offers access to the Index of Townlands from 1901. The index, published in 1904 by the Commissioners of Census, was created as an aid in processing the returns for the 1901 census of Ireland. The index provides an alphabetical listing of townlands and towns in Ireland, along with various administrative divisions such as parishes and electoral divisions.
Irish Townland and Historical Map Viewer
Tailte Éireann (formerly Ordnance Survey Ireland). The service allows users to view historical and townland boundaries and features for the island of Ireland on interactive maps. Enables fast search and pinpointing of particular Irish townlands, names and boundary features.
The IreAtlas
Townland database. Search of the IreAtlas Townland database. The results of a county or townland search show all the townlands within the requested county together with the barony and parish.
nidirect
Public Record Office of Northern Ireland. In this section you can access lists of townlands arranged in the following different ways by county, by parish, within the estates of major landowners and alphabetically.
Irish Homelands
The website offers a tool for exploring Irish townlands. Users can access a detailed list of townlands and search by parish or county if you’re unsure of the townland name.
John Grenham
Irish Placenames. 1851 General Alphabetical Index to the Townlands and Towns, parishes and Baronies of Ireland. Search the entire Index, together with street listings from Dublin, Cork and Belfast cities, more than 65,000 entries in all.
Irish Genealogy
Family Research 2016: Placenames. This article explains and explores how townlands and parishes got their names with links to useful resources.
Online Databases
- Landed Estates Court Rentals 1850-1885. Discover you Irish ancestors among the tenants of bankrupt estates. Search the records of over 500,000 tenants on more than 8,000 estates across Ireland. Find details of the rented property including maps as well as essential genealogical information.
- Galway, St George Mansergh Estate Records, 1775-1832. Explore the records of the St George Mansergh estate in Headford, Galway. The documents include descriptions and maps of the estate along with a rent roll of the estate.
- Ireland, Encumbered Estates, 1850-1885. Search records from the Encumbered Estates’ Court which was established to facilitate the sale of Irish estates whose owners were unable to meet their obligations because of the Great Famine. Expect to find the names of the sellers and tenants.
- Galway, Ireland, Ballynahinch Estate Records, 1905-1940. This collection has tenant records from 1905 to 1940 and visitor records from 1905 to 1970. Entries in the registers are handwritten and may be difficult to read.
Irish Landed Estates Database
The site offers a searchable online database focused on landed estates and historic houses in Connacht, Munster and the Republic of Ireland’s Ulster counties (Cavan, Donegal, Monaghan) covering the period c.1700–1914. The resource draws on a wide range of historical sources, including estate records, family papers, and archival collections. The database was developed and is maintained by the Moore Institute for Research in the Humanities and Social Studies at the University of Galway.
Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland
Cromwellian Surveys, 1652-1703. Access digitised surveys and maps showing the owners of confiscated land from Irish Catholic landowners who had supported the Royalist cause during the English civil war. The records contain detailed descriptions of the old landowners and the quantity of land they forfeited. The resource includes fully searchable, transcribed and digitised volumes of the Books of Survey and Distribution, the Civil Survey and the Down Survey Maps.
The London Archives
The Great Parchment Book of the Honourable The Irish Society. Online access to people, places or livery companies mentioned in the Great Parchment Book held at The London Archives. The Book records details of forfeited estates owned by the City of London in the County Londonderry, Northern Ireland in 1639. The site offers digital images, searchable transcriptions and background research.
Trinity College Dublin
The Down Survey of Ireland. Digital images of all the surviving Down Survey maps at parish, barony and county level with written descriptions of each barony and parish that accompanied the original map. The Survey, taken in the years 1656-1658, sought to measure all the land to be forfeited by the Catholic Irish and transferred to the Protestants.
FamilySearch
Ireland, Landed Estate Court Files, 1850-1885. This collection contains information about land occupation in Ireland during the nineteenth century. The records include details on bankrupt estates as well as on land owners and tenants from all counties in Ireland.
Ulster Historical Foundation
The Foundation is a non-profit organisation founded in 1956, dedicated to those researching the history and genealogy of Ulster and its families. The site offers access to over 2 million searchable records including:
- Irish Land Commission Court of 1897. List Tenants of Lisburn.
- Deeds for Newry and district, 1732-c1880. This database comprises an index of the parties to deeds relating to Newry and adjoining townlands.
- Index to Hamilton references in County Down Deeds in Registry of Deeds, Dublin, 1739-1810. Listed by townland, lessor and lessee’s surname.
- Belfast Leases, 1750-1815. This list of lease holders in Belfast contains details of several hundred tradesmen, tradeswomen and occupants of the town along with the date their lease commenced.
- Catalogue of the sale of the Caledon estate, 1775. This database comprises a transcription of a pamphlet containing the catalogue of the 268 properties within the estate.
- Caledon Estate Lease Book, 1752.
Irish Genealogical Research Society
Index of Townlands, 1901. The site offers access to the Index of Townlands from 1901. The index, published in 1904 by the Commissioners of Census, was created as an aid in processing the returns for the 1901 census of Ireland. The index provides an alphabetical listing of townlands and towns in Ireland, along with various administrative divisions such as parishes and electoral divisions.
Ancestry
Irish Records Index, 1500-1920. This database is an index containing a wide range of Irish historical records held at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. The index includes details such as name, date, residence and item numbers drawn from histories, pedigrees, parish registers, probates, and orphan’s court records.
CD Roms
N/A
