in Belfast and Northern Ireland

During the last three centuries hundreds ofthousands of people left Ulster (the six counties ofNorthern Ireland plus the three border counties ofMonaghan, Cavan and Donegal in the Republic ofIreland) to seek new lives around the world. Theyincluded hundreds of thousands of Scots IrishPresbyterians who settled in North America fromthe early 18th century and great numbers of IrishCatholics who emigrated there in subsequentcenturies. Many left for other countries such asAustralia, New Zealand, South Africa and Canada.Today, many descendants of these Ulster migrantsare returning to these shores to find out more abouttheir roots. They are joined by many local peoplewhose curiosity about their ancestors is just asgreat. But how do you go about tracing your familytree? Where do you start? Who can help, advise, oreven do the work for you? This brochure is intendedas a simple guide to tracing your ancestors inBelfast and Northern Ireland.

T R A C I N G Y O U R R O O T S

Tracing Your Roots

There are a number of options available. You candecide to conduct the entire search yourself; pay forsome preliminary advice before you set out; orchoose from a number of organisations that willconduct full reports for an agreed fee. In each caseone factor is common, the more information youcan provide at the outset, the more successful yoursearch will be. Bear in mind that searches are time-consuming and can take several months or more tocomplete, even with professional assistance.

There are a number of institutions in Belfast thatprovide access to important records or hold materialof interest to those seeking their family history.These include the General Register Office, thePublic Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI),the Linen Hall Library and Belfast Central Library.

S E A R C H O P T I O N S

Search Options

The more information you can supply about yourancestors the easier it will be to check records. Themost important details you will need are names,places of abode (such as townlands, parishes andcounties) and dates of birth, marriage and death(and, if relevant, the date of emigration). Thereligion and occupation of your ancestor may alsobe of use.

If you do not have this information to hand, try andfind out as much as you can from relatives. It’salways worth checking old family photographswhich may have names and dates written on theback, or family bibles which often have importantdetails, like births and deaths, inscribed inside. Localpeople could also check family gravestones forinformation. If you are overseas, there are variousonline databases that may offer useful informationtoo. PRONI and the Ulster Historical Foundation, forinstance, have databases on their websites. Someorganisations, such as the Ulster HistoricalFoundation, will offer preliminary advice to start youon your way for a small fee and allow access totheir own databases (see Assisted Searches).

C O N D U C T I N G T H E S E A R C H Y O U R S E L F

Conducting theSearch Yourself

In Belfast, your first step should be a visit to theGeneral Register Office in the city centre. The mainrecords held here are the statutory registers ofbirths and deaths in Northern Ireland from 1864 andmarriages from 1922. Marriage registers dating from1 April 1845, for non-Roman Catholic marriages,and 1 January 1864, for all marriages, are availableat the District Registrar’s offices. It is advisable tobook a search place in advance on +44 (0)28 90252128 or email gro.nisra@dfpni.gov.uk. There arefees for assisted searches and index searches oftheir computer database.

General Register Office,Oxford House, 49/55 Chichester Street,Belfast, Northern Ireland, BT1 4HLTel: +44 (0)28 9025 2000.

Website: www.groni.gov.uk

Appointments necessaryOpening times: Monday to Friday 9.30am - 4.00pm

B E L F A S T

Belfast

The institution where you will need to spend mosttime is the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland(PRONI). Staff will advise you on how to begin yoursearch and access records but do not conductresearch on your behalf. Their main sources forgenealogical research include records for nearlyevery church in Ulster; wills (from 1858); the 1901census; tithe applotment; Griffiths Valuation; schoolrecords, poor law (workhouse) records and estatepapers. PRONI also has microfilm copies of originaldeeds for the purchase or sale of land in Irelanddating back to 1708. Researchers are encouraged toprepare as much as possible before visiting PRONIand it is recommended they study the informationon the PRONI website first.

PRONI,66 Balmoral Avenue, Belfast,Northern Ireland BT9 6NYTel: +44 (0)28 9025 5905

or email: proni@dcalni.gov.uk

Website: www.proni.gov.uk

Open to the public (ID required)Monday to Friday 9.00am - 5.00pm(except Thursday 10.00am - 9.00pm)

P U B L I C R E C O R D S

Public Records

The Linen Hall Library has an excellent genealogycollection with many important primary andsecondary sources, including books on individualfamily histories and a card index of births, deathsand marriages in the Belfast News letter between1800 and 1863.

The Linen Hall Library,17 Donegall Square North, Belfast,Northern Ireland, BT1 5GBTel: +44 (0)28 9032 1707

Website: www.linenhall.com

Open to the publicMonday to Friday 9.30am - 5.30pmSaturday 9.30am - 1.00pm

The Belfast Central Library has a substantialcollection of Northern Irish newspapers that dateback to the first Belfast News Letter, which waspublished in 1777.

Belfast Central Library,Royal Avenue, Belfast,Northern Ireland, BT1 1EATel: +44 (0)28 9050 9167

Website: www.ni-libraries.net

Open to the publicPlease contact them directly for opening times

L I B R A R I E S

Libraries

There are a number of organisations in Belfast andNorthern Ireland that will conduct a search on yourbehalf and provide facilities to help you. Theseinclude:

The Ulster Historical Foundation. For a small feethey will offer preliminary advice on your searchand allow access to their database. If you want tocommission a full report, their research team willagree a budget with you and conduct a search onyour behalf. Their computerised database includesvirtually all pre-1900 Catholic records for countiesAntrim and Down and civil marriage records for thesame counties from 1845 to 1921.

A S S I S T E D S E A R C H E S

Assisted Searches

They also have a large number of records for thecity of Belfast, and a register of those buried atBelfast City Cemetery starting in 1869. They publisha range of genealogical publications to aid research.By joining the Foundation you have access to over500,000 genealogical records online, as well asreductions for search fees and their list ofpublications. They organise lecture tours of the US,Canada and Australasia; workshops and conferencesin Northern Ireland; and can also help in tracingliving relatives.

Ulster Historical Foundation,Unit 7, Cotton Court, Waring Street, Belfast BT1 2EDTel: +44 (0)28 9033 2288

Website: www.ancestryireland.com

Open to the publicOpening times: Monday to Friday 9.00am - 5.00pm

(Descendants of Scots Irish migrants should also visitwww.1718migration.org.uk, a website created by the Ulster-Scots Agency in association with the Ulster HistoricalFoundation and the Centre for Migration Studies and theInstitute of Ulster-Scots Studies).

U L S T E R H I S T O R I C A L F O U N D A T I O N

Ulster Historical Foundation

Family Ulster offer a number of services, rangingfrom simple birth, marriage and death checks toproviding assisted research at any of the mainrecord centres such as PRONI, and at locations suchas villages and graveyards, to conducting fullsearches on your behalf. A budget is agreed upfrontand research can be directed from overseas. Theyalso offer a guided tour service to take clients tosites associated with their ancestors such as towns,villages, homes or graveyards, and, if they uncover aliving relative during their search, they will arrangea meeting on request. They provide bookingassistance for accommodation.

Family Ulster,24 Moyne Park, Belfast, Northern Ireland, BT5 7QTTel: +44 (0)28 9079 8551email: info@familyulster.com

Website: www.familyulster.com

Please contact them directly for opening times and information

F A M I L Y U L S T E R

Family Ulster

The centre is a branch of the Family History Libraryin Salt Lake City Utah, run by the Church of JesusChrist of Latter Day Saints (Mormons). It providesaccess to most of the extensive records kept at theircentral library. Staff members do not conductresearch on your behalf but will offer assistance inusing the facilities. Everyone is welcome.

Family History Centre,403 Holywood Road, Co Down, Northern Ireland.Tel: +44 (0)28 9076 9839

Website: www.familysearch.org

Only open to the publicWednesday/Thursday 10.00am - 4.00pm& Saturday 10.00am - 1.00pm

F A M I L Y H I S T O R Y C E N T R E

Family History Centre

PRESBYTERIAN HISTORICAL SOCIETYThe society has books on Presbyterian history andculture in Ireland.

The Presbyterian Historical Society,Church House, Fisherwick Place, Belfast,Northern Ireland, BT1 6DWTel: +44 (0)28 9032 2284Website: www.presbyterianireland.org

ASSOCIATION OF ULSTERGENEALOGISTS & RECORD AGENTS,c/o The Secretary, Glen Cottage, Glenmachan Road, Belfast,Northern Ireland, BT4 2NPWebsite: www.augra.com

SOCIETY OF GENEALOGISTSNORTHERN IRELANDemail: secretary@sgni.netWebsite: www.sgni.net

CENTRE FOR MIGRATION STUDIESUlster American Folk Park,2 Mellon Road, Castletown,Omagh, Co Tyrone,Northern Ireland, BT78 5QYTel: +44 (0)28 8225 6315

Website: www.qub.ac.uk/cms

ORGANISATIONS

OTHERuseful

For information on Belfastvisit www.gotobelfast.comorTel: +44 (0)28 9024 6609

For further information contact:Tourism Development Unit,Development Department,Belfast City Council,Cecil Ward Building,4-10 Linenhall Street,Belfast BT2 8BPTel: +44 (0)28 9032 0202email: murtagho@belfastcity.gov.ukWebsite: www.belfastcity.gov.uk