Genealogical Term

Description

Further Details

Archdiocese

Administrative church area comprising of dioceses.  In Ireland today there are 4 Roman Catholic archdioceses.

    http://bit.ly/2IgrcJ2

Barony

A group of civil parishes.  Baronies originally related to tuatha, tribal division of old Ireland.

    http://bit.ly/2rn5idw

Census

The first relatively accurate Irish census took place in 1821, and were taken approximately every 10 years until 1946, where they were taken every 5 years.  However, apart from a few fragments, nothing remains prior to 1901.

    http://bit.ly/2FL5oQF

Church Parish

A group of parishes make up a diocese.  In Ireland, Roman Catholic Church records are based on these.

    http://bit.ly/2IgrcJ2

Civil Parish

Consist of a number of townlands, generally map to Church of Ireland Parishes.

    http://bit.ly/2rn5idw

Civil Registration

Civil registration is the system by which a government records the vital events (births, marriages, and deaths) of its citizens and residents.  Civil registration in Ireland commenced in 1864, when it became compulsory to register all births, deaths and marriages. Non-Catholic marriages were registered with the civil authorities from 1845.

    http://bit.ly/2HSCP5C

Cognomen

Latin for surname (family name).

Congregational Records

Part of Irish parish registers, not belonging with the baptisms, marriages or burials.  They feature records relating to other sacraments e.g. Communion, Confirmation, donations, and many other administrative records for the parish.

Consanguinati en tertio grado

Latin for second cousins.

Consanguinitas/Con.

Latin meaning blood relationship (usually found on parish marriage records).

County

There are 32 counties in Ireland.

  http://bit.ly/2KEiuCz

Diocese

Administrative church area controlled by a bishop.  In Ireland today there are 22 Roman Catholic dioceses.

    http://bit.ly/2IgrcJ2

Down Survey

Taken in the years 1656-1658 by William Petty, the Down Survey of Ireland is the first ever detailed land survey on a national scale anywhere in the world.

    http://bit.ly/2LERgzn

English Mile

5,280 feet, this dates back to the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1 in the 16th century.

Fenian

Political movement in the mid-nineteenth century in favour of an independent Ireland. Its name comes from the mythological Fianna army of Fionn MacCumhail.

    http://bit.ly/2wfoizh

Filia

Latin for daughter.

Filius

Latin for son.

Frater/Fratris

Latin for brother.

Gazetteer

A book that alphabetically names and describes places e.g. Lewis Topographical Dictionary of Ireland.

    http://bit.ly/2weZF5P

Griffith's Primary

Valuation

The valuation was undertaken by Sir Richard Griffith to ascertain the monetary value of all landholdings and buildings in the country for tax purpose.

    http://bit.ly/2HZAoz2

GRO

The General Register Office (Oifig An Ard-Chláraitheora) is the central civil repository for records relating to births, stillbirths, deaths, marriages, civil partnerships and adoptions in Ireland.

    http://bit.ly/2HSCP5C

IRB

Irish Republican Brotherhood - was a secret oath-bound fraternal organisation dedicated to the establishment of an "independent democratic republic" in Ireland between 1858 and 1924.

    http://bit.ly/2JV65sT

Irish Mile

6,720 feet (1,440 feet longer than an English mile).

   http://bit.ly/2LLLGuS

Landed Gentry

Historical British social class consisting of landowners who could live entirely from rental income, or at least had a country estate.  It was distinct from, and socially "below", the aristocracy or peerage.

Mater/Matris

Latin for mother.

Mense

Latin for month.

NAI

The National Archives was established on 1 June 1988 under the National Archives Act.  Under this legislation, when records of Government Departments and their agencies are thirty years old, they are transferred to the Archives.  It took over the functions previously performed by the State Paper Office (1702) and the Public Record Office of Ireland (1867).

    http://bit.ly/2HZcqpQ

NLI

The National Library of Ireland is located on Kildare Street beside Leinster House.  The Library has a dedicated staffed Genealogy Room.

    http://bit.ly/2HTgl7E