Archdiocese

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

Barony

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

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.

Church Parish

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

Civil Parish

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

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.

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.

Diocese

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

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.

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.

Filia

Latin for daughter

Filius

Latin for son

Frater/Fratris

Latin for brother

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.

Gazetteer

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