Enrollment options
Researching land and deed records can be a bit frustrating due to the difficulty in access and use. In addition, researchers fail to understand their indirect significance when correlating and connecting family members, when determining pre-emigration identity, parentage, and origins of the emigrant.
This course discusses:
- issues when using land records which began in 1708
- the historical background of land tenure
- general contents of records and availability
- strategies for effectively researching and accessing record collections
You will learn about deeds, valuation surveys, records involving landed estates, encumbered estates, freehold records, land commission, registry records, some special collections, and some collections which precede 1708 to early 12th century. Several examples are provided.
Many sources referenced are available through FamilySearch and Irish repositories.
Course Length: 7
weeks
Historical: This course was formerly Irish: Land Administration Records, originated July 2002, final version copyright August 2022. Current version is titled Irish: Land and Property Records, copyright is August 2025.
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Course Content
Course Notes
MODULE 1LAND BACKGROUND & LOCATIONS
Irish Land Records
- Introduction
- Brief History of Land Tenure
- Land Wars, Reforms and Regulations
- Finding Your Ancestor’s Townland or Location
- Identifying Civil & Ecclesiastical Divisions
- Challenges with Locating Placenames
- Mapping
- Conclusion
Module 1 Course Assignments
MODULE
2
LAND DEEDS
General Description of Records
Registration Process
Repositories
Accessibility
Recommended Reading and Resources
Module 2 Course Assignments
MODULE
3
PROPERTY
VALUATION RECORDS
Historical Background
General Description of Records
- Tithe Applotment Survey Records
- Tithe Defaulters List
- Griffith’s Primary Valuation of Ireland
- Previous Valuations
- Subsequent Land Re-Valuations
Module 3 Course Assignments
MODULE
4
LANDED
ESTATE RECORDS
Historical
Background
General Description of
Records
Search
Process
Repositories
Accessibility
Recommended Reading and
Resources
Module
4 Course Assignments
MODULE
5
ENCUMBERED ESTATE & FREEHOLD
RECORDS
Encumbered Estate
Records
- Historical Background
- General Description of Records
- Search Process
- Repositories
- Accessibility
Freehold Land Ownership
Records
- Historical Background
- Module Activity
- General Description of Records
- Search Process
- Repositories
- Accessibility
Recommended Reading and
Resources
Module
5 Course Assignments
MODULE
6
MISCELLANEOUS, LAND COMMISSION & LAND
REGISTRY RECORDS
Miscellaneous Land
Records
- Historical Background
- General Description of Records
- Search Process
- Repositories
- Accessibility
Land Commission
Records
- Historical Background
- General Description of Records
- Search Process
- Repositories
- Accessibility
Land Registry
Records
- Historical Background
- General Description of Records
- Repositories
- Accessibility
Recommended Reading and
Resources
Concluding
Comments
Module 6 Course
Assignments.