Ulster genealogy relates to family history research in Ulster, one of the four historical provinces in Ireland. The majority of its counties lie in present-day Northern Ireland, part of the United Kingdom, while three of its counties are in the Republic of Ireland.
The historic province of Ulster covers an area of about 22,000 square kilometers (about 8,500 square miles). Today it has a population of 2.2 million people.[1] Its largest city is Belfast, which is the capital city of Northern Ireland.
Historically, the textile industry has been prominent in Ulster, ranging from linen, cotton and wool from the 17th century to the 20th century.[2] By the end of the 1800s and beginning of the 1900s, there were roughly 200 linen industry companies employing 70,000 people, most of them in Belfast.[3] Today industries as diverse as digital technology and aerospace to financial services and tourism are common employers in Northern Ireland.[4]
History of UlsterHistory of Ulster
Ulster's name originates from Ulaidh, a group of tribes from this part of Ireland, combined with tir ("land"). It roughly translates to "Land of the Uladih." It is one of Ireland's four traditional provinces.
Part of Ulster became known as the Earldom of Ulster after the 12th century Norman invasion. Around the 1500s, the O'Neills and O'Donnells were dominant families of Ulster.[5]
A Scottish to Ulster migration path became common in the 16th century, and English immigration transformed the region in the 16th and 17th centuries with the formation of plantations; these migrations made Protestantism the primary religion in the northern part of Ireland, especially Presbyterianism.[6]
People from Scotland who populated Ulster are typically referred to as Scots-Irish, Scotch-Irish or Ulster Scots. They spoke a dialect of the Scots language. Many left for the American colonies, later the United States.
While the linen industry became a common employer, it also led to the spread of disease especially tuberculosis at mills and factories, leading to a shorter life expectancy.[7]
Geography of UlsterGeography of Ulster
The historical territory of Ulster is made up of land along the northern coast of Ireland. It consists of rolling hills and low mountains. It has very few trees due to plowing, draining, and cultivating of the land over the course of many centuries.[8]
Lough Neagh, the largest lake in the United Kingdom, is located west of Belfast. The freshwater lake stretches about 390 square kilometers (150 square miles), bordering five counties (Antrim, Down, Armagh, Tyrone, Londonderry); it is known for its surrounding trails and natural beauty.[9]
The Irish Sea separates Northern Ireland from England and Wales, and the Atlantic Ocean lies to the north. The North Channel is between Northern Ireland and Scotland.
Administrative divisions in UlsterAdministrative divisions in Ulster
The historical territory of Ulster is divided into 9 counties:
- Antrim (Northern Ireland)
- Armagh (Northern Ireland)
- Cavan (Republic of Ireland)
- Donegal (Republic of Ireland)
- Down (Northern Ireland)
- Fermanagh (Northern Ireland)
- Londonderry (Derry) (Northern Ireland)
- Monaghan (Republic of Ireland)
- Tyrone (Northern Ireland)
Identifying the county of origin is important for genealogical research as many records are categorized at the county level. It may be useful to study neighboring counties as well for potential links, especially for families who lived along borders.
The counties above break down further info more than 400 civil parishes and more than 16,000 townlands, which are listed at Irish Townlands. The Ulster Historical Foundation has a Townland Atlas of Ulster, which provides invaluable insights into the land over time down to the townland level.
Popular surnames in UlsterPopular surnames in Ulster
Some of the most common surnames in Ulster include:
Due to its history, several surnames in Ulster have a Scottish origin[10], including:
Another family with roots in Ulster is the O'Neill clan, particularly with a presence in County Tyrone.[11]
Notable people from UlsterNotable people from Ulster
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The following well-known people are from Ulster:
- J.M. Andrews, 2nd Prime Minister of Northern Ireland
- James Bryce, university teacher, historian, politician
- Eliza Hamilton Dunlop, writer, songwriter
- C.S. Lewis, philosopher, author, novelist
- Wesley Guard Lyttle, newspaper publisher, writer
- Mary Ann McCracken, abolitionist, social reformer
- Van Morrison, rock'n'roll musician
- Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone
- Ian Paisley, politician, former church minister
- Isabella Tod, women's rights activist
Many more people have ancestors from Ulster including U.S. Presidents Ulysses S. Grant, Andrew Jackson, and Woodrow Wilson, author Mark Twain, and Samuel Morse, inventor of the Morse Code.[12]
Types of records in UlsterTypes of records in Ulster
Civil registration records and church records are the main sources of genealogical information for the historical province of Ulster.
Civil records for all of Ireland, including Ulster, are indexed at IrishGenealogy.ie. It is helpful to know the civil registration district or office to easily find records, but you can also search by name and date filters.
Catholic Church records are digitized online by the National Library of Ireland. They are searchable by county. For Protestant Church records, check the Church of Ireland's website or the Presbyterian Historical Society of Ireland. Many church records (Catholic and Protestant) are indexed at RootsIreland.ie. Additional information is available on the MyHeritage Wiki about the church records from the Church of Ireland, Methodist Church and Presbyterian Church
The following collections include people from Ulster:
- Northern Ireland, Wills and Administrations on MyHeritage
- Ireland, Northern Ireland, Telephone Directories (2001-2003) on MyHeritage
- Ireland, Ulster Freeholders (1662-1839) on MyHeritage
- Henderson's Ulster Directory, Ireland (1856) on MyHeritage
- Bassett's Book of Antrim, Ireland (1888) on MyHeritage
- 1766 Ireland Religious Census on MyHeritage
- Ireland Births, 1864-1958 on MyHeritage
- Ireland Marriages, 1619-1898 on MyHeritage
- Ireland, Griffith's Valuation, 1847-1864 on MyHeritage
- 1901 Ireland Census on MyHeritage
- 1911 Ireland Census on MyHeritage
See alsoSee also
Explore more about Ulster genealogyExplore more about Ulster genealogy
- Using Y DNA testing to investigate Ulster and Scottish surnames by John Cleary on Legacy Family Tree Webinars
- How to Trace Your Irish Genealogy on MyHeritage
- Ireland collections on MyHeritage
- Ulster Historical Foundation official website
- Ulster Heritage DNA at FamilyTreeDNA
References
- ↑ Central Statistics Office, Ireland. Ulster population, per census, 2022: 2,217,000. https://data.cso.ie/
- ↑ "The Ulster Textile Industry 1690-1995 | nidirect". www.nidirect.gov.uk. 2023-10-12. Retrieved 2024-09-15.
- ↑ "How did linen become so important in Ulster?". BBC Bitesize. Retrieved 2024-09-15.
- ↑ "Our Sectors". Invest Northern Ireland. 2021-05-27. Retrieved 2024-09-15.
- ↑ "Ulster | History, Map, Geography, & Culture of Irish Province | Britannica". www.britannica.com. 2024-09-07. Retrieved 2024-09-15.
- ↑ "Northern Ireland - Plantations, Conflict, Union | Britannica". www.britannica.com. 2024-09-14. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
- ↑ "What was it like working in the linen industry in Ulster?". BBC Bitesize. Retrieved 2024-09-15.
- ↑ "Northern Ireland - Maritime, Temperate, Rainfall | Britannica". www.britannica.com. 2024-09-14. Retrieved 2024-09-15.
- ↑ "Lough Neagh". Ireland.com. Retrieved 2024-09-15.
- ↑ "Surnames in Ulster | Discover Ulster-Scots". discoverulsterscots.com. Retrieved 2024-09-15.
- ↑ "The Proud History of the O'Neill Clan". www.irishamerica.com. Retrieved 2024-09-15.
- ↑ "Ulster-Scots Agency - What is Ulster-Scots - Famous Ulster-Scots". www.ulsterscotsagency.com. Retrieved 2024-09-15.
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