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Did you know more than 40 million Americans can trace their roots back to Ireland? If you’re researching Irish ancestry, this collection is a valuable resource. It features approximately 77,000 indexed census records from two Irish counties, offering a rare glimpse into family life during the early 19th century.
• Londonderry (1831): 62,921 records
• Cavan (1841): 14,126 records
Whether you’re just beginning your search or trying to fill in missing pieces, this index provides a solid foundation for tracing Irish family lines before the Great Famine.
Why So Little Survived?
Ireland conducted censuses every ten years starting in 1821. However, due to a combination of neglect, bureaucratic destruction, and the 1922 fire at the Public Record Office in Dublin, nearly all census returns before 1901 were lost. What we have now—like the 1831 records for Londonderry and the 1841 records for Cavan—are fragments, often saved by chance or due to local efforts.
This makes the Ireland Census Index: 1831–1841 especially valuable. It provides researchers with a glimpse into family structure, residence, and life in Ireland during the decades preceding the Famine, which forever changed the country.
Historical Context: Ireland Before the Famine
The 1830s and 1840s were a time of hardship and transition in Ireland. Much of the rural population lived in poverty, reliant on tenant farming and potato crops. In 1845, the potato blight struck, leading to the Great Famine (1845–1852). Over one million people died, and another million emigrated—forever altering Irish society and scattering families across the globe.
Records from before this event are scarce, but those that survive offer irreplaceable glimpses into Irish families as they were—before the devastation. Many of the people listed in these records either died in the famine or were among those who emigrated to the United States, Canada, Australia, or other countries. These census fragments might be the last traces of their lives in Ireland.
Where to Go After This?
If you find an ancestor listed in this index, you can take your research further by exploring:
- Griffith’s Valuation (1847–1864): A post-famine property survey often used as a substitute for lost census records
- Parish Registers: Baptisms, marriages, and burials (some dating back to the 1700s)
- Tithe Applotment Books (1820s–1830s): Early land tax records
- Passenger Lists: For ancestors who may have emigrated during or after the Famine
- County-specific genealogical collections: Especially for Londonderry and Cavan
These next steps can help you track your ancestors’ movements during and after this critical time in Irish history.