Over the course of the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, Irishmen and women left the island of Ireland for better opportunities overseas. While large numbers populated the Americas, equally large numbers settled in England, Scotland and Wales.
The clue to the Irish origins of your ancestors might be found in the use of an Irish surname, an accent, family tradition or, most commonly, the place-of-birth column on a census return. Before starting your research in Ireland, however, it is sensible to gather as much information as you can find about your Irish-born relative from the records for the country in which they settled. This will vastly improve your chances of a successful search in Ireland.
BEFORE YOU START
Try to establish where in Ireland your forebear was born, the names of their parents and siblings, and the occupation of their father. The recently released 1921 census for England, Wales and Scotland should provide a specific place of birth in Ireland. The 1891 and 1911 census can also record this information, but check all census returns for clues, making a note of
