Databases

Where the sources permit, the databases in the left-hand menu cover the entire North Antrim region. This means that you will be able to search for names and places in the North Antrim area over three centuries. Remember, however, that not all names of persons residing in the region are recorded in the earlier sources and not every source is extant for the entire area.

Note that the 1630, 1669, 1740, 1796 and c.1860 databases cover all baronies and parishes within North Antrim.

The 1766 database only covers the parish of Ballymoney because this parish is the only one extant for North Antrim.

The 1803 database covers the parishes of Armoy, Ballintoy, Ballymoney, Ballyrashane, Ballywillin, Billy, Culfeigthrin, Derrykeighan, Drumtullagh, Dunluce, Kilraghts, Loughguile, Ramoan and Rathlin. These are the only parishes extant for North Antrim.

At the moment the 1820/30s Tithe database only covers the parishes of Ballymoney and Kilraghts where the locality studies are located. This source is extant for the entire region and I hope to add other parishes later.

I have also added a link to Ballymoney Ancestry because it contains databases of many sources relating to the Ballymoney area that I have not databased. Note, however, that the databases on the Ballymoney Ancestry site do not operate in the way that they operate on this site. Also, you will have to register to access the databases. Registration is free. It is well worth a visit.

Surnames and Townland Names in the Databases on this website

Spelling of surnames and place names, particularly in earlier sources, can be very different from modern-day spellings. For ease of searching and sorting, I have used standardised surnames and modern-day spelling of townland names - read more. Note that standardised surnames are not used in the Ballymoney Ancestry databases.

Accuracy of the databases

Remember these databases are not primary sources. I have never seen a database that did not contain mistakes. I have checked the databases on this site many times but I cannot guarantee that all of the information in them is 100% correct. To be absolutely sure of particular information in a database, you should check the original document from which it was created.

Using the databases

The databases have been produced in Excel. I appreciate that some of you will not have Excel on your computer. Therefore, to overcome this problem, the databases are also available as PDF files. I'm assuming that most of you will have a copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader which will open the PDF files. If not, go to http://www.adobe.com/  for a free copy of the latest version of the reader.

All of the databases will open in a separate window or a separate tab, depending on the browser that you are using and the way it has been configured.

When you close a separate window or tab containing a PDF file, it should close immediately. However when you close a window containing an Excel file that you have sorted or searched, you will normally be asked if you want to save it. Simply click on No and close the window. In other words, if you open the file from the web server [which I would recommend] it is a read only file, so changes cannot be saved.