Irish families in Ayrshire

[pinefamily]

I see there were a lot of Irish in Ayrshire. Here I am tracing my Scottish forebears, ready to learn the bagpipes and try haggis (maybe not), and I discover that nearly all of them were Irish after a generation or 2. I am presuming that they married amongst their own people due to religion (Catholicism).
Apart from census records, I have had a bit of trouble tracing them.
Can anyone point me in the right direction?
And Guiness sounds more appealing than haggis!

Cheers,
Darren

[Elwyn Soutter]

You need to establish their parish or townland in Ireland. If born or married after 1864 (Protestant and nonconformist marriages start in 1845), they ought to be in the statutory records which are on the LDS beta site. Before that you will have to rely on parish records. There are other sources depending on the time frame.

Suggest you post a specific query with the names, ages and dates of the people you are interested. More specific guidance will follow.

You need to exhaust all Scottish sources to get the maximum information about their Irish ancestry. Eg wills, all censuses (most just say Ireland but occasionally a more specific place of birth is given), obituaries, family bibles, military records, poor law records (Mitchell Library Glasgow). Scottish birth certs have the date and place parents married, so that can be very helpful, if post 1855.

[Ceryswyn]

Hi.

There's lots of Irish that came through Ayrshire because of the short distance of the ferry crossing between Donaghadee in Ireland and Port Patrick in the county below Ayrshire (who's name escapes me).

I've encountered the same as you, I've been proud of my Scottish roots my whole life and living in America now where everyone seems to claim Irish descent it frustrated me no end to realise I'm partly Irish also lol!! Especially this last St Patricks day when I couldn't decide to be against it as I normaly do (It's so much fun to play Anti St Patricks day in front of a hoard of green beer drinking Americans) or claim my Irish heritage and join in the fun.

For the record... Haggis is greater than Guiness. Period

[Elmca]

My Ayrshire ancestors also originated from Ireland.  Their name was McFadzean, or McFadyen latterly. They came from Greyabbey in Co.Down.
Other Irish ancestors were McCulloch - Bangor, Co. Down. Affleck - Belfast.  Daly - Roscommon.  It's difficult finding out the origins of Irish ancestors.  I was lucky to find snippets from Scottish census records and births of children born in  Scotland where it stated parents marriage, and on one birth cert it stated fathers place of birth which was fantastic.
 I managed to locate one Irish marriage record in Millisle, Co Down from PRONI (Public Records Office Northern Ireland). I have also found an Irish birth on Irish Family History Foundation website.
 
I agree with Ceryswyn - Haggis is far more delicious than Guiness But then I am Scottish (with a splash of Irish blood!) The county below Ayrshire is Dumfries & Galloway
 

[myhoose]

It is possible that your Irish ancestors were in fact descendants of Scots who went "ower the watter" at the plantation. I know for a fact thats what happened with a branch of my family because the surname Houston originates from Renfrewshire. Finding the evidence to prove it all is a bit of a challenge.

It disny matter whether your Scots or Irish, they're both pict/celt descendants anyway.

Im no that fussed for haggis but I find a wee dram and a pint o guiness help it go doon a treat!

[barbatalice]

I have Irish-born Ayrshire ancestors  DUFF, DICK and possibly HOUSTON all born abt 1780s.
Was there a major migration from Ireland about 1790-1810?

I'm interested in in the HOUSTON comment from myhoose
My ancestor Helen DUFF nee HOUSTON has Ireland as her birthplace on the 1841 & 1851 census, but Paisley, Renfrewshire on the 1861 census and her death certificate. 
Her parents were said to be John HOUSTON, miller, and Margaret FLEMMING. 
I can't find her birth in OPR for Paisley.

Has anyone had luck finding births in County Down, Ireland for the late 1700s?

Barb

[myhoose]

Hi Barb

The only reason I managed to find out whereabouts in Ulster that my family had come from was due to a brother who was married in 1855 in Dalry, Ayrshire. He had to declare where he was born on the marriage registration. But even then he stated that he was "born but not registered in Glenwhirry, Antrim".
I have been unable, so far to find written evidence in Antrim. The lack of census information and baptism records available online make things near impossible. A trip to Antrim is necessary but even then I'll be lucky to find anything. Hopefully a marriage for their parents will be available.
As for the OPR's in Scotland, I have found that a lot of children were not baptised. I think it all depended whether they could afford the kirk fee, especially with non-catholics.
The records I have found for Irish ancestors was via familysearch.org. Unfortunately, no Houstons to be found that I can defenitely say were my relatives.
I became an associate member of the Northern Ireland Family History Society in the hope I may get some help before I can get there myself.

Sharon

[barbatalice]

Thanks Sharon

I had always assumed County Down for my lot because of the proximity to Ayrshire, but of course they could be from Antrim or other northern county. I'll widen my search

Barb

[Elmca]

Have you tried the Public Records Office Northern Ireland?
http://www.proni.gov.uk/index/about_proni.htm
I got a marriage certificate for Co Down 1855 from them.
I think they have added many more records etc since I got that a few years back so maybe worth a try.