Ancestry adds 1926 Irish Free State census

In possibly the quickest third party publication arrangement ever by a genealogical platform, Ancestry (www.ancestry.co.uk) has added the 1926 Irish Free State census, launched online just two weeks ago by the National Archives of Ireland (see https://scottishgenes.blogspot.com/2026/04/1926-irish-free-state-census-released.html). The following is Ancestry's description:

Ireland, 1926 Census of the Irish Free State
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/collections/63564/
Source info: Ancestry.com. Ireland, 1926 Census of the Irish Free State [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2026.
Original data: Census of Ireland 1926. The National Archives of Ireland, Apr. 18, 2026.
This work includes content from records of the 1926 Census of Ireland, made available by the National Archives of Ireland under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence. Please see further: https://nationalarchives.ie/search-the-1926-census-2/permission-to-reuse-census-1926/ Accessed: Apr 18, 2026. To the extent of any conflict between Ancestry’s terms and conditions and the terms of Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence, the terms of Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) will prevail.

About Ireland, 1926 Census of the Irish Free State

General collection information
This collection contains an index of information taken from the 1926 Census of the Irish Free State. The index includes a link that connects to images of the original census pages on the National Archives of Ireland website. The original census includes a Household Form A, detailing personal information about each person who was in the house on the night that the census was conducted. It also includes a House and Building Return Form B, which can provide additional information about the size of the house and a more detailed home address.

Using this collection
Records in this collection may include the following information:

• Name
• Relationship to head of household
• Age
• Gender
• Marital status
• Birthplace
• Residence
• Orphanhood
• Language
• Religion
• Years married
• Number of children born alive
• Number of children living

Censuses are highly valuable sources of information for family historians because they contain information about multiple members of a family in one document. Learning about where your ancestors lived when the 1926 census was conducted can provide clues that help you look for other records related to their lives. For example, the 1926 census provides information on children's ages, helping you search for their birth records. The collection contains information about the marital status of people aged 15 and older, and also has information about the orphanhood of children younger than 15, indicating if one or both of an orphan's parents were dead at the time of the census. These pieces of information can be used to search for marriage and death records, where relevant.

The column titled "Irish Language" may have information about your ancestor's speaking and reading ability in both Irish and English. You may also find information on the original census image that has not been indexed. The census form has columns that may reveal your ancestor's occupation and the name of their employer. This information may provide insights into your ancestor's role in society and daily life.

Your ancestor's place of residence is listed in a separate section on the right side of the Household Form A and on the House and Building Form B. Residence information may help you discover more about your ancestor in one of the collections featured on Ancestry's Ireland Genealogy & Ireland Family History Resources page.

Further details are available via the link.

* Don't forget that my next Scottish GENES Webinar on May 30th looks at all of Ireland's surviving censuses that are available for release, as well as many alternative censuses and substitutes - for full details, and to book, please visit https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_rTFnWym3QNuTWGgie7Kdqw.

Chris

Order Researching Ancestral Crisis in Ireland in the UK at https://bit.ly/4jJWSEh. Also available -Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors, Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. To purchase in the USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page.

Scottish GENES Webinar: Tracing the Irish in Scotland

My next monthly Scottish GENES Webinar will take place on Saturday 21 February 2026 at 7pm (UK time), and will be entitled Tracing the Irish in Scotland. 

Following the event, a recording of the presentation will be available for one week to registrants, and a handout will also be supplied.

The following is the talk's description:

The first census in Scotland, the Senchus Fer nAlban, documented the descendants of Irish Gaels in the west of Scotland, a people known to the Romans as the ‘Scotti’ from which ‘Scotland’ derives its name. The stories of both Scotland and Ireland have remained intertwined ever since. Whilst the 17th century Plantations of Ulster led to the settlement of thousands of Scotland in the north of Ireland, the incorporation of Ireland into the UK in 1801, and the subsequent Great Famine of the 1840s, led to an equally vast migration of Irish folk into Scotland in the 19th century, and beyond.

In this session, family historian Chris Paton will explore the Scottish records which can assist in not only documenting what became of the settlers who have arrived over the last two centuries, but which in many cases can also identify an original point of origin in Ireland from which they came. He will cover the vital records as created by the state and the various Scottish churches, the records of confirmation (probate), the administration of poor relief, the records of religious and political conflicts, and more, explaining how such records can help to shed light onto their ancestral stories. In addition he will also flag up some Irish resources that can provide clues to family circumstances in Scotland.

To register for the event, please visit https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_9aN1bbcrQYyt_jjTZ1dbiw - the registration fee is just £10 Stirling.

I hope to maybe see you there! 

Chris 

Order Researching Ancestral Crisis in Ireland in the UK at https://bit.ly/4jJWSEh. Also available -Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors, Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. To purchase in the USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page.

The Scottish GENES Webinars Christmas Party!

The Scottish GENES Webinars Christmas Party will be an extended webinar session on Saturday 27 December 2025, starting a little earlier at 6.00 p.m. (UK time), with TWO talks for the price of one, AND a festive General Q&A session after! 

Here's a bit more about the sessions:

1) "Irish Family History Resources Online"

Despite the popular belief that Irish family history research is virtually impossible, many records exist which can help with your ancestral pursuits. This presentation looks at the key repositories and records now available online, and will prove to you that if you have been put off with Irish research in the past, now is absolutely the time to take another look.

2) “Instantly Buckled for Life: Discover Scottish Marriage Records”

The law on marriage in Scotland has differed extensively in comparison to the rest of the United Kingdom, with many types of records available for research, whether those marriages were 'regular' or 'irregular'. Most irregular forms were abolished from 1940, with another finally removed from the Scottish statute in 2006; for all of these, a celebrant was not required. I will discuss the legal history of Scottish marriage, provide case studies to illustrate the various situations in which they were created, and dispel some myths along the way.

3) Festive Irish and Scottish Genealogy Q&A

Bring your mulled wine or beverage of choice, pull up a pew, and ask me questions concerning both presentations, or indeed anything to do with Scottish or Irish genealogy, and I will do my very best to help!

This whole event will cost just £10, with registration now available at https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Muw8MUupRpuHYMfWx2mH1w

I hope that you can join me!

Chris 

Order Researching Ancestral Crisis in Ireland in the UK at https://bit.ly/4jJWSEh. Also available -Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors, Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. To purchase in the USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page.

Scottish GENES Webinar: The Godly Commonwealth - Discover Scottish Church Records

Hi folks, 

My next Scottish GENES Webinar takes place on Saturday 29th November 2025 at 7pm UK time:

The Godly Commonwealth - Discover Scottish Church Records 

From 1560 until the mid 19th century, the Kirk was Scotland’s shepherd, moral guardian and disciplinarian, its records today providing one of the key resources for genealogical research. But in trying to establish a Calvinist Godly Commonwealth on Earth it defied the Stuart monarchs for well over a century, and through its democratic and Presbyterian zeal constantly split into denominational factions over endless points of doctrine. In the immediate aftermath of its greatest crisis, the ‘Disruption’ in 1843, its ancient theological enemy, Roman Catholicism, was once again back in force in Scotland, as a consequence of the Irish Famine. By this point the dream of the Godly Commonwealth was finally over, with the state taking many of the Kirk's former functions, including poor relief, policing, and the registration of vital events. 

In this session family historian Chris Paton will provide a broad sweep of three hundred years of church history in Scotland, and discuss its impact for the family historian in locating relevant records for research.

Registration is £10, and can be carried out via https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_enWsWNSfSeOZgNZlEmep9g

I hope to maybe see you there!

Chris 

Order Researching Ancestral Crisis in Ireland in the UK at https://bit.ly/4jJWSEh. Also available -Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors, Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. For purchase in the USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page.

Special Scottish GENES Webinar for Remembrance Day: Trapped in Brussels in the First World War - A Civilian Story

Pictured below is my grandfather Charles Paton, born in Brussels in 1905 to two Scottish parents from Blackford in Perthshire and Inverness. In the First World War he was trapped as a child in the city with his family as an enemy civilian, for four long years. You can find out about his story, and those of his family, in an extra special bonus Scottish GENES Webinar, Trapped in Brussels in the First World War: A Civilian Story, next Tuesday 11 November, at 7pm (UK time). 

Their story is simply extraordinary, with various moments of drama and hardship, and tragically not everyone made it out alive. I will discuss how I was able to research their story using records from The National Archives in London, from sources in Glasgow, and from Brussels itself, as well as touch on some other aspects of the military occupation.  

Registration is £10 via https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_pdods8ZeQyeE2vpBATEDEg 

I hope that you can join me.

Chris 

Order Researching Ancestral Crisis in Ireland in the UK at https://bit.ly/4jJWSEh. Also available -Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors, Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. For purchase in tthe USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page.

Scottish GENES Webinar: Gaelic Scotland for Family Historians, 25 October 2025

Thanks to all who attended my first Scottish GENES Webinar last Saturday on DNA for beginners, from the many comments I have received from folk it seems to have gone down a treat!

My next Scottish GENES Webinar will be entitled Gaelic Scotland for Family Historians, and will take place on Saturday 25th October at 7pm (UK time). 

Most of mainland Scotland and the Western Isles will have been Gaelic speaking at some point (the exceptions are a small part of Caithness, Orkney and Shetland, and a small part of the south-east Borders), indeed there is even some place name evidence to suggest that Gaelic was also spoken just over the border in parts of England centuries ago! This means that at some point, most Scots will most likely have Gaelic ancestry in their trees somewhere back in time, whilst indeed many Gaelic communities still exist in the country, predominantly in the Westerns Isles, with as many speakers on the mainland also (over 4000 in Glasgow alone).

The Gaels were the original Scots - indeed, the word 'Scot' was how the Romans used to describe them, and indeed the first Scottish census, created centuries ago, was carried out to enumerate them for military purposes. The language is the oldest continuously used language in Scotland (beating English and Scots by several centuries), and the story of Gaelic Scotland is the story of much of Scotland itself. 

In this session I will look at the Gaelic history of the country, including the events that led to the language's decline, who the Gaels were, the language they spoke, the culture and folklore of the Gaels, and more. For the family historians there are many unique resources that might help with researching your Highlands and islands based Gaelic speaking ancestors, things to be aware of when carrying out your research, and indeed, many resources to help you should you wish to pick up their language!

To register for the event, which will cost £10 to attend, please visit https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ynCiTOHbSuyvkwhCkEScdQ?fbclid=IwY2xjawNDj8JleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFNczJDemNuaHlnb0xLYkJVAR5wZ8XYjtGx1MdXFgvvk1nVLrOwwpPChpfMH6U8wn8N6i1R3ocPqhpkHGTjLg_aem_JZ9lm91r9NN43CykTrHIIw#/registration

Tha mi 'n dòchas gun tig thu dhan seisean agam, bidh fàilte romhat - I hope you'll come to my session, you'll be welcome!

Chris 

Order Researching Ancestral Crisis in Ireland in the UK at https://bit.ly/4jJWSEh. Also available -Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors, Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. For purchase in tthe USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page.

Scottish GENES Webinar - Using DNA for Family History Research: A Beginner's Guide

As I have an extensive library of genealogy talks, I've decided to create a series of monthly Scottish GENES webinars at an affordable rate, which I hope you might be interested to attend! Along the way I will also offer brand new talks, and won't just confine myself to Scottish and Irish themed topics, as there is a lot to discuss in the big, wide genealogy world. The first of these sessions is detailed below, I hope you can come along!

Using DNA for Family History Research: A Beginner's Guide 
Saturday 20th September 2025 at 7.00pm UK time. Webinar fee: UK £10.
 

 

In this session, I will provide a jargon-free introduction for beginners on how DNA can be used for family history research to break down brick wall problems. As well as offering a brief overview of the history of DNA, and an introduction to how various DNA tests are used in certain situations, I will also highlight three case studies from my own ancestral research where DNA has offered answers to problems which the paper trail alone could not resolve. 

 

So if DNA as a topic has previously terrified you, seemed too complex, or you didn't know that there was more you could with your results beyond checking your ethnicity (!), this session will give you a sense of why so many people today are turning to it as a research tool, and some of the ways that it can help to resolve those irritating brick wall issues! 

 

(For those unable to attend on the night, a video recording will be made available of the session which will be viewable for one week after it takes place). After the session there will be an opportunity for Q&As.

 

I hope that you can join me on this first session, which I hope will be the first of many more if there is enough support! 

 

To register for the talk, please visit https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_6zmDVN02S16qflkpYCAFTg#/registration - and I hope to maybe see you there!

 

Chris 

Order Researching Ancestral Crisis in Ireland in the UK at https://bit.ly/4jJWSEh. Also available - Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors, Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. For purchase in tthe USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page.