How to Trace Irish Roots in Canada’s Atlantic Provinces
Summary DetailsLength: 60 minutes
Summary: Explore the stories of Irish immigrants who settled in Atlantic Canada. Discover why they migrated, where they established their communities, and which records have survived. This presentation highlights essential resources in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland, demonstrating how Canadian records can link to U.S. research.
Audience Level: Beginner-Intermediate
Requirements: Projection for computer on a large screen; internet connection
Content: 4-page PDF handout
Outline
The Irish made a profound impact on Atlantic Canada, shaping the social, cultural, and religious landscape of the region. From early 18th-century arrivals to the famine-era influx, Irish immigrants settled throughout Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland. This presentation provides an overview of Irish settlement patterns, highlighting major ports such as Saint John and Halifax, agricultural communities on PEI, and Newfoundland’s long-standing Irish fishing ties.
Attendees will gain practical guidance on locating records essential for tracing Irish ancestors: passenger lists, Catholic and Protestant parish registers, land petitions and grants, census returns, newspapers, and local histories. Particular focus will be given to the resources available through Library and Archives Canada, provincial archives, and digitized parish registers.
Cross-border connections illustrate how Irish families frequently relocated from Atlantic Canada to New England and the mid-Atlantic states. A case study will demonstrate how Canadian records can bridge gaps in Irish-American family history research.
Attendees will learn:
- Why Irish immigrants settled in Atlantic Canada.
- Which record collections are essential, and where to find them.
- How to connect Canadian records with U.S. genealogical research.
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Click HERE to have me present this webinar either through your group’s virtual meeting platform or my StreamYard platform. Includes 45-50 minutes of instruction plus 10-15 Q&A session, PDF handout and a limited time (one year) webinar recording.
