This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: AnnetteCode Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.britisles.ireland.kid.general/2292.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: These are some resources you can you for searching in Ireland: www.failteromhat.com ( directories)and www.askaboutireland.ie (land descriptonsO Griffith Valuation of land included owners, head and sub-tenants and was done between 1846-1864 depending on the county. This valuation was done as a way to value land for tax purposes. It is a good census substitute, as there are no complete searchable census till 1901/1911. 1911 is now complete and available at the www.nationalarchives.ie and the 1901 census is supposed to follow this year. There is also a similar complete census substitutes in the Tithe Applotments 1824-26 a similar valuation of land for taxing for the Church of Ireland which everyone paid regardless of religion. Other counties have bits and pieces available. www.censusfinder.com United Kingdom Ireland County www.igp-web.com County www.from-ireland.net has the 1837 Lewis Dictionary which describes towns and parishes as well as all the other divisions of land, the smallest being the Townland of each Parish.This website has some civil registrations from 1864 and other resources including the Latter Day Saints numbers of microfilm for searching records prior to 1864. There are a couple of online searchable records for most counties these are usually where you need to pay for a copy of a record. I can't put these names on the message board. Using the name Kenniff I looked for records as follows: In the Griffiths Valuation found only a John Kenniffe, Westmeath County, Parish of Conry, Latistown Townland Property #2a house, office and land 16Acres 2 roods and 25 perches, tenant of Wm. H. Magan, M.P. There various spellings Conniff, Cunniffe, Kniefe, Cuniff, Cumiffe, and McNiff are included in birth records. In between 1839-1849 are 325 births of various spellings, none Kenniff in the following counties, Galway, Down, Roscommon, Westmeath, Lough and Mayo. With a christian name, the surname and the year of birth 1844 you should be able to get a copy of a birth record. This record would include his/her father's name, mother's name and maiden name and place which would be the Parish, after 1864 these become Civil Registrations. Gravestone inscriptions can also be a good source of information. Directories: 1846 Denis Canniffe, Clonakilty - Canniffe's Hotel Soverign St. 1870 Denis Cannifee Baker, George St. Clonakilty. Mullinarad 0; Mullinavat - Waterford Co.; Mullinagar Westmeath, possible others. You could try www.irishtimes.com/ancestor Annette Code 'genealogy for fun' Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.