Find your ancestors in Ireland, Society of Friends (Quaker) migration records

What can these records tell me?

These records note those Quakers who have transferred from one meeting location to another as a result of relocation. Transcripts and images of the original handwritten registers are included in results. You may be able to discover the following information about your ancestor from these migration records:

  • Name
  • Age
  • Occupation
  • Origin address
  • Origin meeting name
  • Origin country
  • Migration year
  • Migration date
  • Destination address
  • Destination meeting name
  • Destination country
  • Relative’s name
  • Relationship
  • Relative’s address
  • County
  • Meeting and description
  • Archive and reference

The images of the original registers may provide additional insight into your ancestor’s life and decision to relocate. Those moving would often request a certificate from their current meeting to present to their new meeting as way of introduction and recommendation. For example, we read that Mary Doyle requested, and was granted, a certificate: “…these may therefore acquaint you that she hath been a young woman of a sober conversation and of good esteem amongst Friends, and as such we recommend her unto you, with sincere wishes for her preservation and growth in the Truth, with desires that your Christian Care may be over her.”

You can use the optional keywords field to search by meeting, address, and origin and destination locations.

Discover more about the Quaker collection

In Ireland, the Society of Friends (Quaker) has kept detailed records since the mid-1660s. Significant events, such as births and deaths, were recorded during their regular meetings. Follow the links in the Useful Links & Resources section to explore other records in the Irish Quaker collection on Findmypast.

The origin of Quakerism in Ireland dates back to 1654 and is attributed to William Edmundson. Edmundson converted to Quakerism in his home country of England in 1653 before moving to Ireland and opening the first Quaker meetinghouse in County Armagh the following year. He is considered the 'father of Irish Quakers'.