Check the Census
Since 1850, U.S. census records have included birthplaces for each individual in a household and for his or her parents, which will help you identify ancestors who immigrated. Start with the newest census records available and march back in time collecting information about your ancestor and other family members.

Gather Other Clues
While you’re searching for your immigrant ancestor, also pay attention to other immigration clues. For example, in this 1900 census record, you’ll also find the year of immigration. Plus the brother-in-law living with this family may be Joanna’s brother, which could mean you’ve found her maiden name. But research the name fully before making assumptions: Dennis Mulcahy may also be the husband of Thomas’s sister and not related by blood to Joanna at all.

Review Passenger Arrival Lists
Some later passenger arrival lists will point you to an Irish home. These excerpts from a 1922 arrival list offer both place of birth and a name and address of a next of kin in Ireland. You’ll find passenger lists in the Ancestry.com Immigration and Travel collection.

Note Other Passengers
Irish immigration to the U.S. peaked during the mid-19th century, when passenger lists were notoriously sparse. But you may still be able to discover information in one that can help you learn more. This 1850 passenger list for Cornelius Casey includes the names of family members who traveled to America with him. If Cornelius’s U. S. paper trail doesn’t mention his Irish home, records for these family members might.

Search Through
Naturalization Documents
There are plenty of U.S. records that can mention an Irish hometown. Included are naturalization records. While it wasn’t always a requirement that a hometown be given, an immigrant may have included it anyway.

Review Border
Crossings and Passports
At times, it was more affordable for immigrants to travel through Canada before crossing into the U.S. And relatives who remained in Canada may have also crossed the border to visit your ancestor. Either scenario could mean there’s a border crossing with a mention of the Irish home. Check passports too: while they largely weren’t required until the 20th century for travel abroad, your ancestor may have applied for one. Both are found in the Ancestry.com Travel and Immigration collection.

Check Their Vitals
Marriage records may list detailed information about a bride and groom and birth records may also include the birthplaces of parents. Death records sometimes provide the place of birth for the deceased and other family members, too. Check them all for hometowns and other valuable family history information.

Read an Obituary
Obituaries vary widely so read each carefully and look for clues. If the Irish home isn’t mentioned in your ancestor’s obituary, check obituaries for his or her siblings and other relatives from the old country – theirs might.

Image courtesy of Ancestry.com member, Trevor Thomas, Baldock Family Tree

Branch Out with Your
Ancestry.com Family Tree
Now it’s time to see how connected you are. Search for your ancestor in other people’s family trees at Ancestry.com. You may find that someone else has made big discoveries on the same family line. Select the owner’s name for a quick way to send a private message.

Image courtesy of Ancestry.com member, Al Barby, Newton family tree

Search Across the Pond
Once you have the name of a likely head of household and a hometown, try searching records from Ireland. This search result from Ireland, Griffith’s Valuation, 1848-1864, at Ancestry.com provides the name of tenant and landowner and is searchable by either. Can’t find your ancestor? Try searching for other male relatives who may have owned property.

Look Closely
Links in your Griffith’s Valuation search results take you to maps and images of the area for a clearer view of where your family’s roots originated. Be sure to search all Irish collections at Ancestry.com, where you’ll find additional photos, marriage indexes, documents related to the Great Famine, tithe applotment books and more.