Original Rootsweb Co. Tyrone Community Site
Explanation of Townlands of Parishes in County Tyrone
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For those involved with Irish genealogy a Townland name is the most important information in locating where their ancestors lived.
A townland or bally (Irish: Baile Fearainn) is a small division of land within the Parish, which is believed to be of Gaelic origin, with most townlands thought to pre-date the Norman invasion and many retaining their Irish Gaelic names. Some townland names and boundaries however derive from Norman manors, plantation divisions, or later creations of the Ordnance Survey.
There are currently 61,402 named townlands in Ireland, covering the whole island.
Townlands vary in size from the smallest, of less than an acre (Old Church Yard, Carrickmore, parish of Termonmagurk, County Tyrone), up to 7,012 acres (28.38 km2) (Sheskin, parish of Kilcommon, County Mayo). Typically 200 to 400 acres (1.6 km2) is a reasonable average.
Irish civil parishes consist of a number of townlands which could be spelt variously until c1900. Townlands can also be known locally by familiar names and also sub-denominations. It is important for researchers to understand that estate rentals, tithe applotment books and Griffiths Valuation were organised according to townlands.
Poor Law Unions were formed following the passing of the Poor Law Act in 1838. A union consisted of a group of parishes centred upon a market town and a workhouse; these in turn became civil registration districts. Knowledge of a union or civil registration district is essential when searching civil registration indexes for emigrant forebears and also those who remained at home. Researchers should be aware that a union could cut across both parish and county boundaries. Compulsory civil registration of Protestant marriages in Ireland commenced in 1845, and all births, deaths and Roman Catholic marriages commenced in 1864.
The table of approximately 2,162 townlands in Co. Tyrone, showing the acreage, Can Be Seen Here.
Click on a Civil Parish name to be linked to a Townland map. A number of maps are too large for one page; therefore, you may have the choice of East / West or North / South views of those maps. Many maps are oriented in landscape mode; however, you can use your PDF viewer to rotate or enlarge a map for easier viewing by using commands located under the View Menu.
Duplicate Names occur where there is more than one townland with the same name in the county. Names marked in bold typeface are towns and villages, and the word Town appears for those entries in the Acres column.
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Civil Parish |
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|
Bodoney Lower |
Aghaboy Lower |
289 |
Strabane Upper |
Gortin |
|
Bodoney Lower |
Aghaboy Upper |
361 |
Strabane Upper |
Gortin |
|
Strabane Lower |
Aghabrack |
268 |
Strabane Lower |
Gortin |
|
Dungannon Upper |
Aghacolumb g. |
294 |
Dungannon Upper |
Cookstown |