Starting Your Research
Tracing your McInerney ancestry can be a rewarding journey that connects you to centuries of Irish history. Whether your family emigrated during the Great Famine or in more recent times, numerous resources can help you build your family tree.
The key is to work backwards from what you know. Start with living relatives, gather family documents, and then use official records to extend your tree into the past.
Irish Records
For McInerney families, County Clare is typically the starting point. Here are the most valuable Irish records:
Civil Registration Records (1864-present)
Births, marriages, and deaths have been recorded by the Irish state since 1864. These records are available online and can often provide the link between your known ancestors and earlier generations.
Catholic Parish Records
Since the McInerneys were traditionally Catholic, church baptismal, marriage, and burial records are essential. Many County Clare parish records date back to the early 1800s, and some to the mid-1700s.
Census Records (1901 & 1911)
The complete Irish censuses of 1901 and 1911 are freely available online and can help you identify McInerney families in County Clare and throughout Ireland.
Griffith's Valuation (1847-1864)
This property survey lists every landholder in Ireland and is particularly valuable for finding McInerney families in County Clare before and during the Famine years.
Emigration Records
United States
Ship passenger lists, naturalization records, and census records can help trace McInerney emigrants. Ellis Island records (1892-1954) are searchable online, while earlier arrivals may be found in port records from Boston, New York, and Philadelphia.
Australia
Convict transportation records, assisted immigration schemes, and shipping lists document McInerney arrivals in Australia. Many of these records are digitized and searchable through Australian state archives.
United Kingdom
Census records from England, Scotland, and Wales frequently contain Irish-born McInerneys who emigrated for work, particularly during the industrial era.
Research Tip
Spelling variations are common in historical records. Look for McInerney, MacInerney, McInnerney, McEnerney, McAnerney, and even Nerney. The name was often recorded by clerks unfamiliar with Irish names.
DNA Testing for McInerneys
Genetic genealogy has revolutionized family history research. DNA testing can confirm family connections, break through brick walls in your research, and connect you with previously unknown relatives.
Y-DNA Testing
For male McInerneys (or their male-line descendants), Y-DNA testing can reveal deep ancestral origins and connect you with other McInerney males who share a common ancestor.
Autosomal DNA
Tests from major DNA testing companies can identify genetic cousins across all family lines, helping you find relatives who may have documents, photos, or knowledge about your shared McInerney ancestors.
Key Research Locations
Clare County Library, Ennis
Houses local history collections, newspapers, and genealogical resources specific to County Clare and the McInerney homeland.
National Archives of Ireland, Dublin
Contains census records, wills, land records, and other documents essential for Irish family research.
General Register Office, Ireland
The official repository for civil registration records of births, marriages, and deaths since 1864.
Connect with a Modern McInerney
Tom McInerney carries forward the McInerney tradition of innovation and enterprise. Learn more about his work as an angel investor and entrepreneur.
Visit TGM.comPreserving Your Findings
As you research your McInerney family history, consider how to preserve and share your findings. Document your sources carefully, digitize old photographs and documents, and consider contributing to online family trees so future generations can benefit from your work.
The McInerney story spans centuries and continents. By researching your own branch of this family tree, you become part of the ongoing effort to preserve and understand this remarkable heritage.