1659 Census, Co. Limerick

Irish Census Substitutes “A Census of Ireland, circa 1659”

The following has been transcribed from ‘A Census of Ireland, c. 1659, with Supplementary Material from the Poll Money Ordinances (1660-1661)’ edited by Séamus Pender, and published by the Stationery Office, Dublin in 1939. Parishes and placenames as found in the 1851 ‘General Alphabetical Index to the Townlands and Towns, Parishes and Baronies of Ireland’ , originally published in Dublin in 1861, and re-printed by the Genealogical Publishing Company Inc., 1997, have been added in brackets beside the placenames as spelled in ‘A Census of Ireland – when identifiable.


According to Pender, W. H. Hardinge, M.R.I.A., announced his discovery of what has since been known as the Census of Ireland, (1659), in a paper read before the Royal Irish Academy in 1864.

The term ‘Titulado’, which appears through these returns, refers to the principal person or persons of standing in any locality ; such a person could have been of either sex, a nobleman, baronet, gentleman, esquire, military officer, or adventurer. A Titulado may have been a land-owner, but did not necessarily own land.

This census, does not give the names of individuals in any townland – other than those of the titullado or titulladoes. For each parish, we are given the surnames of the Irish people who lived in that parish, and the number of times that each surname occurs. We are given the total number of people who lived in any townland, and how many of them were Irish or English. The placename spellings for the most part differ to those of 1851, and in some cases, it may be that the barony boundaries changed post 1659, so that while a townland is found listed in the Townlands directory of 1851, the barony that it is listed under differs from that of 1659. The same seems to occur at the parish level.

Limbrick Cittye with ye North Lybertyes & County of ye Citty
No. of People : 3105
English : 819
Irish : 2286

South Ward
No. of People, 480 ; English, 255 ; Irish, 225.
Tituladoes Names: Christopher Keyes , Will Tomlinson , Walter Dauies gent, Coll. Ralph Willson and Major Wade Esqrs. ; Leut Jess and Leut Dowdas gent, Thomas Lucas Esqr., Capt., Leut Coughlan, gent, John Crabb Sheriff, Patrick White, Will Barkell, James Arthur, Christo Arthur & James Ash Marchants.

Middle Ward on ye West side:
No. of People : 357 ; English, 194 ; Irish, 163.
Tituladoes Names : Dr. Whyte, Esq., Lt. Heward, William Royall, Capt. Peterson, Mr. Peacock and his two brothers, Mr. Perry, Hugh Mongomerie and Ensign Benden, gents ; Capt Humphrey Hartwell, Esq., Christopher Holmes, Mr. Cripps, Mr. Hooper, Aldeman Bennett and James Crauen, gent, Tho Poore, Mr. Garnet, Thomas Phellps, Tho Bennis, Peter Rice, Francis Casy and Mr. Houlbert Marchants

Middle Ward on Ye East Side:
No. of People, 370 ; English, 183 ; Irish, 187
Tituladoes Names : Thomas Sanders, Thomas Pehtiplas, Ensigne Thomas Browne, Teige Bryan, Domminick Meagh, Henry Saltfeeld, Henry Price jun and Lieut Will Pope gentlemen ; Thomas Poore & George Comin Esq., Daniell Hignett Town Clerke, Lt. John Comyn, Tho. Martin, Peter Van Hugarden, Robert Collisson, John Cruce, Alderman Boeman, Richard Lennard, Henry Price sen., Nathaniel Waples, Sherif Pausy, Alderman Warr, Randall Cossens, Robert Shute, Samuell Foxen, James Banting, Antho Bartless and Richard Wallis Marchants.

Ye North Ward:
No. of People, 160 ; English, 88 ; Irish, 72.
Tituladoes Names : John Hoorst, gent., Alderman Will Yarnell & Will Hartwell, Esqrs. ; George Back and Alderman Miller, Marchants.

The County of Ye City of Limerick

Principall Irish Names and their Number:
Arthur, 11 ; O Bryen & O Bryan, 27 ; Bourke, 20 ; Creagh, 11 ; McCragh, 6 ; O Dule, 9 ; McDoniell, 13 ; McDonogh, 9 ; McConnor, 9 ; O Carroll, 8 ; O Griphae, 7 ; Fitzgerald, 8 ; O Gerrane, 8 ; O Hally, 6 ; O Hogan & O Hogane, 19 ; O Hea, 9 ; McKelly, 14 ; McKeogh, 7 ; Linchy, 7 ; O Mulclahy, 6 ; O Mullowny, 10 ; Mulrian, 12 ; McNamara, (6), & McNamarrow (6), 12 ; McRory, 6 ; Roe, 7 ; Rice, 6 ; Ryan & Ryane, 17 ; Smith, 6 ; McShane, 29 ; McTeige, 14 ; Whyte, 12 ; McWilliam, 13.

St. Michaels Parish

No townland named
No. of People : 15
English : 2 ; Irish 13

Belanacurry (Ballinacurra)
No. of People : 26
English : 8 ; Irish 18
Tituladoes Name : Captn. Bentley

Fearanagalleagh
No. of People : 18
English : 0 ; Irish 18

Wthout Mungret Gate
No. of People : 29
English : 0 ; Irish 29

Gortskollup
No. of People : 16
English : 0 ; Irish 16

Mungrett Parish (Mungret)

Temple Mungret (?Castlemungret)
No. of People : 18
English : 0 ; Irish 18

Bellequen
No. of People : 58
English : 0 ; Irish 58

Cnokeard
No. of People : 32
English : 0 ; Irish 32

Tirvoe
No. of People : 24
English : 0 ; Irish 24
Tituladoes Name : Donnogh O Mighane gent

Cloghkeaton (Cloghkeating)
No. of People : 27
English : 0 ; Irish 27
Tituladoes Name : Arth. Carter, gent

Ilannane (Islandduane)
No. of People : 10
English : 0 ; Irish 10

Ballicomin (Ballycummin)
No. of People : 28
English : 0 ; Irish 28

Cloghicoky (Cloghacloka)
No. of People : 14
English : 0 ; Irish 14

Toaradyle (Dooradoyle)
No. of People : 38
English : 0 ; Irish 38

Cruory Parish

Annagh Roch
No. of People : 28
English : 0 ; Irish 2

Cnocknagaule Parish (Knocknagaul)

Derricknockan (Derryknockane)
No. of People : 23
English : 0 ; Irish 23

Ballinacloghy (Ballyclogh or Ballyclough)
No. of People : 4
English : 0 ; Irish 4

Caher Ivally Parish (Caherelly)

Caher Ivally (Caherelly)
No. of People : 16
English : 0 ; Irish 16
Tituladoes Name : Patrick Creagh, gent

Frierstowne (Friarstown)
No. of People : 12
English : 0 ; Irish 12

Lickidoone (Lickadoon)
No. of People : 79
English : 0 ; Irish 79

Thenakelly
No. of People : 25
English : 0 ; Irish 2

Carnarry Parish (Cahernarry)

Skarte (Scart)
No. of People : 19
English : 2 ; Irish 17

Carnarry (Cahernarry)
No. of People : 42
English : 5 ; Irish 37
Tituladoes Names : Will Kenn & Jno Ouzell, gent

Carrigphersoon Parish (Carrigparson)

Carrigphersoon Towne (Carrigparson)
No. of People : 23
English : 0 ; Irish 23

Tooreen
No. of People : 15
English : 0 ; Irish 15

Derrigellaneme Parish (Derrygalvin)

Sheadfed
No. of People : 47
English : 0 ; Irish 47

Killenoge, Skartirea & Cluonconny
No. of People : 17
English : 2 ; Irish 15

Coolehenane (Coolyhenan)
No. of People : 15
English : 2 ; Irish 13

Donoghmore Parish (Donaghmore)

Drombanny
No. of People : 46
English : 0 ; Irish 46

Kilmurry Parish

New Castle downe (Newcastle)
No. of People : 82
English : 0 ; Irish 82

Bellasinon (Ballysimon)
No. of People : 23
English : 0 ; Irish 23

Bellavellen
No. of People : 16
English : 4 ; Irish 12
Tituladoes Name : Robert Theoballs gent

Kilonane (Killonan)
No. of People : 48
English : 21 ; Irish 27
Tituladoes Name : John Mathewes gent

Ballinacloghy (Ballyclogh)
No. of People : 13
English : 0 ; Irish 13

Castle Troy (Castletroy)
No. of People : 54
English : 0 ; Irish 54

Balliglissine
No. of People : 17
English : 0 ; Irish 17

St. Laurence Parish

Spittle
No. of People : 46
English : 2 ; Irish 44
Tituladoes Name : Lt. Jno Carr, gent

Killeeleen
No. of People : 17
English : 0 ; Irish 17

St. John’s Acre
No. of People : 24
English : 0 ; Irish 24

Ratheurd
No. of People : 18
English : 0 ; Irish 18

Ballisheeda
No. of People : 15
English : 0 ; Irish 15

Banalisheen
No. of People : 4
English : 2 ; Irish 2

Pt. of Stradbally Parish

Upper Garane
No. of People : 9
English : 2 ; Irish 7

Gransigh Towne & lands
No. of People : 14
English : 2 ; Irish 12

Lower Garrane
No. of People : 15
English : 0 ; Irish 15

Cluonclieffe & Ballyvoelane (?? & Ballyvolane)
No. of People : 34
English : 2 ; Irish 32

Ballingeile
No. of People : 16
English : 6 ; Irish 10

Lishnegrey & Garrinoe (Lisnagry & )
No. of People : 48
English : 2 ; Irish 46
Tituladoes Name : Lt. Henry Lee, gent

Killicknegarriff Parish (Killeenagarriff)

Ballyvarry (Ballyvarra)
No. of People : 46
English : 2 ; Irish 44

Cleyduffe (Clyduff)
No. of People : 3
English : 0 ; Irish 3

Ballinlosky
No. of People : 29
English : 0 ; Irish 29

Raheene (Raheen)
No. of People : 13
English : 3 ; Irish 10

St. Patrick’s Parish

No Townland named
No. of People : 16
English : 3 ; Irish 13
Tituladoes Name : Jno Miller, gent

Parke (Park)
No. of People : 34
English : 0 ; Irish 34

Singland
No. of People : 45
English : 5 ; Irish 40
Tituladoes Name : William Twayts, gent

Corbally
No. of People : 11
English : 0 ; Irish 11

North Liberties of Limerick Parish

No townland named
No. of People : 6
English : 2 ; Irish 4

Balligrenane
No. of People : 4
English : 0 ; Irish 4

Cluoncanane
No. of People : 16
English : 0 ; Irish 16

Shanuolly
No. of People : 4
English : 0 ; Irish 4

Cnockardnagalleagh
No. of People : 3
English : 0 ; Irish 3

Cluondrenagh
No. of People : 21
English : 2 ; Irish 19

Coonagh
No. of People : 30
English : 0 ; Irish 30
Tituladoes Name : Patrick Sarsfield, gent

East Coonagh
No. of People : 8
English : 0 ; Irish 8

Cluonmaken
No. of People : 2
English : 0 ; Irish 2

Kilrush
No. of People : 4
English : 0 ; Irish 4

Castle Blake
No. of People : 4
English : 0 ; Irish 4

By ye Strand from ye Bridge West Ward
No. of People : 44
English : 0 ; Irish 44

Ye South Side Westward
No. of People : 34
English : 8 ; Irish 26

Killegly
No. of People : 56
English : 8 ; Irish 48
Tituladoes Name : John Collins, gent.