Advertisement
Help Keep Boards Alive. Support us by going ad free today. See here: https://subscriptions.boards.ie/.
https://www.boards.ie/group/1878-subscribers-forum

Private Group for paid up members of Boards.ie. Join the club.
Hi all, please see this major site announcement: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058427594/boards-ie-2026

Understanding baptism records

  • 19-02-2026 02:12PM
    #1
    sirpsycho
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 889 ✭✭✭


    Hello,

    What's the correct way to interpret baptism records (Eg. https://registers.nli.ie/registers/vtls000633419?locale=en#page/85/mode/1up)?

    I've put a random screenshot down below. They usually say something like "Ann Flannagan of John & Mary Carroll" followed by "ss" and two names.

    In this case, is the child's name "Ann", husband's surname "Flannagan" and the wife's surname Carroll? The two names after "ss" are the two witnesses. I've seen some where the wife's surname is the same as the child so was getting confused.

    image.png


Comments

  • #2
    cobham
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,165 ✭✭✭cobham


    Yes I think you are correct. The child's surname is same as the fathers and no need to repeat. They were frugal in their use of space in a register! and 'ss' is for sponsors or godparents and ofter relatives of same age as parents so another clue with repetition of a mother or father's surname… usually an aunt or uncle of the child.



  • #3
    pinkypinky
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 6,952 Mod ✭✭✭✭pinkypinky


    Yes, that's right.

    They were always trying to save ink too.

    Genealogy Forum Mod



Advertisement
Advertisement