The Ordnance Survey of Ireland
Established in 1824, the Ordnance Survey Office was tasked with conducting a comprehensive townland survey of Ireland and mapping the entire country at a scale of six inches to one mile. The primary objective was to provide an accurate assessment of the land for taxation and valuation purposes.
The survey was carried out between 1829 and 1842, producing highly detailed maps that captured the Irish landscape as it appeared prior to the Great Famine and the significant changes in land use and settlement that followed. County Wicklow was surveyed during the period 1838 to 1840.
In addition to the maps, the survey generated a valuable archive of supporting documentation. including Name Books.
Ordnance Survey Name Books
One of the key responsibilities of the Ordnance Survey was to document the names of places, geographical features, prominent buildings, and landmarks within each townland, ensuring their inclusion on the published maps.
This information was compiled in a series of volumes, one for each civil parish in Ireland, known as the Ordnance Survey Name Books.
Each entry in the Name Books typically includes the original Irish form of the placename, a translation of its meaning, the local pronunciation, a list of sources or ‘authorities’ consulted for verification, and the location or situation of the townland.
A brief description of the parish and townland is provided, highlighting any features considered by the surveyor as significant for inclusion on the map. These include both natural and man-made topographical features.
How to Find Your Townland
The Ordnance Survey (OS) Place Name Books are organized by civil parish, with each parish further divided into individual townlands. At the beginning of each parish section, an index lists all the townlands within that parish along with their corresponding page numbers.
To find out which civil parish your townland belongs to, you can consult the following resources:
John Grenham’s Parish Map here
The Placenames Database of Ireland here
Pdf documents can be searched using the Ctr + F function.