Witnesses or Sponsors

Judy:

Not aware of an article that addresses your question.

Sponsors for baptisms were usually siblings of the parents or other relatives or neighbors/friends. Marriage witnesses were siblings/relatives and friends. If a marriage record has random names then likely they were friends of the couple.

On a civil birth record, the mother shows her married name first followed by Formerly and then Maiden name is shown. I attached a page of records as an example.

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1889/02470/1917176.pdf

Roger McDonnell

Hi Judy

Have you read the piece below, it was written by our very own Genealogist, Irene, it has a little bit of information about witnesses in it which you might find handy.

https://www.irelandxo.com/ireland-xo/news/ten-faqs-about-irish-marriage-records

Thank you, Roger and Moderator DC...Your help is great and I will study your suggestions!

Thank you so very much.  I have struggled with my Irish genealogy for 40 years and there is so much coming forward now with your site and others...It is like Christmas every day!

When I get a little more confident, I want to post what I have found on my great grandparents and where they lived on Henry St and a shop on Williams street, hoping there will be something surface that I am missing.

Judy

See also Irish Naming & Baptism Conventions