Ryan/Wixted

Hi Maureen

Thank you for your query. Did this branch of your family emigrate from Ireland? Remember to post as much information as you can with regard to the people you are researching. The more information you post, the more likely it is that one of our volunteers will be able to advise or assist you. Also include information concerning which sources you may have already used so others may further your search. Because you are not sure of the exact place of origin of your family and considering the time period, I am going to direct you to some websites that may be of help to you.

You could try checking the land records called the Tithe Applotment Books (1823-38) http://titheapplotmentbooks.nationalarchives.ie/search/tab/home.jsp  or the later Griffith's Valuation (1848-64) http://www.askaboutireland.ie/griffith-valuation/     or the Church of Latter Day Saints (LDS) https://familysearch.org/        

The Tithe Applotment List might be of use to you, or at least interesting for you. These lists constitute the only nationwide survey for the period, and are valuable because the heaviest burden of the tithes to the Established Church, the Church of Ireland, fell on the poorest, for whom few other records survive.. For Parishes where the registers do not begin until after 1850, this information can be useful, as they are often the only surviving early records. They can provide valuable circumstantial evidence, especially where a holding passed from father to son in the period between the Tithe survey and Griffith's Valuation.
You can check for information about the frequency of the name in the mid-19th century and any other variant spellings of the name here: http://www.irishtimes.com/ancestor/browse/

Other websites that may be useful to you are:

There is lots of useful information to be found in the 1901 and 1911 census records. You can find this here: http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/search/

Civil registration records are available from the General Register Office (GRO). These start from 1864. You can access the website here: http://www.groireland.ie/research.htm

http://ifhf.rootsireland.ie/?gclid=CNno8ZeUwLUCFcgc4Qod_goADw
http://www.nli.ie/en/family-history-introduction.aspx
http://www.nationalarchives.ie/genealogy1/genealogy-records/introductio…

Maureen I hope that this information is of some help to you. Do not hesitate to contact us again.

Kind regards,                    

Genealogy Support