Coffee (Coffey, Coffy) Surname Documented as being born in County Roscommon, Ireland in the 1871 Staffordshire County, England Census Records
Documentation of the County of Birth in Ireland was fairly uncommon in the earlier years of the England Census records but was noted on occasion and increased after the 1851 census. This is a work in progress that I will add to over time.
These records are in no means complete. as I have not had time to go through the individual districts of Staffordshire County at this point. I've noticed that on many occasions a Townland was given in these records (such as Castlebar, Ireland). This record would not show up on a search of Brennans born in Mayo, Ireland even though Castlebar is in County Mayo. I have also seen many individuals give their Roman Catholic Parish as a place of birth in Ireland. Athalone, a Catholic Parish in County Roscommon wouldn't show up in a search of those living in England born in County Roscommon either. These factors and the incorrect interpretation of the census taker's handwriting pose serious challenges to this search. Betsy Brannan was listed as being born in Ancommon, Ireland; however, a quick look at the record showed her place of birth clearly as Roscommon, Ireland. As I get time I will go through the districts of the England Counties that have the greatest concentrations of County Mayo born immigrants and add to these records.
Progress Report: I have completed working my way through the 1871 Wolverhampton Civil Parish, Wolverhampton Eastern Sub Registration Districts 1-48 plus the Union Workhouse census records. This area had heavy concentrations of Irish on Canal Street, Shopyard, Charles Street, Middle Row, Lawyer's Field, Crooked Lane, North Road, Court Letter Lane and particularly heavy numbers on Carribee Street and some concentrations of Irish on Irish Row, Horsely Field, Oxford St, Milston Rd, Walsall Road, Mathews St, Collins St, Little Chapel Street and Charter Street. Unfortunately many of the Irish on Carribee Street were documented only as being born in Ireland and not a specific county. There does appear to be a heavier concentration of Irish from the Connaught counties of Mayo, Roscommon, Galway and Sligo than from other counties in Ireland although a scattering of other counties have been noted. I have not noted any Coffee surnames (or variations) in this section of the census where some of the major Irish clusters were located.
| Address | Name | Age | Born | Occupation | Marital Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prospect Row#4; Perkhull Civil Parish, District 7 | Coffey, Patrick, Lodger, staying with Conelly Family From County Roscommon | 26 | Cloonkeen, Castlerea, Ireland (Cloonkeen Castlerea is in County Roscommon Ireland) | Ag. Lab. | U |
compiled from Ancestry.com 1871 England Census database on-line Provo, UT, USA; Ancestry.com operations, Inc 2004.