This long overdue record should help many people gain an idea of where their Irish surname[s] comes from if they don’t already know a county. Although it doesn’t include everyone it does give a good indication on surnames locations and how popular they were then.

For example one ancestor of mine was called Edmund Rowan. When I type in his name only two results come up [Edmund Roughan]Galway where my family were from and one form Limerick [Edmd Roughan]. Alternate searches find one more Edward Rowan from Waterford. The surname itself occurs in more counties but the first name is rare.I think someone looking for a county of Orgin could use such a clue to limit there search. In my case I wonder if the Edmund Roughan in Galway maybe related because the given name is in limited use? I do know this was not my relative.
For anyone who knows a second surname in my case Rowan married a Broderick you can look for the second surname to reduce the area or interest in Ireland to look.

Heedy is another surname in my family, only 20 results are generated[including Roscommon and Tipperary two counties given in UK Census ]for all Ireland. Does this mean the family may not have been living in Ireland for long, that Heedy may not be an Irish name at all?

I think an article written on clues/general conclusions that might be drawn from this database would be helpful for researchers.

Not everyone will find their Irish family in the database but as a research tool I think it offers clues that might just help break down a brickwall or two.

Thanks again ancestry for adding it to your database.