Hello and welcome to the Oakman of Ireland website. Here you will find the results of my research into the Oakman surname in Ireland, including a number of Oakmans from Ireland who settled in other parts of the world - in particular Australia, Canada and America.
In researching the Oakman surname, my main focus has been on tracing my own direct line of Oakman ancestors, the first of whom to arrive in Australia was John Oakman, in 1841. Whilst attempting to trace John's Irish ancestry, I have often come across references to other Irish Oakmans and so decided to publish the results of my research on this website. Hopefully this will assist other researchers of the Oakman surname and maybe — just maybe — someone will one day link the various Oakman families of Ireland together. I live in hope!
Of course, some of this research could not have been possible without the generosity and assistance of friends in far away places and other researchers of Oakmans from Ireland — you know who you are — thank you!
Oakman of Ireland
The Oakman family of Northern Ireland, lived mostly in Counties Antrim and Armagh, though a few have been found in other counties. The families I have concentrated on lived mostly in the Parishes of Glenavy and Camlin in County Antrim. I know much less about those who lived in County Armagh, but the little I do know I have included here.
The more prominent Oakman families appear to have been landowners and tenant farmers, linen manufacturers and clothing merchants, importers/exporters of goods to and from the West Indies, East Indies and America.
Quite a few Oakman individuals and families left Northern Ireland to settle in other parts of the world — Australia, America, Canada, England and Scotland.
Sources
The information contained within this website is the result of many, many hours of research at the State Library of Victoria, the Australian National Library in Canberra, the Genealogy Society of Victoria, as well as reading and re-reading the many informative websites, books and other publications which specialise in researching Irish ancestors. The wonderful indexes now available to genealogists have sometimes been the only source of information, but as time permits I manage to view many of the original sources of these indexes and then include my findings here. Some of the details contained within this website would not have been possible without the generosity of friends and other Oakman descendants. I am extremely grateful for their generosity!
I also wish to express my gratitude to the Deputy Keeper of the Records, Public Record Office of Northern Ireland, for granting permission to publish extracts from their records which relate to Oakman individuals in Northern Ireland.
Newspapers | Land Valuations | Other Sources | Births, Deaths & Marriages | Tithe Applotment Books
