Skip to main content
N I Direct government services

Main navigation

  • Home
  • News
  • Contacts
  • Help
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • RSS

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Family, home and community
  3. Family history, heritage and museums
  4. Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI)
  5. Search the archives online
  6. Ulster Covenant
PRONI - Public Record Office of Northern Ireland

Search the Ulster Covenant

Search and view digitised images of the original signatures of almost half a million men and women who signed the Ulster Covenant or women's declaration in opposition to Home Rule on 28 September 1912.

Before you start

To carry out a search, input the search criteria in the right field(s) and click on the find button. The Ulster Covenant can be searched by any of the following, but surname is the most straightforward and therefore the recommended method:

  • surname
  • forename
  • gender
  • address

Addresses can be difficult to search because in some cases the name of a town is given but not the street - but in others the street name is given, but no town.

Searching is also possible by parliamentary division, district and agent in charge, although this can be difficult because of lack of consistency in the original recording method.

Search the Ulster Covenant application

Additional information

You may enter more than one search criterion. Refining your search is recommended in order to restrict results to a manageable number. For example, searching simply on surname for 'Wilson', returns more than 5,500 hits, but searching for surname 'Wilson' and forename 'Joseph' would return 106 hits.

Wildcard search

A 'wildcard' feature has been built into the search facility. This feature may help you to find a name or address when you are unsure of the spelling. For example, inputting 'Bally' in the address field will retrieve addresses such as Ballymena, Ballymoney, Ballycross. The wildcard feature is built into each of the following search fields:

  • surname
  • forename
  • address

Sort search results

Sort options are available on the search the covenant page. You can sort your search results alphabetically, by surname, forename, gender, address, parliamentary division, district, place of signing or agent in charge. Results can be organised into ascending or descending order.

Other application features

Selecting the 'Clear' button resets all search fields to their default values.
You can specify the number of 'Results per Page' by selecting an alternative value from the drop-down menu. The default value of 10 can be changed up to a value of 50.

Once a set of results has been returned it is possible to select the 'Modify Search' button at the bottom of the results page. This allows you to further refine your search without having to retype the original search criteria.

Accuracy of transcription

This database of names was created by transcribing nearly half a million original signatures. This massive task was complicated by the fact that the handwriting varies in quality, with many of the signatures being difficult to read. Also, some were signed by the aged and infirm and in other cases members of the same family seem to have spelt their surnames in different ways.

Townland names are affected in the same way and consistency is absent. In most cases the names are spelt as they were pronounced locally, rather than in conformity with the official standardised spelling. Some subjectivity has therefore been used in interpreting names and addresses. The result is far from perfect.

Viewing images

Images can be viewed as 'png' (Portable Network Graphics) - a web optimised version of the scanned document, or 'DjVu' - an image of the original scanned document. The default setting opens images using Png.

'DjVu' allows you to view an image of the original scanned document. To view images using DjVu, select the DjVu button under 'Choose image format' on the 'Search Results' page. Before you can view images, you must first download a DjVu viewer. You can do this by clicking on the DjVu download button which appears on the 'Search Results' pages when the DjVu option is selected.

When viewing the documents on screen, there is no visible difference in image quality. However, printing from DjVu is more straightforward and may be a better option for visitors wishing to print a larger volume of images.

You can print a copy of the image/s if required. Closing the image window will take you back to the results page. For further information see viewing and printing images.

Printing images

Printing in ‘png'

The ‘png’ viewer is essentially used as an accessible medium for viewing images as it does not require the user to add/download any additional software.

It is possible to print images from the ‘png’ viewer, however, you must first save the image unto your computer. Do this using the ‘save this image’ icon (icon of a floppy disc) which appears at the top left-hand-side of the image itself. You should then be able to print the image using your computer’s image managing software.

Note: trying to print without saving the image first will result in a clipped version of the image (if you use the ‘print’ icon at the top left-hand-side of the image itself) or no image at all (if you use the ‘print’ options within your browser).  

Printing in ‘DjVu'

Printing from ‘DjVu’ is quicker and easier as you do not have to save each image to your computer in order to print. Visitors wishing to print a larger volume of images may wish to download the DjVu.

 

More useful links

  • About the Ulster Covenant
  • PRONI - Public Record Office of Northern Ireland
  • Family and local history records
Share this page Share on Facebook (external link opens in a new window / tab) Share on Twitter (external link opens in a new window / tab) Share by email (external link opens in a new window / tab)

Ulster Covenant

  • About the Ulster Covenant
  • Search the Ulster Covenant

Translation help

How to translate this page

Help improve this page - send your feedback

What do you want to do?
Report a problem
Which problem did you find on this page? (Tick all that apply)

Messages

You will not receive a reply. We will consider your feedback to help improve the site.

Don't include any personal or financial information, for example National Insurance, credit card numbers, or phone numbers.

What is your question about?

What to do next

Comments or queries about angling can be emailed to anglingcorrespondence@daera-ni.gov.uk 

If you have a comment or query about benefits, you will need to contact the government department or agency which handles that benefit.  Contacts for common benefits are listed below.

Carer's Allowance

Call 0800 587 0912
Email 
dcs.incomingpostteamdhc2@nissa.gsi.gov.uk

Discretionary support / Short-term benefit advance

Call 0800 587 2750 
Email 
customerservice.unit@communities-ni.gov.uk

Disability Living Allowance

Call 0800 587 0912 
Email dcs.incomingpostteamdhc2@nissa.gsi.gov.uk

Employment and Support Allowance

Call 0800 587 1377

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Contact your local Jobs & Benefits office

Personal Independence Payment

Call 0800 587 0932

If your query is about another benefit, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

Comments or queries about the Blue Badge scheme can be emailed to bluebadges@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk or you can also call 0300 200 7818.

For queries or advice about careers, contact the Careers Service.

For queries or advice about Child Maintenance, contact the Child Maintenance Service.

For queries or advice about claiming compensation due to a road problem, contact DFI Roads claim unit.

If you can’t find the information you’re looking for in the Coronavirus (COVID-19) section, then for queries about:

  • Restrictions or regulations — contact the Department of Health
  • Travel advice (including self-isolation) — contact the Department of Health
  • Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccinations — contact the Department of Health or Public Health Agency

If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

For queries about your identity check, email nida@nidirect.gov.uk and for queries about your certificate, email covidcertni@hscni.net.

For queries or advice about criminal record checks, email ani@accessni.gov.uk

Application and payment queries can be emailed to ema_ni@slc.co.uk

For queries or advice about employment rights, contact the Labour Relations Agency.

For queries or advice about birth, death, marriage and civil partnership certificates and research, contact the General Register Office Northern Ireland (GRONI) by email gro_nisra@finance-ni.gov.uk

For queries about the High Street Spend Local Scheme,  email HSSS.mail@economy-ni.gov.uk.

For queries about:

  • Car tax, vehicle registration and SORN
    contact the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), Swansea
     
  • Driver licensing and tests, MOT and vehicle testing
    contact the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA), Northern Ireland

If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

For queries about your identity check, email nida@nidirect.gov.uk.

 

For queries or advice about passports, contact HM Passport Office.

For queries or advice about Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs), including parking tickets and bus lane PCNs, email dcu@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk

For queries or advice about pensions, contact the Northern Ireland Pension Centre.

If you wish to report a problem with a road or street you can do so online in this section.

If you wish to check on a problem or fault you have already reported, contact DfI Roads.

For queries or advice about historical, social or cultural records relating to Northern Ireland, use the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) enquiry service.

For queries or advice about rates, email LPSCustomerTeam@lpsni.gov.uk

For queries or advice about  60+ and Senior Citizen SmartPasses (which can be used to get concessionary travel on public transport), contact Smartpass - Translink.

If you have a question about a government service or policy, you should contact the relevant government organisation directly.  We don't have access to information about you.

Related sites

  • gov.uk
  • nibusinessinfo.co.uk

Links to supporting information

  • Accessibility statement
  • Crown copyright
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy
  • Cookies
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • RSS