Irish in Europe

The data presented in this biographical register was gathered from university records in Paris, Toulouse and elsewhere. A typescript version of the register was deposited in the library of the Royal Irish Academy in Dublin and a copy was made for the Russell Library, St Patrick’s College, Maynooth. In 1987 the compilers published a paper, based on the data. Professor Ferté has since revised the list and made some additions. It is this corrected and augmented version that is published below.

The prosopography contains the names of Irish clerical students who studied in Paris and Toulouse in the early modern period. Their names were listed alphabetically according to diocese of origin, which are organized according to the four archiepiscopal provinces. Where more than one member of a family was educated in France, the names were arranged chronologically. For example, the Meaghers of Cashel were listed, in the original list as nos365-73. Students with the same family name, hailing from other dioceses, even when of unknown origin, were cross-referenced, in brackets. A shorter, second list contains the names of students whose diocese of origin is unknown but who were described in the records as hibernus. The order here was strictly alphabetical.
The information was originally listed under a student’s name is divided into two parts. The first contained all the information to be found in the university archives concerning the individual’s life and academic history. The precise date that a student took a degree was given wherever possible (note there are only annual lists of Paris theology licentiates). The name of the university or college where the student was registered was not repeated but all changes in institution were indicated.

In the second part, biographical details from other sources concerning the individual were given. If there was no definite evidence that the individuals were the same person this was indicated. Every notice concluded with detailed references to all the sources on which the entry was based. In the case of Toulouse, a number of Irish students of medicine stayed at the seminary and some took minor orders without proceedings to priesthood. These individuals were to be included in a prosopography of Irish medical students, compiled by Professor Ferté for Archivium Hibernicum.

Every entry began with the student’s surname in capital letters. Where a surname appeared in the records in different forms, alternatives are enclosed in brackets and the addition or subtraction of letters is noted. Occasionally the records gave different Christian names for the same individual. In these cases, the different names were listed, in brackets. Where the Christian name was not known a question mark was placed after the surname. A question mark enclosed in square brackets denoted transcriptional uncertainty. When a surname seemed peculiar, a possible modern equivalent was given, followed by a question mark, the whole enclosed within square brackets. Square brackets were also used for cross-references and to denote the probable modern equivalent of a student’s place of origin.
With regard to terms used: direct transliteration was made of the majority of college and seminary offices referred to in the following entries. The terms loosely reflected the following English equivalents: procurator = secretary; receiver = treasurer; oeconomus = steward, domestic bursar; gymnasiarchus, moderator, superior, praefectus = principal; provisor = one of the four officials (one from each province) in charge of allocating scholarships in the Paris collège des Lombards.