The complete name is "Griffith's Primary Valuation of Rateable Property in Ireland".
The purpose was to establish the level of rates payable by each landholder or leaseholder. It lists the majority of land- or house-holders in the country giving the townland and description of the property (e.g. land; house; land and house; or house, out offices/out buildings, and land). It also lists the landlord and the annual valuation, however it does not list the age of the landholder or names of family members.
The years that the Valuation was completed for each Irish County are listed below.
| County | Years Covered | County | Years Covered | County | Years Covered |
| Antrim | 1861-62 | Armagh | 1864 | Carlow | 1852-53 |
| Cavan | 1856-57 | Clare | 1855 | Cork | 1851-53 |
| Derry | 1858-59 | Donegal | 1857 | Down | 1863-64 |
| Dublin | 1848-51 | Dublin City | 1851 | Fermanagh | 1862 |
| Galway | 1855 | Kerry | 1852 | Kildare | 1851 |
| Kilkenny | 1849-50 | Laois (Queen's Co.) | 1858-60 | Leitrim | 1856 |
| Limerick | 1851-52 | Longford | 1854 | Louth | 1854 |
| Mayo | 1856-57 | Meath | 1855 | Monaghan | 1858-60 |
| Offaly (King's Co.) | 1864 | Roscomon | 1857-58 | Sligo | 1858 |
| Tipperary | 1851 | Tyrone | 1860 | Waterford | 1848-51 |
| Westmeath | 1854 | Wexford | 1853 | Wicklow | 1852-53 |