England Family History

Key Resources

Major References

The UK and Ireland Genealogical Information Service (GENUKI)
A major site providing genealogy related information for England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.

Tracing Your Family Tree : the Comprehensive Guide to Discovering Your Family History
A useful volume that guides the genealogist researching in England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales.

Ancestral Trails : the Complete Guide to British Genealogy and Family History
Mark Herber's volume is a complete guide to British genealogy and family history, with useful information for both the beginner and the more experienced researcher.

Great Britain. General Register Office. St Catherines Birth, Death and Marriage Indexes, 1837 - 1970

With the information obtained from the indexes the researcher is able to purchase a certificate from the Registry Office in the locality where registration took place.

Community Resources

Interest/Support Groups

Western Australian Genealogical Society Inc.
This is an active group of genealogical enthusiasts! Their web site provides many useful links.

FamilySearch Internet Genealogy Service
This fantastic site run by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints allows for on-line searching of the Ancestral File and the International Genealogical Index (British Isles, North America and Finland regions). These databases provide access to the vast collection of genealogical resources collected and indexed by the Church which is based in Utah, U.S.A.

Society of Genealogists
The Society of Genealogists, based in London, has a large library, on-line bookshop and range of links to genealogical resources relating to the British Isles.

Other Information Resources

Net Links

The British Library
This site provides information about the extensive resources of the British Library.

American Family Immigration History Center
Did any of your English relatives migrate to America? This site allows you to search immigration records for free. If you find a name that matches who you are looking for, click on it for a copy of their immigration records

Cheshire Births Marriages & Deaths
Free Birth, Death and Marriage index for Cheshire. Although the indexes are not yet complete for all years and districts, the database will eventually cover Cheshire births, marriages and deaths for the years 1937-1950.

Clergy of the Church of England Database
A database that is attempting to document the careers of all Church of England clergymen between 1540 and 1835.

Cumbria Genealogy Search - Transcripts Index
A number of websites are available from this link including an alphabetical list of names (and geographical location) of people who paid window tax in North Westmorland in 1777, Westmorland Constables census 1787, Westmorland Hearth Tax 1674 and much more.

Dorset Poll Books 1807
This alphabetical list informs who the freeholder of the property was and who was living at the property at the time - don't forget to look at the freeholder's name and occupier's name.

England GenWeb
This site was created to help researchers of English genealogy find local resources and reference information using the Internet.

FamilyRecords.gov.uk
This site aims to help researchers find the government records and other sources needed for family history research.

Family Research Link
On this site you will find an entire copy of the indexes of Births, Marriages and Deaths for England and Wales from 1837 to 2001. These images are available to search, view (including zooming in on those awkward-to-read names), save to disk and print for a modest charge. This site will be most useful to you if you are already familiar with these indexes and wish to have the opportunity to search them in your own time, without having to physically visit a library or a register office.

First World War Records Online
The Public Record Office - now known as The National Archives - are pleased to announce that during 2004 the First World War Campaign Medal Index Cards (WO 372), which will let you find out the medal entitlement of your ancestors, will be digitised. The project - covering more than 5.5 million cards will be released in alphabetical batches according to the surname of the individuals. For further information on this exciting project, visit DocumentsOnline.

General Register Office : Births, Deaths & Marriage registration
This website allows you to order birth, marriage, death or adoption certificates online for events that occurred in England and Wales. There is a cost associated but this is a cheaper alternative than ordering by post, phone or fax.

Gerry Palliser's Local & Family History Resource
Database searchable by surname, place, country and other information (such as regiment).

Hampshire Family History
This site shows various census listings for the county as well as links to a number of free census sites.

History of the Workhouse
This site is dedicated to the workhouse - its buildings, its inmates, its staff and administrators, and even its poets.

Hospital Records Database
This database provides information on the existence and location of U.K. hospital records. Currently over 2,800 entries can be found by searching the database using a simple enquiry.

An Index to the Entries in Lieutenant John Marshall's Royal Naval Biography
This Index lists every officer for whom Lieutenant John Marshall provides a separate entry in his Royal Naval Biography, an exceptionally valuable reference work published in London between 1823 and 1835.

Industrial Schools throughout England and Wales
This site provides a list of a number of industrial or reform schools in England. Some of the links lead to lists of students/inmates and or matron/staff. There are also census abstracts on this site.

The National Archives
The Public Records Office (PRO) and Historical Manuscripts Commission (HMC) have joined together as The National Archives. This enormous collection spans 1000 years of British history and is an invaluable resource for genealogists.

Naval Biographical Database
A useful database of people, places, ships, organisations and events associated with the Royal Navy since 1660.

The Proceedings of the Old Bailey
A fully searchable online edition of the largest body of texts detailing the lives of non-elite people ever published. This web page contains information on criminal trials held at London's central court from April 1674-1799. The Genealogy Centre also has information available on microfilm from 1776-Sept 1847, with new additions being regularly added.

Return of Owners of Land, 1873 Oxfordshire
1873 Return of Owners of Land in Oxfordshire. This is an online resource which lists landowners and shows name and address of owner, acreage of land and gross estimated rental. It does not state where the land is situated.

Staffordshire Births Marriages & Deaths
Free Birth, Death and Marriage index for Staffordshire. Not yet complete but contains over 200,000 entries relating to births registered in the Newcastle-under-Tyne registration district (Audley sub district) 1837-1953, and in Stafforshire Moorlands, Ipstones 1837-1935, Alton 1837-1950, Cheddleton 1935-1954; all marriages 1837-1952 for the Newcastle-under-Lyme and Stafforshire Moorlands registration districts, plus some marriages for the Stoke-on-Trent registration district; and deaths registered in the Newcastle-under-Lyme district (Audley subdistrict), 1837-1903.

The University of York, Borthwick Institute of Historical Research
A useful source of family history resources with an emphasis on records from the north of England.

Winchcombe Gloucestershire - Genealogy and History
This site is dedicated to Winchcombe, Gloucestershire. There are transcripts of census returns (including some for 1901 census), directories, electoral registers, newspaper articles, muster rolls and much more.