Horses and Carriage

Discover Your Familys Story

Start researching your family history today and begin a lifetime of  discovery.

Five easy ways to find your  Ancestors

Our MasterSearch can help you quickly find the infor­mation you’re looking for by narrowing down your search to a part­icular type of data, and further filtering the results to only include certain record sets, years or spellings.

1

Address

Search for a specific address by county and street name, e.g. Park Avenue

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2

Keywords

Search for a person using keywords such as their occupation, e.g. farmer

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3

Family

Search for a family by forename and surname, e.g. John, Emma and Mark Smith

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4

Map
Explorer

Pinpoint your Ancestors’ records using georeferenced historic maps

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5

Related Records

SmartSearch finds related records for you, e.g. children from a marriage record

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family group husband, wife and 3 girls family group on fake boat

Start building your
family tree today

TreeView is our powerful family tree builder. Whether you're an experienced family historian or just starting out, you'll find TreeView easy to use and an essential tool in your research. Record your family's history and view details of your ancestors in a number of different and attractive ways. Create beautiful charts and detailed reports to present your family tree.

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Genealogy’s Best
Mapping Website

Our exclusive Map Explorer adds a rich functionality to our ever-growing collection of map-based records. This great tool uses georeferenced historic maps that overlay several modern background maps including Ordnance Survey, Open Street Map or Bing road and satellite views.

The tools panel allows you to search for Modern and Historic Places, County and Parish Boundary Indicators, and offers the ability to manipulate the map layers, making it easier to pin-point the information you require.

Map Layers

The maps are divided into three types of layer that can be viewed on top of each other like sheets of paper. You can then change the transparency of a layer to view the layers below, allowing you to see how the area changed over time.

The Base Layer

This is the modern layer, which can be used to select a modern OS Map, Open Street Map or a Bing Satellite Image.

The Historic Layer

The historic layer can be used to select a range of Ordnance Survey maps from the 1890s to the 1960s.

The Record Set Layer

This layer provides access to the map-based record sets such as the 1910 Lloyd George Domesday Survey, or our georeferenced Tithe Maps. The map markers link directly to records for the individual prop­erties beneath, so you can see who was living there when the record was taken.


Try The Genealogist free for 14 days to discover what the Map Explorer has to offer and gain
access to millions of records
with our unique brick wall busting tools.

Other Subscription Benefits

Unique, Powerful Search Tools

Find exactly what you’re looking for by refining your search with event filters and keywords.

Records from 1127–2005

Our vast collection spans more than 870 years of record transcripts and images.

Award-winning BMD record and Census transcripts

Researchers were given membership to five genealogy websites for eight weeks. 3/5 rated us as their number 1.

Non-Conformist and Non-Parochial Records

We’re the official site for Non-Conformist and Non-Parochial Records with over 8 Million records available.

Census transcripts and Images 1841 to 1911

Access to all transcripts and images from 1841–1911 for England and Wales and 1841–1901 for Scotland.

Military Records – WW1, WW2, Casualty Lists, PoWs, and more

Ancestors who served in the forces may be hard to find. We have many military lists ranging from 1661–1944.

Extensive Collection of Parish Records

Search parish register transcripts and images from 43 counties, which can take your family back as far as 1538.

Extensive Collection of Trade and TelepPhone Directories

A collection of over 400 Directories provides insights into the lives of ancestors who had their own businesses.


Get started today

We offer a range of subscription packages to suit your needs

User Feedback and Comments

I just can not express how I feel right now. You have given me something so, so special and brought 15 years of shear frust­ration to an end. I was about to give up on my hobby, thinking I could get no more information and believing the family was not trace­able. How can I ever say thanks for this I can only pro­mise you I will continue to renew my sub­scription for a long time yet. I never ever thought you would offer me so much help. B. Connor – Cheshire

I find the genealogist a very helpful site. I have found many ancestors there that are obvi­ously mis-transcribed by other sites and whom I have not been able to find any­where else. Thank you and please keep up the good work! J. Hedges – New Zealand

Thank you!!! At last I have found my only two outstand­ing great-great grand­parents and the highly elusive great grand­father who I couldn't trace before his marriage – I've been hunting for him for 20 years! L.B. – UK

News and Events

Latest News

Explore the 1841 Census like never before on Map Explorer

30th September 2024

We are excited to announce that the 1841 census, the first modern census of England, Scotland and Wales, has now been added to our cutting-edge MapExplorerTM tool. This significant addition allows family historians and researchers to delve deeper into their ancestral past with unprecedented …

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New 1910 Lloyd George Domesday Records for Wiltshire

12th September 2024

We are excited to announce the release of the 1910 Lloyd George Domesday records and geolocated maps for the entire county of Wiltshire, covering an impressive 1,346 square miles and containing information on more than 175,000 individuals and organisations.

The Lloyd George Domesday records, also …

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New Historic Landowner Records Released

30th August 2024

We are excited to announce the release of historic landowner records. The new additions consist of Feet of Fines, Index of Sasines, and the Scotland Record Office Index to Register of Deeds, offering a wealth of information for those delving into their ancestry.

Family history research often requires scouring …

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Over 25,000 Individuals Added to Commemorate WWI

9th August 2024

To mark the 110th anniversary of the start of World War I, we are proud to announce the release of an extensive collection of military records featuring the global conflict. This significant release includes service records, rolls of honour, and books of remembrance from schools, places, and …

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Next Event

Featured Article

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The Family History Show, London!

Saturday 5th October 2024
10:00 –16:00 (GMT)

Put your research questions to an expert, watch a talk, speak to a local society, archive or genealogical supplier.

  • Free talks all day, held in a large lecture hall.
  • Free Experts on hand to help with your queries.
  • Many family history societies, archives and companies will be attending from all over the country.

Special Offer! Buy tickets for £8.00 (£12.00 on the day)

Buy your tickets early and get two for £12!

Find Out More Purchase Tickets

Future Events

Unable to make the next show? We also have shows planned for the following locations:

Featured Article

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Eliza Roberts: A Forgotten Pioneer in Nursing

27th September 2024

In the annals of nursing history, few names carry the weight of Florence Nightingale. Yet, alongside Nightingale's extraordinary contributions stands Eliza Roberts, a remarkable woman whose unwavering dedication to the care of soldiers during the Crimean War helped shape the future of nursing. Her story, though often overshadowed, is one of resilience, grit, and sacrifice. A working-class woman, Roberts rose from obscurity to play a vital role in one of the most transformative moments in medical history. Her life and work speak to the unsung heroes who, without fanfare, changed the world.

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