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
2
Keywords
Search for a person using keywords such as their occupation, e.g. farmer
3
Family
Search for a family by forename and surname, e.g. John, Emma and Mark Smith
4
Map
Explorer
Pinpoint your Ancestors’ records using georeferenced historic maps
5
Related Records
SmartSearch finds related records for you, e.g. children from a marriage record
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.
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.
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Find exactly what you’re looking for by refining your search with event filters and keywords.
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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.
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News and Events
Latest News
Where were they in 1851? Mapping Your Ancestors’ in the Census
10th May 2024
The 1851 census now joins the ranks of other key censuses (1861, 1871, 1881, 1891, 1901, 1911, and the 1939 Register) already integrated with our innovative Map Explorer?.
This latest release makes it easy to locate an ancestor geographically in the 1851 census. With a choice of …
Surrey Land Tax Records Now Online
26th April 2024
We have released over 225,000 heads of households and property owners from the 1910-1915 Lloyd George Domesday Survey, covering the county of Surrey.
This boosts our ever-growing Landowner and Occupier records from this period to a total of over 2.6 million. The coverage of these IR 58 records now includes all the …
Over 10 Million Individuals added to Residential and Trade Directories
12th April 2024
Our latest release contains over 10 million new individuals recorded in directories from the first two decades of the 20th Century. This virtual book shelf stacked with volumes from the early 1900s to 1929 includes publications from all over the United Kingdom and Ireland.
These …
Over 3 Million New Irish Records Released for St Patrick’s Day
18th March 2024
Get ready to paint the town green this St. Patrick's Day with a bumper release this week! We have just released over 1,769,000 individuals to our Irish Catholic Parish Record Collection, covering over 80 parishes in County Tipperary.
Also making up the releases in our "St Patrick?s …
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Featured Article
The Family History Show, York!
Saturday 22nd June 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)
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Featured Article
A leading light on the map of the 1851 census
10th May 2024
In Edinburgh, we are able to find a four month old boy who is counted in his very first census. This child is living in his parent’s home in Scotland’s capital city and the house in question is in the parish of St Cuthbert’s at number 8 Howard Place. The baby is the son of a civil engineer whose expertise saw countless mariners saved through his groundbreaking designs for more than thirty lighthouses around Scotland.
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