News and Articles from 2024

We are proud to announce the release of a collection of military records spanning over half a million names. This collection provides invaluable insights into the service and sacrifices of members of the British Armed Forces and colonial forces throughout history.

The release of these records coincides with Remembrance Sunday, a solemn occasion when we pay tribute to members of the armed forces who have died in the line of duty.

"This collection offers a glimpse into the service and sacrifices of our military and naval personnel throughout history," said Mark Bayley of TheGenealogist. "As we approach Remembrance Sunday, we are honoured to provide researchers and historians access to these invaluable resources, which contain the names of over half a million individuals who served their countries with courage and distinction."

Our comprehensive military records collection allows individuals to delve into their family histories and honour the legacy of their ancestors who served.

We are excited to announce the launch of our new, comprehensive collection of parish records for North West Kent. This monumental release includes over 2.5 million individuals, encompassing baptisms, marriages and burials, from 1538 to 2000.

Subscribers can now access the records, covering the year ranges:

• Baptisms: 1538-1916
• Marriages: 1538-1939
• Burials: 1538-2000

You can see a full list of parishes covered here.

Alongside the detailed transcripts, direct links are included to the original images of the parish records, providing an invaluable resource for those looking to trace their ancestry or delve deeper into their family's history in Kent.

You can read our featured article "The Victorian Balloonist Who Defied Death at 29,000 Feet" that features these records.

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 MapExplorer^TM tool. This significant addition allows family historians and researchers to delve deeper into their ancestral past with unprecedented geographical context.

With over 18.4 million individuals in the 1841 Census, this huge release lets you explore the area where your ancestors lived right down to the parish, street or even house they lived in.

Mark Bayley, Head of Online Development at TheGenealogist, stated: "We're proud to announce the completion of our project to "map the census". Never before could you pin down your ancestors through each year, from 1841 all the way to the 1939 register. This visual approach to genealogy brings the past to life in ways never before possible."

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 known as the 1910 Valuation Office Survey records, were created to assess property values for tax purposes. They offer a snapshot of land ownership and occupation just before the outbreak of World War I, making them an invaluable resource for genealogists and historians alike.

• Comprehensive Coverage: The release encompasses the whole of Wiltshire, providing researchers with access to a wealth of genealogical and historical data.
• Geolocated Maps: Advanced mapping technology allows users to pinpoint the exact locations of ancestral properties and landmarks.
• Over 175,000 Names: A treasure trove of information for family historians and researchers interested in early 20th-century Wiltshire.
• Historical Significance: The Lloyd George Domesday records offer unique insights into property ownership and land use in Edwardian England.

Mark Bayley, Head of Online Development at TheGenealogist, stated, "This release of the 1910 Lloyd George Domesday records for Wiltshire is a game-changer for those researching their family history in the county. The combination of detailed records and geolocated maps provides an unprecedented level of insight into the lives of Wiltshire residents at the turn of the 20th century."

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 military records to uncover the career details of ancestors who had served in the British Army. A key resource for such research are the officially published Army Lists that provide comprehensive details about officers and warrant officers, including their ranks, regiments, and service appointments.

Feet of Fines: These documents provide insights into land transactions, usually involving the transfer of property rights, and were commonly used in English legal proceedings from the 13th century onwards. Contains detailed information about the parties involved in the transactions, property descriptions, and the dates of agreements.

Index of Sasines: Sasines are legal documents that confirm the possession of land and property, reflecting the transfer of ownership in Scotland from the 16th century onwards. This index allows users to quickly locate and access critical details surrounding property ownership.

Scotland Record Office Index to Register of Deeds: This comprehensive index opens the door to a vast array of legal documents relating to property and inheritance in Scotland.

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 institutions, providing invaluable insights into the lives of those who served and sacrificed during the Great War.

The newly released records offer a look at over 25,000 individuals, giving details such as the service histories of soldiers, portraits, details of their schooling, and family connections, including poignant details of those killed or wounded in action.

Mark Bayley, Head of Content at TheGenealogist, commented: “This release not only preserves the memories of the men and women who feature in these records, it also provides a window into the past for future generations. This adds to our extensive WW1 collections, providing a valuable resource for anyone interested in the personal histories and sacrifices of those who experienced the Great War.”

These records not only commemorate the bravery and dedication of those who served but also provide a rich resource for researchers and family historians.

We are delighted to announce the release of a comprehensive collection of 1930-35 directories. This addition features over 3.5 million individuals, providing genealogy enthusiasts with an unparalleled opportunity to trace their ancestors and explore family histories during the first half of this transformative decade of the 1930s.

The newly available directories offer information on individuals, businesses, and localities, making it easier than ever to uncover the lives of your ancestors.

Rich Detail and Coverage: With over 3.5 million listings, these directories provide details about individuals' professions, addresses, and local businesses, offering a snapshot of life in the first half of the 1930s.

Geographical Diversity: The collection covers various regions, including Sussex, Warwickshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Dorsetshire, Hertfordshire, Kent, Westmorland, Leicestershire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, and many more, extending even to the Channel Islands, Malta and New Zealand.

Enhanced Research Capabilities: Researchers can delve into trade directories and phone books to uncover ancestors' occupations, residences, and social engagements, providing a holistic view of their lives.

The 1930s, also known as the Great Slump, was a period of economic and social upheaval. Understanding how your ancestors navigated these challenging times can provide profound insights into your family's resilience and adaptability.

We have just added over 20,000 obituary records from the Index Society, Musgrave’s Obituaries and the Society of Friends to our record collection, with obituaries dating back to the 1600s.

You can now access a set of intriguing records covering three important publications from the Stuart Era in the 17th Century to the Victorian Era in the 19th Century.

The entries give the dates not only of the individuals' deaths but also their birth dates or ages and often other useful observations such as occupation details and other family members. Obituaries often cite their sources as well, for example providing a newspaper page, edition, etc so you know where to look next for more information.

In time to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day on 6th June, we have added United States WWII Army Enlistment Records (1938-1946) to our Free Records Collection. In these records, we can find the names and particulars of American soldiers who joined up to serve their country and fight for freedom.

These records provide detailed information about enlistment dates, service branches, ranks, and more about US soldiers from this time.

While Operation Overlord, the code name for the Battle of Normandy, was an Allied operation consisting of British, Canadian and other Allied nations' troops, the Americans provided the bulk of the soldiers for the Liberation of Europe on 6 June 1945, and so this new record set will have many of the young men who fought in D-Day listed.

We have just added 1.8 million individuals to our Military Collection with our latest release of Army Lists from 1837 to 1959.

Family history research often requires scouring military records to uncover the career details of ancestors who had served in the British Army. A key resource for such research are the officially published Army Lists that provide comprehensive details about officers and warrant officers, including their ranks, regiments, and service appointments.

Subscribers to TheGenealogist can now access an extensive collection of digitised Army Lists, which can significantly enhance their understanding of an ancestor's military career. These records detail officers by regiment, rank and seniority, offering a detailed snapshot of the officer corps at any given time.

For the first time, you can now pin down your ancestors in 1851!

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 historical and modern georeferenced maps, this welcome development makes it simple to explore the place where your ancestors lived and discover their surroundings.

Census records have always been a staple resource for family historians. With the particulars of the street or road name, researchers will often turn to a modern map to see if they can locate where their forebears lived. This, however, can be fraught with difficulties if the road name changed over the years or the area was redeveloped. Thus, TheGenealogist has been working through its census collection, linking the records to the detailed map collections on its Map Explorer™.

Now with just a click of a button researchers can pin their forebears’ residences down to a parish, street or building and trace the routes they would have taken to visit local shops, pubs, churches, workplaces, and parks.

These historical maps reveal the location of major roads and the nearest railway stations, shedding light on how our ancestors would have travelled to other parts of the country to work, visit relatives or their hometowns.

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 boroughs of Greater London plus Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Oxfordshire, Middlesex, Northamptonshire and with this release, Surrey.

Fully searchable and added to our powerful Map Explorer™, this resource allows researchers to find ancestors’ property from all of Surrey's parishes.

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 directories are filled with listings of people, their addresses and details of the places they lived in. Other directories list businesses and offer a fascinating glimpse into ancestors from this time.

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 Day Parade" are over 1,263,000 Irish Wills.

For the many family historians with Irish ancestors, these latest records will be a welcome addition to the celebrations of this day that is so close to the hearts of the Irish.

So raise a glass of Guinness, wear some green and enjoy this latest release from the Emerald Isle.

Over 120,000 individuals recorded in Worcestershire Parish Records have just been released in time for The Family History Show, Midlands on Saturday 16th March 2024.

This welcome addition to our growing collection of parish records brings our total Parish Records for Worcestershire up to 2.65 Million Individuals. The records include transcripts of early entries stretching back to Tudor times.

Released in association with Malvern Family History Society, this is the latest fruit of an ongoing collaboration where high-quality transcripts of Parish Records are being made available on TheGenealogist, as well as FHS-Online.

Records from the following parishes are included in this release: Abberley, Abbots Morton, Alfrick with Lulsley, Alvechurch, Areley Kings, Astley, Bayton, Belbroughton, Bengeworth, Beoley, Berrow, Besford, Birlingham, Birtsmorton, Bishampton, Bockleton, Bredon, Broadway, Bromsgrove, Chaddesley Corbett, Church Honeybourne, Church Lench, Churchill with Blakedown, Claines, Cleeve Prior, Clifton on Teme, Cofton Hackett, Colwall, Daylesford, Leigh with Bransford, Lindridge, Mathon, Pershore Holy Cross, Pershore St Andrews, Pontardawe, Redmarley D'Abitot, Shipston on Stour, Shipston-on-Stour, Teddington, Warndon, Welland, Whittington, Wick, and Wolverley.

For the first time, you can explore 1861 census records for England, Scotland and Wales seamlessly connected to contemporary maps with pins revealing the parish, thoroughfare, or even the very building where your ancestor lived. This enhancement adds a fascinating layer to your research and exploration.

Family historians and house historians will now find it easier than ever to locate a person in the official population count from 1861. With one click, you can view a historic map with a pin indicating where a person was living in that year.

You can then go on to see the routes your ancestors would have used to visit shops, local pubs, churches, places of work, schools and parks. You can also find where the nearest railway station was, important for understanding how our ancestors could travel to other parts of the country to see relatives or visit their hometown.

The 1861 Census joins previously released 1871 to 1911 censuses and the 1939 Register, which are all linked to TheGenealogist’s innovative Map Explorer™. This means that with just the click of a button, you can travel in time through 7 decades of records to discover future occupants and see how an area changed.

Most of the Greater London area and other towns and cities can be viewed down to the property level, while other more rural parts of the country can be identified down to the parish, road or street.

We have just added over 142,000 new individuals to our War Memorial collection, bringing the total number of fully searchable War Memorial Records on TheGenealogist to over 1,688,000. These fully searchable records have been transcribed with their location plotted on Map Explorer™ so you can find the names of ancestors who made the ultimate sacrifice.

These War Memorials, from a variety of places in the UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States, can be used to find ancestors and reveal organisations, churches, towns and communities that they had belonged to.

Also released this week are thousands of extra historical pictures added to our Image Archive. These often fascinating and atmospheric drawings and historic photographs have also been geolocated with pins on the Map Explorer™. Having found an ancestor’s address in a record such as the census and seeing it located on the map, researchers can then view pictures of the neighbourhood as it had once looked when our ancestors lived there.

We have boosted this resource with the addition of some great locational views, including over one thousand beautiful engravings for places of interest in the capital from Old and New London by Edward Walford. There are now over 12,000 geolocated images viewable on Map Explorer™.

We have just added over 5 million individuals to our Residential and Trade Directories collection, helping you discover your ancestors, their addresses, and their occupations back to 1744.

The new records cover England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and the Channel Islands, along with some from as far afield as America, Canada, India, New Zealand and South Africa.

Dating from 1744 to 1899, the directories in this addition are a useful finding aid for ancestors' names, addresses, and occupations and can offer contemporary details of where your past family lived. If a forebear had a business, then the commercial listings in the directory could help find where an ancestor may have worked.

Early Directories can also be useful for finding the addresses of residents before the census, reveal the railways that may have served the area and to find other communications links to nearby towns. With this information, those who may have ‘lost’ an ancestor may make an educated guess of where a person may have moved to live in the past.

More than 389,600 new individuals have been added after being opened in accordance with the 100-year rule and open requests submitted by the public, including actor and director Richard Attenborough. This now means we can search for even more of our ancestors from this period and see where they lived using the powerful mapping tools that we have a reputation for providing.

As these records are linked to pins on our Map Explorer™, a tool that allows you to view both historical and modern maps, family historians are able to explore the neighbourhood where their forebears lived as World War II broke out.

Map Explorer™ will often be able to show the location of properties from 1939 down to the actual building in many cases and at least to the thoroughfare or parish. This makes it a great tool for the family historian to use to find where their forebears lived at this time.

House historians will also be excited to discover that TheGenealogist’s version of the 1939 Register can also be searched from a plot on a map to find who lived there in 1939. This turns the search on its head - as well as being able to look for where a person lived, you can also search for who lived at a property. You can even use Map Explorer to browse the map from house to house to see who lived there, a feature that can only be found on TheGenealogist.