Federation Of Family History Societies

Research Tips

First Steps in Family History

Where do I start?

Start with yourself, add your family, your parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins, etc., in fact, any relatives you can remember. Question older relatives, who can be invaluable in providing knowledge of ancestors you may not know of or have forgotten.

I've recorded everything my relatives told me. Where do I go next?

In England and Wales people have been able to register births, marriages and deaths since 1 July 1837. Certificates of events occurring from this date can be obtained from local Register Offices or the Registrar General (www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificate). You can search the General Register Office (GRO) indexes to these registrations at some local libraries and record offices who have copies in microform. Several commercial companies provide online digitised images of the index page for free or for a fee (see our Useful Websites page).

What information can I expect to obtain from a certificate?

A birth certificate usually names both parents, including the mother's maiden surname. Knowing both parents' full names, you can search the indexes for a reference to their marriage. A marriage certificate usually supplies the names of the fathers of both parties. Simple steps like these can take your line well back into the nineteenth century.

But this information only applies to England and Wales. My ancestry is Scottish and Irish. What do I do?

Civil Registration began in Scotland in 1855 and in Ireland in 1864. Certificates can be obtained from New Register House, Princes Street, Edinburgh EHI 3YT (for Scotland) and from the General Register Office, Government Offices, Convent Road, Roscommon, for Ireland. Registrations for Northern Ireland Northern Ireland from 1922 are at Oxford House, 49-55 Chichester Street, Belfast BTT 4HL. Before commencing this part of your research, however, you are strongly advised to read the relevant chapter in one of the many books available.

To date my family history consists, mainly, of names and dates; how do I find out more about my ancestors' families?

A census is taken every ten years and the records become available for public scrutiny when they are 100 years old. We can therefore see, on microfilm or microfiche, those returns for 1841, 1851, 1861, 1871, 1881, 1891 and 1901. They are arranged under addresses, not names, and so to look at them on film or fiche you need to know where your family lived at those times to trace them. Details such as age, occupation and place of birth may be found on the census returns for 1851 and after. The 1841 census omits place of birth and relationships.

Where can I search the census returns?

A complete set for England and Wales is housed at The National Archives, Kew. Additionally, those pertaining to your area may be found at your local record office, library or family history society. Census indexes are also available online from commercial firms and images may be downloaded for a fee, or free in your local library.

I have traced my line back to the mid-1800s, using the GRO Indexes. How do I get further back?

Now, you will be largely dependent on the church (or parish) registers. These registers were introduced in 1538 and contain baptisms and burials (as distinct from births and deaths) and, of course, marriages. Although many early registers have been lost over the years, a surprising number still exist.

Where do I find parish registers?

Today, very few registers, other than those which are still in use, are held at churches. Many of the registers have been filmed and copies are widely available; ask at the relevant county record office or local studies library, or your nearest Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS) Family History Centre. In addition to the registers, from 1598 parish priests had to send to their bishop an 'annual return', a copy of the register, known as a Bishops' Transcript. Those that still exist can be very useful in supplying entries omitted from the register or replacing a missing register.

I've heard of the IGI, what is this?

The IGI, or International Genealogical Index, is an index to about 800 million births, baptisms and marriages from around the world. The index is produced by the LDS, and is available in many libraries and record offices, and in the Church's own Family History Centres. It can also be found online at www.familysearch.org

I have heard that wills can be useful - how do I go about using them?

Wills and administrations, proved in England and Wales from 1858 are available at the Principal Registry of the Family Division, First Avenue House, 42-49 High Holborn, London WC1V 6NP. Indexes can also be found at several record offices and libraries elsewhere. Before 1858 there was no national probate registry and research is more complicated as a result.

What else can I expect to find out about my family?

There are many other sources which you can search, far too many to list here. There are a number of useful books and magazines that may help, so ask at your local library. Many local family history societies publish a selection of modestly priced books and CDs to help you with both your research and the location of source material. A comprehensive range is available from GENfair: visit the online catalogue on the www.genfair.co.uk

How do I find out if there are any family history classes in my area?

Try the Workers' Educational Association and your Local Education Authority, both of which arrange adult classes. If none is available then why not ask if classes in this subject can be arranged. See also our page on Genealogy Courses.

What are family history societies?

They are groups of family historians who have an interest in a particular geographical area, such as a county, or live in that area. There are also special interest societies, for example a specific surname. You should definitely join your local society.

What benefits can I expect for my Membership?

Most societies hold regular meetings - go along to these and join in their activities. You may also find it useful to become a member of those societies covering the areas in which your ancestors once lived. All societies produce journals and these will describe local records and history. Many societies run very informative websites. Their Members might be able to help with particular 'local research' problems, for example by visiting the churchyard to read your grandfather's gravestone for you! Belonging to a family history society will also enable you to contact others who are tracing the same surname that you are, in the area where your ancestor lived.

Where can I find information on any family history societies that I might want to join?

Most societies have websites you can link to. Those that are members of the Federation are listed on this site (see Contacting our Members), or a printed list can be requested from The Administrator, Federation of Family History Societies, PO BOX 8857, Lutterworth, LE17 9BJ.

Supposing there is someone already researching the same family as me, how do I find them?

Many family history societies publish directories of Members' Interests. You can also purchase international directories, such as the Genealogical Research Directory, or search the internet, and there are a number of books available advising you how to do this.