Family History/ Genealogy - UK WebsitesReviews and ratings of quality, hand-picked, UK websites
Ancestry.co.uk
• www.ancestry.co.uk
Headers: Family History Search, Message Boards, Family Trees
Searching for details of you ancesters has never been easier! Ancestry.co.uk will search UK Census records, UK Birth, Marriage and Death Records, Irish Immigration Records, the England and Wales Census Records dating back to 1841, UK and Ireland Parish and Probate Records, Pallot Marriage Index, and more. Plus these is a community of members and you can use the website to start your own family tree. You can pay-per-view or take out an annual or a monthly subscription. (Note that they operate continuous billing so don't forget to cancel your subscription if you decide to leave the service)
The 1901 Census for England & Wales
• www.1901census.nationalarchives.gov.uk
Tantalisingly you can search for free, but if you want more information on an individual you will have to pay. Not too expensive, though, at 50p per person. Minimum credit to pay is £5 but you can use this over 7 days.
Ancestral Ackroyds
• www.ackroydfamilyresearch.co.uk
Headers: Names, Family Records, Photo Album, Wills & Admons, Articles
OK, if your name is Ackroyd, then you will probably want to make a bee line for this website, which contains interesting information on the family history of some Yorkshire Ackroyds and names associated with the family. Even if you are not an Ackroyd but are thinking of researching your own family history, then the site is still worth a visit as it demonstrates very nicely how to put together a family history website. In addition, there are lots of articles and links on genealogy.
BBC History
• www.bbc.co.uk/history/
Headers: Ancient History, Archaeology, Church & State, Historic Figures, History for Kids, History Trail, Multimedia Zone, Reading Room, Science & Discovery, Science & Culture, Timelines, Wars & Conflict, WW2, Your History.
Huge resource which can truly be described as true Edutainment if such a word is allowed. In-depth articles, timelines and short biographies of historic figures, alongside games, virtual tours, animations. The multi-media is of course excellent compared to most sites, just a shame there aren't more full length programs in the archive given that this is the BBC but they are coming we are told. The "People's War" is very interesting to read. It is for readers to pass on their memories of 1939-1945 for future generations. "Lucky for Me: Boy Meets Girl on Coventry Train, 1942" is one such example.
British Ancestry
• www.britishancestry.org
Headers: Birth Certificates, Marriage Certificates, Death Certificates, Church Records, Search Fees
If you want to research your family history but need some help, then Susan Palmer, the founder of British Ancestry, has just the expertise you are looking for. Susan and her helpers will search public records for births, marriages and deaths; census records, parish records and all other manner of records. The good part is, you only get charged if the searches are successful! Full charging details on the site.
Burke's Peerage & Gentry
• www.burkes-peerage.net
Headers: Search Records, Subscribe, Books
You can now buy a selection of Burke's publications, including the 107th edition which includes family histories of certain titled families, an index of 120,000 living people, articles on the Royal family, listings of over 3000 Kinghts and their families plus Scottish and Irish Chiefs and Feudal Barons. You can also buy "Burke's Landed Gentry The Kingdom in Scotland", which has over 850 biographies, online for a reduced price of £99. If the high cost of these books puts you off - the 107th ed comes in at around £415 - you can always buy a subscription which allows you to search their records online. 1 year's subscription is £64.95, or you can get the 24hr subscription for £15.95. The site also contains a free browsable A-Z guide containing information about genealogy, heraldry, history, places plus more and including such nuggets as the words to Auld Lang Syne, a brief potted history of the Boer War, and an explanation of british titles.
Family History 4 All
• http://familyhistory4all.co.uk
Headers: Where do I Start? Family History Socieies, Your Questions, Freebies, Family Records, Diary of Events, Yorkshire Search Service, Locate a Parish, Build a Website, Chapman Codes
If you are new to family history research, then browse Family History 4 All for a mass of invaluable advice on how to get started. Also, if you have a specific question then they would be glad to help. Sign up for the free monthly newsletter for updates and further hints and tips plus readers questions and stories. For those needing help researching their family history in Yorkshire, Family History 4 All offers a search service.
Family Records
• www.familyrecords.gov.uk
Headers: Topics, Partners, Guides, Links
If you are new to family history research, you will find the information here very useful. The aim of this government website is to help you to find records such as wills, census records, immigration, births, marriages and deaths plus many more. Click on "guides" for useful tips and advice.
Federation of Family History Societies
• www.ffhs.org.uk
Headers: ABC of the Federation, Help with Research, Federation Projects, conferences & Fairs
The FFHS has some very useful tips for beginners on how to start creating your family history.
National Archives
• www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
Headers: Family History, Military History, History (General)
The National Archives is a new organisation, comprising The Public Record Office (PRO) and the Historical Manuscripts Commission (HMC). Together they comprise one of the largest archival collections in the world, spanning 1000 years of British history, from the Doomsday Book to government papers recently released to the public. Information to be had includes wills, census records (1861 - 1901), military and defence documents, campaign medals from World War One plus local history documents. There are even tutorials on such things as palaeography - reading old handwriting. All searches are free but you may be charged for downloads. To view documents such as birth, marriage and death certificates you will have to visit The National Archives in Ruskin Avenue, Kew, Richmond, Surrey.
The Origins Network
• www.originsnetwork.com
Headers: British Origins, Irish Origins, Scots Origins, Familiy History Articles, How to Trace Your Family History
If you are interested in your family history, you can sign up with Origins to search across databases that include millions of surnames, for births, deaths and marriages. Databases include records from 1538 to 1926. There are 4 packages to choose from, depending on your area of search, and all packages have a 72 hour trial access plus you can perform a free initial search to find out the number of records available. The site also contains useful information on how to trace your family history.
UK BMD
• www.ukbmd.org.uk
Headers: Local BMD, County, National, Census, ONS, Register
BMD - births, marriages and deaths. Excellent resource for anyone researching their family history. You can register for free and get regular emails to keep you up to date with the latest news.
Can't find it?
Try our search engines, price comparison and online auction pages.
