Welsh parish registers now available online

Family historians hoping to learn more about their Welsh roots may be able to uncover new leads following the launch of a major online collection.

The set of more than three million parish register entries, available at www.findmypast.co.uk, dates as far back as 1538 and spans the counties of Flintshire, Glamorganshire, Cardiganshire, Carmarthenshire and Denbighshire.

The data has been digitised thanks to a new partnership with the Welsh County Archivists Group and the National Library of Wales, and an estimated five million further entries are expected to be added to the set throughout the course of March and April.

“Archive services in Wales hold a wealth of information, and our written history reflects the rich culture and heritage of the Welsh nation,” says Catherine Richards, county archivist from the Welsh Archives. “Parish registers such as these provide one of the primary sources for family historians and help to bring Welsh ancestors to life.”