News
The latest news from the world of family history
Newly opened records reveal 'brutality' faced by 14-year-old Second World War prisoner
The National Archives has opened up the records of John Hipkin, who was imprisoned during the Second World War at the age of 14
Members of the public invited to help transcribe Jane Austen's brother's memoir
The Jane Austen's House museum is inviting members of the public to help transcribe Francis Austen's memoir online
Findmypast adds 280,000 Coventry records
Family history website Findmypast has added 280,000 records from Coventry, including Blitz records, burial registers and newspaper pages
Historian seeks help identifying men in moving WW1 photograph
Bristol-based historian Ian Chard shares an evocative photograph of a Gloucestershire regiment from the Western Front – and asks if you recognise any of the depicted men from your own family tree
How much is Ancestry UK?
Discover all the Ancestry pricing options and choose the right Ancestry subscription to find your UK ancestors
How much does Findmypast cost?
We explain what family history records Findmypast's Starter, Plus, Pro and Premium subscriptions cover
Landmark occupational history of Britain reveals that the Industrial Revolution ‘started a century earlier than thought’
The University of Cambridge's Economies Past website has discovered that the Industrial Revolution started in the 17th century
Archive of Irish emigrant letters goes online
The University of Galway has created Imirce, a new free website of historic letters by Irish emigrants in the USA and elsewhere
The National Archives seeks bidders to digitise Home Guard records
The National Archives has published a notice seeking expressions of interest in digitising Second World War Home Guard records
Historic Guinness employee records go online
Family history website Ancestry has added a collection of 1.6 million Guinness employee records from Dublin's Guinness Storehouse
Faroe Islands sweater found in 1807 parcel opened for the first time at The National Archives
A Faroe Islands sweater from 1807 was in a parcel opened as part of the Prize Papers Project, cataloguing letters seized by the British Navy
When is DNA Journey on TV?
What is ITV's family history series DNA Journey, who has been on it, and where can you watch it?
Findmypast adds free British Home Children collection
Records of the British Home Children who were sent from Britain to Canada are now available on family history website Findmypast
Ed Balls on Who Do You Think You Are?: Everything you need to know
Ed Balls learned about one ancestor's dark past on Who Do You Think You Are?, and discovered another who faced the death penalty for standing up for his beliefs
Genealogists campaign against proposals to digitise wills and destroy originals
The Ministry of Justice has opened a consultation on proposals to digitise and then destroy all civil wills in England and Wales
RootsTech: What is it, and when is it taking place in 2024?
Everything you need to know about RootsTech, the world’s largest online and in person family history conference
What are the new London Overground line names, and how do they relate to London’s history?
Sadiq Khan has announced new names for the six London Overground lines, honouring London's history from the suffragettes to the Windrush
Records of 300,000 WW2 farms to go online
A Second World War national farm survey covering England and Wales is to go online as part of a massive digitisation project
Pancake races and town-wide football matches: These old pictures reveal the UK’s Shrove Tuesday traditions
From hurling in St Columb to Royal Shrovetide Football in Ashbourne to pancake races, discover Britain's Shrove Tuesday traditions
Hit family history podcast appeals for stories for season 2
The makers of hit family history podcast Ghost Story are appealing for people's family history stories to appear in Season 2
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are distant cousins, family historian reveals
Pop singer Taylor Swift and her boyfriend Travis Kelce share a distant ancestor, who emigrated to the USA from England in the 17th century
Genealogy company offers "incredible opportunity" for young genealogists
Wiltshire-based family history company Family Wise is offering one young genealogist the chance to visit its business
Findmypast offers chance to win 'Who Do You Think You Are? style experience'
Findmypast is offering the chance to win free family history research and be featured in a Who Do You Think You Are? style video
Canadian census records: What Canadian census records are available?
Discover which Canadian census records are available, and where you can find them