Features

Guides, tutorials, interviews, research and opinion pieces on family and social history

History of exercise

The history of exercise

Irish wills. A wake in Ireland, 19th century

Overseas ancestry

Irish wills: Why are they important, and where can you find them?

Family history books

The best family history books

A lesson on 'Hitlerism and democracy' at Cheadle High School, 1939. Genealogy courses.

The best genealogy courses available now

Victorian wars British soldiers crossing a river during the Boer War, c.1900

Victorian wars: What wars took place during the Victorian era, and how can you research them?

Turi King DNA Family Secrets

“You really feel the enormity of what you’re doing”: Professor Turi King on ‘DNA Family Secrets’

Imperial toast between Wilhelm and Franz Joseph royal ancestry

Getting started

Royal ancestry: How to know if you have royal ancestry

Children on a cart in Ireland 1901 census

Discover your past

When was the 1901 census taken?

Street urchins in Lambeth, South London in the 19th century, as recorded in Charles Booth's poverty maps

Discover your past

Who was Charles Booth, and what are his poverty maps?

Newspaper boys with old newspapers, London, c.1910

Discover your past

How to read old newspapers online

Scientist analysing the results of an autosomal DNA test

Autosomal DNA, Y-DNA and mitochondrial DNA tests: what’s the difference?

Woman talking on mobile phone and writing

How to write an autobiography

History of baking

The history of baking

A Lancashire cotton mill worker

Cotton mill workers: Who were they, and what were their lives like?

Scottish names

Scottish names and naming traditions