Discover your past
Learn from the experts whether you are starting out on your family history or in need of specialist advice
What is the 1939 Register?
What is the 1939 Register, when was it taken and where can you access the records? We explain how to use this useful census substitute from the start of the Second World War
I found a trove of old papers that revealed my ancestors owned a slave plantation in Jamaica
Richard Atkinson explains how the discovery that his ancestors owned a slave plantation led to his book about his family history
It took 42 years, but a DNA test revealed the truth about my elusive great grandfather
Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine reader Rosemary Wilmot reveals how she found out more about her great grandfather George Gray
From fishing trawlers to Second World War submarines, my family have a long connection with the sea
Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine reader Hazel Garas shares some of her family photographs, including Second World War heroes
My relative earned medals for bravery in the First World War and was one of the first men to drive a tank
Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine reader David Stokes discovered his relative George Harrington drove a tank in the First World War
What's new?
The best genealogy courses available now
Discover how to learn family history skills with our pick of the best online and correspondence genealogy courses
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
DNA
Discover how DNA testing can unlock your family history
The best DNA test kits for 2024 tried and tested
Debbie Kennett, author of DNA and Social Networking, explains why DNA testing is increasingly important in family history research.
Police access, health insurance, matching with distant relatives and more: Your DNA test questions answered
Will a DNA test affect your health insurance premiums? Can the police access the database? Your family history DNA test questions answered
What is STR and SNP DNA?
Alasdair Macdonald and Graham Holton explain the difference between STR DNA and SNP DNA in understanding your family history
Occupations
Discover the occupations and jobs people in your family history did
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
What is an agricultural labourer?
Almost all of us will have agricultural labourer ancestors. Discover more about their lives and how to research them with our guide
How to find hat-makers in your family history
Nell Darby picks the best online resources to find your hat-making ancestors
Military
Military and army records, history, research and family history
How to find Boer War service records
Jonathan Scott picks the best websites for finding Boer War service records in your family history research
Second World War Army records: Where to find them
If someone in your family history served in the Army during the Second World War, here's how to track down their records
What was the Home Guard?
When was the Home Guard formed, what did they do and what weapons did they use? We answer your questions about the real-life 'Dad's Army'
Overseas ancestry
Learn how to search for your ancestry overseas and discover your international family tree
The best websites for tracing Caribbean ancestors
Jonathan Scott shares his top online resources for tracing your Caribbean ancestry
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
Irish ancestry: How to trace Irish ancestry
Discover if you have Irish ancestry with the help of our list of the best Irish ancestry websites
Photo dating
Find out more about dating and caring for your old family photographs
From a mysterious disappearance to meeting the Queen: These photographs reveal my family history
Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine reader Pamela Spencer shares her family photographs, including from the First and Second World Wars
Wartime weddings and trips to the beach: Discover my family history in these beautiful old photographs
Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine reader Val Thorley from Aberforth, West Wales shares her family photographs
How to date Victorian and Edwardian photographs
National Trust curator Catherine Troiano reveals some of her tips on how to date Victorian and Edwardian photographs
Photo dating
Find out more about dating and caring for your old family photographs
What is a super recogniser?
Gail Dixon discovers how 'super recognisers' are helping family historians identify relatives in old images
How to make a family history photobook
We explain how to make a photobook to share your family photographs, and which are the best photobook services
Old photographs: Your complete guide to cleaning, storing and displaying your family photographs
Helen Dawkins on the best way to make sure your old family photographs survive for future generations
Church records
How to access church records, religious records, and discover religious ancestors
How to find baptism records
Genealogist Paul Blake explains why English and Welsh baptism records are important in family history research, and where you can find them online
Parish chest records: What are they, and how can you use them in family history?
So-called because they were kept in chests in the parish, parish chest records include churchwardens' accounts, settlement orders, bastardy examinations and more
What is a marriage bond?
Discover how marriage licences were used as an alternative to marriage by banns in England and Wales, and how marriage bond and allegation records can be used in family history
TV series
Discover more about the Who Do You Think You Are? TV series
Josh Widdicombe on Who Do You Think You Are?: Everything you need to know
Comedian Josh Widdicombe discovered that he's descended from royalty when he traced his family history on Who Do You Think You Are?
What is Who Do You Think You Are? Australia?
When is Who Do You Think You Are? Australia next on TV and what celebrities are on it?
Emma Willis on Who Do You Think You Are?: Everything you need to know
TV presenter Emma Willis discovered links to industrial Birmingham and to Ireland's religious strife when she traced her family history on Who Do You Think You Are?