Discover your past
Learn from the experts whether you are starting out on your family history or in need of specialist advice
How to uncover Italian ancestry from the researcher who traced Joe Swash's roots in Italy
Italian researcher Maria Laura Frullini shares her advice on finding records in Italy based on her experience uncovering celebrity stories for Who Do You Think You Are?
How to research Italian ancestry
Do you have Italian ancestry? Discover how you can trace Italian ancestors in their home country with online family history records
The best genealogy courses available now
Discover how to learn family history skills with our pick of the best online and correspondence genealogy courses
The best DNA test kits for 2026 tried and tested
DNA expert Debbie Kennett reviews the leading commercial DNA tests on the market
The historic court records that revealed the shocking family tragedy in Amy Dowden's episode of Who Do You Think You Are?
Who Do You Think You Are? researcher Sara Khan reveals more about the records used to solve a mystery on Amy Dowden's episode
What's new?
The 6 best free websites for London family history
Many of our ancestors came to London at some point - and you can trace them with these free websites
When will the 1926 Irish census be released?
Discover when the 1926 Irish census will be released, and how to use the existing Irish census records in your family history research
The amazing story of an Arsenal goalkeeper who served his country in WW2
The true story of Arsenal goalkeeper George Swindin's experiences in the Second World War
Were Queen Victoria and Prince Albert both the result of paternity fraud?
What is paternity fraud, and how can you tell whether a child's legal father is actually their biological father?
How to discover your Irish family history during the Easter Rising and War of Independence
How to trace your Irish ancestors in the turbulent early years of the 20th century
Occupations
Discover the occupations and jobs people in your family history did
The 15 best websites for finding clergy in your family tree
An Anglican or nonconformist clergyman in your family tree can be a treat for genealogists, says Jonathan Scott
Munitionettes: Who were they and what did they do?
12-hour shifts, poisoning and deadly explosions... Bill Laws explores the hidden lives of the women who built Britain's arms during the First World War
Post Office records: How to find Post Office employee records
Susannah Coster from The Postal Museum reveals how to use Post Office records in family history
Military
Military and army records, history, research and family history
Discover the stories of soldiers who fought for Irish independence in free online records
Discover how to trace ancestors who fought for Ireland's independence in online military pensions records
NAAFI in WW2: The true story
Discover how the women of the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes supported the British armed forces during the Second World War
Eyes to the skies: Where to spot the Spitfire 90th Anniversary Flight this April
The historic Spitfire is taking to the skies to mark its 90th anniversary - here's where to see the flight path
Overseas ancestry
Learn how to search for your ancestry overseas and discover your international family tree
How to trace your ancestors in Irish newspapers
You can break down brick walls in your Irish family history with the help of historic newspapers
How to trace your Irish ancestors in online school records
How to find your Irish ancestors as children in the surviving records of National Schools
How to trace Irish ancestors who emigrated to America
Discover the five key family history records to trace Irish ancestors who emigrated to America
Photo dating
Find out more about dating and caring for your old family photographs
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
RHS calls for help identifying 16 Victorian calling card photographs
The Royal Horticultural Society has published its collection of 756 Victorian calling card photographs online
Do you have photographs of your family in their gardens? Here’s how to uncover the stories behind them
Discover how to use clothes, photo types and more to date old photographs of your family outdoors in their gardens throughout the years
Photo dating
Find out more about dating and caring for your old family photographs
These family photos are all I have left of my grandfather and uncle who both died in the world wars
Debbie Cameron from Formby in Merseyside shares her family photographs, including of her grandfather and uncle who died in the world wars
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
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
Church records
How to access church records, religious records, and discover religious ancestors
Five million East Riding of Yorkshire family history records go online
Ancestry has added nearly five million parish records
6.5 million nonconformist records added to MyHeritage
MyHeritage has added two major new collections of nonconformist records
Ancestry adds over two million Doncaster records
Ancestry has added a major collection of historic baptism, marriage and burial records from Doncaster
TV series
Discover more about the Who Do You Think You Are? TV series
Joe Swash discovers the truth about a rumour of mafia connections in his family on Who Do You Think You Are?
Joe Swash discovered the truth about his ancestors who emigrated from Italy to London on Who Do You Think You Are?
Everything you need to know about Joe Swash, including his appearance on Strictly and his marriage to Stacey Solomon
Everything you need to know about Joe Swash ahead of his appearance on Who Do You Think You Are?
"They're not thinking about the victim in all this": Amy Dowden discovers shocking death of a teenage girl in her family history
Amy Dowden discovered a shocking death in her family history on Who Do You Think You Are?