Discover your past
Learn from the experts whether you are starting out on your family history or in need of specialist advice
New online records can help you uncover more about your Royal Navy ancestors
Tracing Royal Naval records often leads to stories of courage, service and sacrifice. A new, exclusive and growing archive on Findmypast means you can now uncover more tales of your seafaring forebearers
Nonconformist family history: The best websites
Who were the nonconformists, and how can you find nonconformists in your family history? Discover more with our guide to the best websites
6.5 million nonconformist records added to MyHeritage
MyHeritage has added two major new collections of nonconformist 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
Ernie Wise and June Whitfield among celebrities in newly-opened WW2 records
Records of famous Brits are among those newly opened to the public on the 1939 Register
What's new?
How to find passenger lists for ships
Simon Wills explains where to find online passenger list collections for ancestors who travelled overseas
The Royal Naval Division: What was it, when was it founded and where can you find service records?
Discover how to trace a serviceman in the Royal Naval Division with our guide
Over 100,000 Royal Navy WW2 casualty records go online
Findmypast has added over 150,000 Royal Navy records
This Christmas, interview your relatives and preserve precious family memories
How to interview older relatives about family history at Christmas
This is the last-minute Christmas gift they'll actually remember
What secrets will your family and friends uncover?
DNA
Discover how DNA testing can unlock your family history
The best DNA test kits for 2025 tried and tested
DNA expert Debbie Kennett reviews the leading commercial DNA tests on the market
The best websites for DNA family history research
Jonathan Scott wades through the jargon to bring together the best sites for understanding your family history using DNA testing
This DNA test kit is a gamechanger — and it's 63% off
Don't miss out on MyHeritage's whole genome sequencing DNA test for just £27
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
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
Substantial new cost announced for WW2 service record access
The National Archives has announced a new ordering system for Second World War service records
Findmypast to offer free access to military records for Remembrance Day
Findmypast is offering free access to millions of military records to commemorate the end of the First World War
Overseas ancestry
Learn how to search for your ancestry overseas and discover your international family tree
Who were the Huguenots?
Kathy Chater explains how to trace Huguenot ancestors - Protestant refugees fleeing religious persecution in France - in your family history
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
Irish petty sessions records: How to use them in family history
Discover how to use the records of Ireland's petty sessions in your family history research
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
Ancestry adds over two million Doncaster records
Ancestry has added a major collection of historic baptism, marriage and burial records from Doncaster
Over one million Teesside parish records go online
A new collection over one million Teesside parish records has been added to Ancestry
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
TV series
Discover more about the Who Do You Think You Are? TV series
Long Lost Family: What is it, and when is it on TV?
When is the new series of Long Lost Family, and who are the people featured?
Titanic Sinks Tonight: What is it, when is it on TV and who are the characters?
BBC Two's new docudrama Titanic Sinks Tonight recreates the sinking of the Titanic
I research celebrities' family trees for Who Do You Think You Are? - here's what I want you to know about tracing your family history
Who Do You Think You Are? genealogist Sara Khan shares behind-the-scenes tips on how to research your family history