Discover your past
Learn from the experts whether you are starting out on your family history or in need of specialist advice
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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
"During the Civil War, trains were ambushed": the history of Ireland's railways, and how to trace railway worker ancestors
Discover how to trace your ancestors who worked on Ireland's railways
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
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
How the British government using Ireland as a 'testing laboratory' changed the course of Irish education
Find out the history of education in Ireland and how you can trace Irish teacher ancestors in surviving records
The best free genealogy websites
These free genealogy websites will help you start your British family history research without costing a penny
These hidden records could help researchers close the gaps in their Irish family trees
How to use the Irish Land Commission records in family history research
What to do if someone's missing from the 1926 Irish census
Discover how to trace an ancestor who's missing from the newly-released 1926 Irish census with top tips from genealogist Nicola Morris
DNA
Discover how DNA testing can unlock your family history
This is the last-minute Christmas gift they'll actually remember
What secrets will your family and friends uncover?
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
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
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
RAF records: How do I find WW2 RAF service records?
Don't miss our guide to finding the service records of WW2 RAF personnel
Overseas ancestry
Learn how to search for your ancestry overseas and discover your international family tree
Irish census records and census substitutes: Where to find them
Although many have been destroyed, Irish census records and their substitutes are still essential tools for anyone researching their Irish roots
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
"Historic moment" as Ireland's first census is opened to the public online
The long-awaited 1926 Irish census is now free to search online
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
From Brendan O'Carroll to Boy George, celebrities with incredible tales of Irish history in their family trees
Five of the most incredible tales of Irish family history from Who Do You Think You Are?
When is Who Do You Think You Are? next on TV?
When is Who Do You Think You Are? next on TV, and who will appear on it? We answer your questions about the popular family history TV show
Toby Jones and Zoe Ball among celebs to uncover family secrets as new series of Who Do You Think You Are? offers "social history that brings us all together"
A new line-up of eight celebrities, including Toby Jones, Zoe Ball and Amy Dowden will trace their family history in the 2026 series of Who Do You Think You Are?