Discover your past
Learn from the experts whether you are starting out on your family history or in need of specialist advice
Bigamy was rarer and less acceptable than previously thought, historian says
Professor Rebecca Probert has investigated the scope of bigamy in England and Wales between 1604 and 2024 in two new books
How to trace Gibraltar ancestors
If your ancestors lived on Gibraltar, here's how to trace them
DNA tests will not answer every question about your family history, experts warn
Professor Turi King warned that DNA tests won't answer every question about your family history at an event at The London Archives
The best genealogy courses available now
Discover how to learn family history skills with our pick of the best online and correspondence genealogy courses
Consultation opens on proposed fee increases at the National Records of Scotland
The National Records of Scotland has announced proposed fee increases to access Scottish family history records
What's new?
The 1926 Irish census: Everything you need to know
Discover when the 1926 Irish census will be released, and how to use the existing Irish census records in your family history research
What are tithe maps?
Tithe maps are an invaluable family history resource if your ancestors owned land – here’s how to find the old maps online
British Army records: Where to find them online
From the roots of the British Empire to the First and Second World Wars, discover what British Army records survive and how to find them with our guide for family historians
Paternity fraud: How common is it, what are the signs and how can you prove it?
What is paternity fraud, and how can you tell whether a child's legal father is actually their biological father?
RAF records: How do I find WW2 RAF service records?
Don't miss our guide to finding the service records of WW2 RAF personnel
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
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
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
Overseas ancestry
Learn how to search for your ancestry overseas and discover your international family tree
Irish wills: Why are they important, and where can you find them?
Irish ancestry research experts Paul Blake and Maggie Loughran explain how to find Irish wills
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
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?
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
Harriet Walter says her mother was 'belittled' by men despite having worked for military intelligence on Who Do You Think You Are?
Downton Abbey actor Harriet Walter will trace her family history on Who Do You Think You Are? on 30 July 2026
Adeel Akhtar discovers his ancestors faced 'segregation' on Who Do You Think You Are?
Adeel Akhtar traced his Kenyan roots on Who Do You Think You Are?
Who is Olivier-winning actor Dame Harriet Walter?
Five things you didn't know about Olivier-winning actor Dame Harriet Walter ahead of her appearance on Who Do You Think You Are?