Follow our guides and tips to help you discover your family history
Below are a selection of guides and tips to help you learn how to discover your ancestors. Learn about family history records, sources, genealogy research techniques, and more.
Categories
Getting Started
Research Techniques
Analysis and Interpretation
Record Information
Tools
Other
GETTING STARTED
Starting your family history
Enjoy our top tips on how to start tracing your family history.
How to start your family tree
Read our extensive guide on how to start tracing your family tree.
5 Reasons to Research Your Family History
Considering tracing your family history? Here's why you should!
6 Essentials for Kick Starting Your Family History Journey
Whether you're new to genealogy or seeking a re-start, here's 6 essentials you need to know!
RESEARCH TECHNIQUES
How to get the best results from FamilySearch
Discover our in-depth guide to getting the best results from FamilySearch.
How to get the best results from the IGI
The IGI, or International Genealogical Index, is a valuable tool. Are you making the most of it?
Surname searching: What's been done before?
Discover existing family histories and pedigrees in libraries and online.
London research
Do you have London ancestors? If so, this is the guide for you!
Probate Research: A Quick Guide to Executors
Where there's a Will there's a way! Enjoy this quick guide to executors.
How to search for your military ancestors
Your questions answered: Discovering your military ancestors
ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION
Fact or fiction? How to analyse your research
Discover tools and tips for analyzing your genealogy research.
Writing genealogical reports
Learn how to write genealogy research reports with this in-depth guide.
Standards and Good Practice
Learn about genealogy standards and good practice in this handy guide.
RECORD INFORMATION
How to use Probate records
Where there's a Will there's a way! Discover in-depth probate record guidance here.
Palaeography Part 1: How to create abstracts from old documents
Learn these simple methodologies to reading old handwriting.
Palaeography Part 2: Reading Secretary Hand
Historically, English handwriting has not been so easy to read for our modern eyes. Part 2 of our palaeography guide is here.
How to search Census records
Discover the census records and learn how to use them to trace your ancestors.
How to search Birth, Marriage and Death certificates
Discover our in-depth guide to Birth, Marriage and Death certificates.
Anglican Parish Registers and their Finding Aids
Discover Anglican Parish Registers in this in-depth guide.
Nonconformist Records
Who were the non-conformists, and what records detail their lives?
Criminal Records
Discover our in-depth guide to criminal records.
TOOLS
20 Brilliant Genealogy Tools To Try This Year
Learn about 20 genealogy tools to try this year.
Family History Software
Get help deciding which family history software package to use.
OTHER
Genealogy as a career
Interested in a career in genealogy? Here's our in-depth guide.
Employing a Professional Genealogist
Read our guide on employing a professional genealogist.
The right to arms
What is a Coat of Arms and who has the right to use one?
Join us
As a member, you can make the most of our resources, access our experts, and find a welcoming community of people interested in family history and genealogy.
We all have roots. Let’s find them together.
