Guides by Daisy Goddard

Family history research often takes us far beyond our own borders. Whether your ancestor migrated overseas or lived in one place their whole life, global birth, marriage and death records (BMDs) will help you to trace the milestones of their lives.

Birth records can illuminate key details about your ancestors' lives, including parents' names. Here's how to find the record you're looking for by searching online birth records with the father's name.

DNA testing and genealogy research are two routes into uncovering your family's story. Here's what they can teach you about your roots and the main differences between them.

Life in the workhouse was brutal. Conditions were cramped and unsanitary, food was scarce, and the labour was back-breaking. Poor law records can reveal these harrowing stories of hardship and survival.

Whether it's the looping secretary hand of a 17th-century parish clerk or the faded ink of a will, deciphering the writing in old documents is an essential skill for family history researchers. Here's how to understand original records in their entirety.

Whether for the birth of a child or while being treated for a serious illness, many of our ancestors spent time in hospitals in years gone by. Understand their experiences as well as the wider context of healthcare in the period with old hospital records.

Family history records are invaluable, but they are not infallible. Don't let errors and inconsistencies throw your research off track - here's what to look out for when using genealogy records to trace your family tree back through the generations.

Although popular surnames may make tracing Welsh ancestors a little more challenging, with the right records and tools, you can uncover the fascinating stories that bring your Welsh ancestry to life.

Along with marriage and death dates, birth dates are essential information for tracing your family tree back through the generations. Here's how to use online family history records and tools to discover when a person was born.

Migration has played a transformative role within many of our family stories. Whether your relatives were chasing opportunity, escaping hardship or pursuing love, here’s how to understand their experiences by searching passenger list records online.