Guides by Daisy Goddard

When an ancestor passed away, their death left traces that survive to the present day, in the form of legal records, tributes and memorials. Explore genealogy records and old newspapers to gain a poignant insight into how your relative was remembered.

If you’ve been building your family tree using census records, you might have noticed a glaring gap. After the detailed 1921 Census of England and Wales, the next available enumeration jumps forward to 1951 – this is because the 1931 Census was destroyed in a fire.

Tracing adopted ancestors or those who spent time in orphanages can be one of the most challenging aspects of family history research. But with the right approach, it's possible to bring these hidden histories to light.

With genealogy records and handy online tools, it's never been easier to find out where someone was born. Whether you're researching a grandparent or a distant ancestor, here's how to uncover the location clues you need to understand your roots.

A brick wall is one of the most common - and most frustrating - experiences in family history research. As you start your genealogy journey, understand what they are and how to avoid them.

Whether they sought refuge, opportunity, or simply a new start, millions of people left the UK and Ireland to build lives across the Atlantic in the 18th and 19th centuries. Uncover their incredible journeys with online passenger lists, naturalisation records and more.

Keeping track of each thread of your family history research is no easy task, but gone are the days of paper files and bulky folders. Here’s how to use handy genealogy software to keep your research tidy, accessible and meaningful.

Whether you're filling in gaps on your family tree or discovering a relative's life story for the first time, here's how to explore the treasure trove that is the 1921 Census online.

If you've got Jewish ancestry, your family story has likely been shaped by persecution, migration and resilience. Records and old newspapers can help you to understand your ancestors' lives in vivid detail.

If you encounter a gap in your family tree or an unexpected change to family arrangements, it may be because one of your ancestors got divorced. Digitised family history records can help you to uncover the full story.