Articles by Ellie Overthrow Jones

The Olympics, worldwide tennis tournaments and the Euros have inspired us to explore historical records for sporting female firsts. Have you heard of Nettie Honeyball or Dick, Kerr Ladies? Read on for the first women tennis champions, golf superstars and the female football trailblazers who came before Harry Kane and Gareth Bale.Be sure to check out our other blog articles for tips on how to trace women in your family tree, by using maiden names and social history.Who

Princess Diana’s family tree boasts many illustrious branches, and the Spencer family of Althorp is just one of them. Back in 1765, Diana’s ancestor John Spencer was made the first Earl Spencer. But the history of Althorp House dates back even further when an earlier John Spencer bought the estate during the reign of Henry VII.  This Tudor-era John Spencer was also an ancestor of Robert Catesby, leader of the Gunpowder Plot. This means Princess Diana shares ancestry with actor Kit

Unfortunately, chances are you’re not related to actress Catherine Zeta-Jones or singer Tom Jones. But there is a rich history behind your Welsh surname, a history that will be important to know about when you’re tracing your ancestors. What’s in a name?There’s a reason why many people with Welsh heritage share the same surname without even being related: patronymics. Back in times of old, Welsh people didn’t have surnames as we consider them today. In the past, instead of

We’d all like our genealogy research to be continued by our descendants. But more importantly, our children and grandchildren deserve to know their history in a way that isn’t overwhelming for them. There are only so many board games you can play in a day. When you run out of arts and crafts projects, what’s next on the list to entertain young minds?Exploring kids’ family historyThis printable activity pack is a great way to introduce children to their

The short answer is, no. The Bridgertons are a fictional family, with their story set during Regency era London, the time of Jane Austen. But there were many families just like them, navigating the marriage market, the London season, and of course, the scandal.The Netflix series follows the lives and loves of the Bridgerton family. The eight children are all named alphabetically. If you need to know who’s who, we created the Bridgerton family tree for you.Just for

Perhaps you’ve come across your ancestor in our 19th-century school registers, or you want to know how to find examples of old school photography from a bygone era. Either way, you’ve come to the right place. On Findmypast, you can find iconic photos in a variety of our historical records, from our incredible Photo Collection to our collection of newspapers. Here’s where you can look.How do I find old school photos?In our Photo Collection, there are wonderful photos

In The Crown on Netflix, the 'people's princess' is played by Emma Corrin, and later Elizabeth Debicki. Known for her extensive charity work, lasting fashion sense and tumultuous marriage to Prince Charles (now King Charles III), Diana Frances Spencer was born on 1 July 1961 to parents John Spencer, 8th Earl Spencer, and Frances Roche. She was the fourth of five children and grew up near Sandringham Palace, even playing with the young princes Andrew and Edward. Princess Diana's family tree tells

Family history doesn’t just have to be about our own families. Many of us research for friends or colleagues, allowing us to sharpen our skills and provide answers for others. Here, four members of the incredible Findmypast Community share what they discovered when they traced the lives of the casualties remembered on war memorials.A hidden story that started with just a nameCommunity member Patricia used to be in the Women’s Royal Air Force. She decided to research a

Picture it. Until now, you haven't travelled further than your local village. Now you face an arduous, weeks-long journey across the ocean into the unknown. Life in steerage is tough. You're sharing a cramped space with dozens of strangers and spend your nights awake and homesick, remembering the family you've left behind. As you approach Ellis Island, you wonder what awaits you on the other side. A new country brimming with opportunity or more of the same strife you are

You might know your close family, your aunts, uncles, and cousins. They might be on the family tree you’ve already made a good start on. But what about your grandmother’s cousin, for example... do you know what happened to him? Or perhaps you never knew your birth family. Maybe you have a half-brother you’ve never met. If you’ve ever thought about how to find lost relatives, let us help you, just how Davina McCall and Nicky Campbell reunite family members