Discover English records spanning over 350 years
2-3 minute read
By Daisy Goddard | April 26, 2024

This week, there are over 20,000 new additions for you to explore.
We've added 21,124 new records this Findmypast Friday. There is a brand new collection of enhanced records from the ODNB (Oxford Dictionary of National Biography) to explore, in addition to updates to two existing sets: Surrey Prerogative Court of Canterbury Will Abstracts (1457- 1858) and Lancashire Wills & Probate, 1457- 1858.
There are also half a million new newspaper pages to discover.
Surrey Prerogative Court Will Abstracts, 1420-1857
This week's biggest record update consists of 11,308 Surrey will abstracts from the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, spanning 1471 to 1700.

The Square, Shere, Surrey. Wikimedia Commons
There are both transcriptions and images available for this updated collection.
Enhanced Genealogical Data From Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
There are 4,013 images and transcriptions to explore within this brand-new collection of Oxford Dictionary of National Biography records.
Spanning from 1669 right up to 2023, this brand new collection offers enhanced genealogical data relating to over 4,000 dictionary entries.
Lancashire Wills & Probate 1457-1858
We've also bolstered our Lancashire Wills collection with 5,803 brand-new records spanning 1825 to 1858.

Lancashire's Countryside, Wikimedia Commons
These new records relate to 'Infra Wills', that is, estates valued at less than £40. If your Lancashire ancestor passed down a small sum to their next of kin in the early 19th century, their name may just appear within this updated collection.
Half a million new pages to discover
We've made an immense update to our newspaper collection this week, with an impressive 510,410 new historical pages added which span over 100 years.
Discover a new Nottinghamshire title and a duo of new Scottish additions. We've also updated 23 of our existing publications, with new pages added from Deeside to Driffield.
Here's a rundown of this week's newspaper updates.
New titles:
- Glenrothes Gazette, 1986-1993
- Hucknall Dispatch, 1979-1983, 1985-1986, 1988-1996, 1998
- Kirriemuir Herald, 1971-1974, 1977-1979
Updated titles:
- Arbroath Herald, 1974-1980, 1986
- Ballymena Observer, 1994
- Belper News, 1986-1987, 1989, 1993-1994, 1996
- Blyth News Post Leader, 1989-1990, 1993-1996, 1998-1999
- Broughty Ferry Guide and Advertiser, 1985-1986
- Deeside Piper, 1986
- Driffield Times, 1986
- Fife Free Press, & Kirkcaldy Guardian, 1958-1963, 1966-1970, 1983-1986
- Fife Herald, 1986-1987
- Fraserburgh Herald and Northern Counties’ Advertiser, 1993-1994
- Halifax Evening Courier, 1962-1965
- Leighton Buzzard Observer and Linslade Gazette, 1986
- Lincolnshire Standard and Boston Guardian, 1987, 1995-1998
- Montrose Review , 1960-1964, 1967-1977
- Northampton Herald, 1854
- Pateley Bridge & Nidderdale Herald 2001
- Sheffield Independent, 1911
- Shetland Times, 1912-1931, 1933-1947, 1951-1979
- Sleaford Standard, 1963-1983, 1986-1987
- St. Andrews Citizen, 1872-1874, 1969-1984, 1986-1988
- Star Green ‘un, 1946-1948, 1959-1961
- Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette, 1988-1989
- Wolverhampton Express and Star, 1962, 1972-1975, 1977-1978
Last week, we added 6,200 new baptism records - explore the full release for yourself today.
Have you made a surprising family history discovery? Whatever you've uncovered about your past, we'd love to hear about it. You can now get in touch and tell us using this handy form.