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From trailblazing women's history to unexpected ancestry discoveries, understand the past, one family story at a time.
Although family history is deeply personal to each of us, it's also a valued form of historical research. Together, we're illuminating the forgotten stories of the past, connecting with our ancestors and the world in which they lived.We're passionate about supporting research in all of its forms, which is why we've partnered with the Women's Prize Trust to sponsor the new prize for female writers of non-fiction. You can read more about this exciting partnership here. Of course, non-fiction…
The census is an incredible resource. It not only gives us those biographical details that help us trace our ancestors every ten years, but it gives a snapshot of the entire country. As any keen genealogist knows, it is like peeking into the windows – and the portholes – of every home and ship in the country. Back in 2018, Findmypast began the landmark project to digitise the 1921 Census of England and Wales in partnership with the National Archives. This began my keen
Picture boots on cobbles, voices carrying down terraced streets, the scrape of a chair pulled up to the kitchen table as another man came in with the latest news. Word travelled fast in mining communities. By 1921, life was already on edge. The First World War had ended, but the relief never quite arrived. Work was uncertain. Prices were high. Across England and Wales, more than two million people were out of work.For families tied to the coal industry, things…
Our journey to preserve and digitise the 1921 Census of England and Wales started when Findmypast won the competitive tender published by The National Archives in 2018. We were thrilled to be chosen to complete the challenging but exciting task of bringing the 1921 Census online for the first time. The Census is an amazing window into the past, giving us a snapshot of 38 million lives in England and Wales on one night in the summer of 1921. Now, with our Premium subscription, you…
If you are hitting brick walls when trying to discover an elusive great-uncle or great-great-aunt, did you ever consider the possibility that they were lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender? Here are some suggestions and tips that can help to uncover the fascinating life stories of these ancestors.To learn more about LGBT history - and how you can trace your very own LGBT+ ancestors - head over to our LGBT History Hub. From Oscar Wilde's family tree to our must-read books on…