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From trailblazing women's history to unexpected ancestry discoveries, understand the past, one family story at a time.
Church or parish records are some of the best resources you can use to take your family tree back further. In many cases, you'll be able to go as far back as the 1500s, when King Henry VIII was on the throne. These records were taken by church officials in every corner of Britain and cover the most important milestones in your family's history.With parish records, you can unearth details of your ancestors' baptisms, marriages and burials. They also…
D-Day was one of the most significant actions of the Second World War. An event that played a crucial role in the liberation of western Europe and the demise of Nazi Germany. Codenamed, Operation Overlord, D-Day, was and still is the greatest military invasion mankind has ever seen. Over 150,000 troops from the United States, Great Britain, Canada, India and more took part, launching from the UK, landing via airdrops or on the beaches of Normandy to gain a foothold in…
Creating a legacy that will last for generations doesn't have to be extravagant or expensive. We've compiled a list of quick and easy ways you can get started on preserving your family legacy right now. Your younger relatives will be forever grateful. 1. Build your family tree: Keep your family story intact forever by storing it on a family tree. Your tree documents all the members of your family in one place, making it great for sharing with other relatives. Our…
Available for free on all Android and iOS devices, the Findmypast mobile app is designed to help you find your ancestors and build your family tree with just a tap and a swipe, wherever you are in the world. We know that convenience is key in this day and age, which is why we want to make sure that you can review hints, search records, and access helpful guides on-the-go. But what does the Findmypast app offer? Grow your family:…
Where did your family live in 1939? What were they doing, and what was life like in their community and the country at the time? The 1939 Register can answer all those questions for you. The 1939 Register is one of the most important genealogical resources of the 20th century, and it's crucial for all family historians. It's a comprehensive survey which provides a valuable snapshot of England and Wales on the cusp of World War II. With the 1931 Census being destroyed in…
Women's rights issues are nothing new and are as prevalent today as they were 100 years ago. Back then, however, one defiant group of women decided they'd had enough of archaic rules and anti-equality movements. They took their fight nationwide and eventually won women's voting rights. Are you anything like the famous females who made history as part of the women's suffrage movement in Britain?Who are you most like? Share your results on social media and compare them with friends…
Many of us have family members who served in the armed forces. You may be aware of their military service through family stories from the two World Wars, or memorabilia and photographs. Perhaps you want to reveal more about their regiment, rank or role, or where they were active. Maybe you're looking for other ancestors with a military past. Whatever the reason behind your quest for family heroes, with millions of online military records, Findmypast is, without doubt, one of…
In general, tracing your family history back to the middle ages and beyond is a challenge. Luckily, many of our amazing UK parish records date back as far 1538 when Henry VIII was still on the throne, but we've got a lot more to offer than just parish registers. Here are some of our favourite early Record collections, many of which you may not know about. Britain, Registers Of Licences To Pass Beyond The Seas 1573-1677: This collection offers our earliest travel…
Christopher Nolan's blockbuster film Dunkirk tells the story of one of history's most daring military feats. Operation Dynamo saw the combined effort of civilians and the armed forces to evacuate over 300,000 stranded allied troops from a beach in France during the Second World War.Like so many British families, the film's cast have connections to a military past, as discovered in Findmypast's extensive records. Harry Styles' great-grandfather: One Direction singer Harry Styles made his acting debut in Dunkirk, perhaps inspired…
The obvious place to start searching for your most destitute ancestors is our extensive workhouse collections. The benefits system of their day, workhouses were the places people turned to when they couldn't afford a basic standard of living. From a family history standpoint, the great thing about workhouses is that they've left behind detailed records, perfect for tracing relatives who otherwise may have gone undocumented.But workhouse records are not the only source you can look at when trying to…