The First World War upended thousands of families. For one Surrey family, a soldier's disappearance on the battlefield slowly unravelled an entire household, scattering its children across institutions, counties and, eventually, an ocean. Nearly a century later, family history records helped stitch those pieces back together. An ordinary family: In 1911, carpenter Albert Edward Bance married Caroline Ratcliff in Surrey. Within a few years they had three children: Frances Elizabeth, Daisy Maud, and Albert Edward. The family of five never appeared…
Before becoming the Labour Party leader in 2020, Keir Starmer had a long legal career. Keir often refers to his parents during political speeches - particularly his father, Rod, a tool-maker. But what else is known about the Labour Leader's heritage? This isn't all we've uncovered about the genealogy of Britain's most prominent politicians - to learn even more surprising discoveries, why not delve into Boris Johnson's family tree? We've also researched Rishi Sunak, Theresa May and Liz Truss, so there is so…
Alexander Armstrong is a comedian and actor, perhaps best known as the host of the BBC quiz show Pointless alongside Richard Osman. He's half of the comedy duo Armstrong and Miller (alongside long-time friend Ben Miller), and also presents a morning show on Classic FM. This multi-talented personality boasts a long and diverse career which includes radio, appearing regularly on Have I Got News For You, and voice acting credits on Danger Mouse, Sarah Jane Adventures and more.He married…
Family history fans will be delighted to hear that everyone's favourite genealogy show, Who Do You Think You Are?, will return to screens for a new series in 2025. Previous episodes have seen everyone from Dame Judi Dench to Danny Dyer discover the stories of their ancestors. The celebrity line-up for 2025 includes:BAFTA-winning Spiderman actor Andrew GarfieldWriter and comedian Diane MorganSoap star and documentary maker Ross KempAward-winning actor and writer Aisling BeaPop icon Will YoungTV personality…
Taylor Swift is one of the world’s best-selling musicians. Her songs, personality and private life influence popular culture and news, particularly with her romance with Travis Kelce of the 2024 Super Bowl-winning team Kansas City Chiefs. But are there any stories from the Swift family tree that might allude to some of the recurring themes in her music, such as love and heartbreak, but also family, change and female independence? Taylor’s ancestry is alive with fascinating characters.Whether or not you're…
We’re all familiar with Kate Middleton and Prince William’s love story – but how much do you know about Kate’s background? Although she doesn’t have royal blood, her family has some surprising connections to the British aristocracy.Explore even more of our royal history discoveries via the History Hub. From King Charles II’s family tree to the Royals in the 1921 Census, there is so much fascinating history to explore. Kate Middleton before she was the Princess of Wales: Catherine Elizabeth Middleton…
Over Ireland’s history, famine and hardship has forced countless families to make heartwrenching goodbyes, as loved ones travelled overseas to chase new fortunes in foreign lands. The Irish story is one of migration and resilience. This is reflected in a fact that may surprise you: more people of Irish heritage live outside of Ireland than within it. Over 80 million people worldwide claim Irish ancestry. Whether they fled the devastation of the Great Famine or sought out religious freedom overseas, your…
Delving into our family history is a journey that connects us to our roots, allowing us to understand the stories and experiences that have shaped our identity. In the digital age, technology plays a pivotal role in aiding researchers, and one tool that's gaining prominence is ChatGPT. In this blog post, we'll explore what ChatGPT is, its limitations, and how it can be a valuable asset in the realm of family history research. What is ChatGPT?: ChatGPT is a state-of-the-art…
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…
Our favourite family history show Who Do You Think You Are? recently returned to our TV screens for its 20th series. Nine famous faces delved into their family's past - read on to learn more about what they discovered.After series 19 revealed the ancestry of Sue Perkins, Matt Lucas, Ralf Little, Richard Osman, and Anna Maxwell Martin, another batch of celebrities unearthed fascinating stories about the lives of their ancestors. Where can you watch Who Do You Think You Are?: As…