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A family in Greenland, 1889. Cat ref: COPY 1/398Family History - your guide to resources

 
 
 
 

How to research your family history

Some of our most popular resources are held at the Family Records CentreExternal website - link opens in a new window in Islington and other records are held at Kew. You can find out about where records are held by looking on the FamilyRecords.gov website, or by choosing from the lists below.

Beginners' guides

 

Topics to research:

  Go to topic  

Online exhibitions

 
     
 

Family history documents

 
 

Online

You can search for and download:

  • Wills from 1384 to 1858 (free search, charged download) Go
  • 1901 census records (free search, charged download) Go
  • Records about migration (free search, free download) Go

 

At The National Archives

You can:

  • View original documents free of charge
  • Order up to 3 documents in advance of your visit more
  • Find out about visiting The National Archives more

 

If the items you want aren't already available online and you can't visit us, you can:

  • order copies of documents more
  • or, you can employ the services of an independent researcher more

 

 

News & Events

Family history talks

Experts from the Family History Library in Salt Lake City are coming to The National Archives in September to talk about resources available on the web and in the UK. more

Family history fairs

We regularly go to family history fairs - come and meet the experts from The National Archives and Family Records Centre. Go to list

In the Bookshop

Book

Family History Starter Pack

This pack offers all the guidance you need to begin. more

Ancestors magazine

Ancestors Magazine

Our own magazine dedicated to tracing your family history - see what's in the latest issue. Go

 
 

Useful links  For more helpful family history links please visit our Archives portal  Go to the Archives portal