If you are building your family tree on a budget, there are several key free UK genealogy websites: FreeREG, FreeBMD, and FreeCEN. These free resources provide access to millions of … How to use FreeREG, FreeBMD and FreeCEN for UK recordsRead more
Family History 101
New to family history? Start here. Family History 101 is your beginner-friendly guide to building a family tree, understanding key records, and learning essential research skills for tracing UK, Scottish, and Irish ancestry. Supportive, simple help written for those just starting out.
How Poor Law Records helped me understand my ancestor’s story
You’ve hit a brick wall. You’ve found an ancestor on a census, but their life that brought them to that point is a complete mystery. You have a name, maybe … How Poor Law Records helped me understand my ancestor’s storyRead more
How to organise your genealogy documents
If you have been researching your family history for even a short time, you will know how quickly the documents pile up. Birth certificates, census printouts, notes from websites, and … How to organise your genealogy documentsRead more
Top 10 free genealogy websites for UK family history
If you are just starting your family history journey, the cost of subscription websites can feel overwhelming. The good news is that there are plenty of free resources that can … Top 10 free genealogy websites for UK family historyRead more
Family history interviews: questions and tips to help your storytelling and research
One of the easiest and most meaningful ways to start your family history journey is to simply have a conversation. Talking to a parent, grandparent, or older relative can uncover … Family history interviews: questions and tips to help your storytelling and researchRead more
Understanding Scottish and Irish maiden names
We have all struggled to track a female ancestor or wondered why the same names appear over and over again in our family tree. Scottish and Irish naming traditions can … Understanding Scottish and Irish maiden namesRead more
Why are my ancestors not in a census
You’re searching the census, expecting to see your ancestor listed neatly with their family, but the record just isn’t there. You check again. And again. Still nothing. If this sounds … Why are my ancestors not in a censusRead more
A guide to Scottish BMD records
If you’re tracing your Scottish ancestors, one of the best places to start is with BMD records, that’s short for births, marriages, and deaths. These official records offer the key … A guide to Scottish BMD recordsRead more
The 1911 Scottish census: a closer look at your ancestors’ lives
If you’ve dipped your toes into Scottish family history, you may already know that census records are goldmines of information. But the 1911 Scottish census is a little different. It’s … The 1911 Scottish census: a closer look at your ancestors’ livesRead more
What’s in a Scottish parish record? A beginner’s guide
If you’re researching Scottish ancestors from before 1855, parish records will likely be your best (and sometimes only) source of information. But what exactly is a parish record, and what … What’s in a Scottish parish record? A beginner’s guideRead more