Focus on Family History
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More and more people are discovering the addictive pleasure of tracking down their own family history, but how do you start and how do you keep going? There are a number of ways you can find out how to research your family history or develop your skills further. |
There are many websites giving background information and tips to help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to do family history research. The websites below have lots of useful information to get you started and keep you going.
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The BBC family history website is a rich resource designed to help you explore your family’s past. Learn the basics of starting your own research and begin to uncover your family history with the Get Started section Try activities to learn more and quizzes to test your knowledge with the Family History History Trail Once you’ve mastered the basics learn how to overcome frustrating dead ends and take your research even further in the Next Steps section.
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The National Archives is the UK government's official archive - home to millions of documents, files and images containing over 1,000 years of history A variety of guides, tutorials and podcasts help you find and interpret the records you need for your research.
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A "virtual reference library" of UK genealogical information including a Get started in genealogy section and Frequently Asked Questions. |
| Many more useful and interesting websites are listed on Library Service's Web Links page. |
Leicestershire Library Services has a wide range of books to help you start and develop your family history.
Books are normally shelved within the local studies collections.
Books are normally shelved within the local studies collections.
A selection of books on how to get started
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Nick Barratt Who do you think you are : Encyclopedia of genealogy: the definitive guide to tracing your family history
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Anton Gill & Nick Barratt Who do you think you are: Trace your family back to the tudors
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Simon Fowler Tracing your ancestors: a guide for family historians
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David Hey Oxford companion to local and family history
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Alan Stewart Grow your own family tree: The easy guide to researching family history
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A selection of books to help you trace your family history on the internet
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Peter Christian The genealogist’s internet
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Graeme Davis Your family tree online: How to trace your ancestry from your own computer
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Chris Paton Tracing your family history on the internet: a guide for family historians
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Colin Waters Family history on the net
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Books on a selection of family history topics.
| Census | |
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Edward Higgs Making sense of the census revisited: Census records 1801- 1901
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| Civil registration | |
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Public Record Office Using birth, marriage and death records (Pocket guides to family history)
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| Criminal ancestors | |
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Stephen Wade Tracing your criminal ancestors
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| Emigration | |
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Roger Kershaw Emigrants and expats: A guide to sources on UK emigration and residents overseas
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| House history | |
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Pamela Brooks How to research your house
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| Irish ancestors | |
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Ian Maxwell Tracing your Irish ancestors: An essential guide to researching and documenting the family histories of Ireland's people
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| London ancestors | |
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Cliff Webb My ancestors were Londoners
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| Military history | |
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Simon Fowler Tracing your First World War ancestors
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Simon Fowler Tracing your Second World War ancestors
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William Spencer Family history in the wars : how your ancestors served their country
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| Names | |
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John Titford Searching for surnames
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| National archives | |
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Amanda Bevan Tracing your ancestor in the National Archives
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| Parish registers | |
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Stuart Raymond Parish registers: A history and guide
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| Photographs | |
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Jayne Shrimpton Family photographs and how to date them
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| Rural ancestors | |
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Jonathan Brown Tracing your rural ancestors
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| Scottish ancestors | |
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Ian Maxwell Tracing your Scottish ancestors
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| Trades | |
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Colin Waters Dictionary of old trades, Titles and occupations
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| Wills and probate | |
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Karen Grannum & Nigel Taylor Wills & probate records
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| Workhouse | |
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Simon Fowler Workhouse: The people, the places, the life behind doors
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Look for other books on family history on the online catalogue or ask library staff to help with further suggestions.
All of the books listed above can be requested at your library. They can also be requested through the online reservation service if you have a library card and a PIN. There is a charge for this service.
......go on a course, taster session or workshop
- Look out for family history events in libraries. These sessions offer opportunities to find out how to get started with family history as well as introducing resources available in libraries and family history websites.
- Leicestershire Adult Learning Service run family history courses across the county. Search for courses online or phone 0800 988 0308 for details.
- The Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester & Rutland runs family history workshops. Contact them on 0116 257 1080 for details.
......join a family history society
Joining a society will give you access to the experience of others and the opportunity to attend meetings and learn new skills.
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Local groups in Loughborough, Market Harborough, Melton Mowbray and Hinckley.
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The Society of Genealogists runs courses and publishes a quarterly magazine and a wide range of books on family history.
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Major county libraries and The Record Office hold a wealth of resources in their local and family history collections to help you with your research. See the 'Family History and Local Studies at your library' leaflet for more information. Pick up a copy from your library or download a copy.
Page Last Updated: 19 October 2011
