Horses and Carriage

Discover Your Familys Story

Start researching your family history today and begin a lifetime of  discovery.

Five easy ways to find your  Ancestors

Our MasterSearch can help you quickly find the infor­mation you’re looking for by narrowing down your search to a part­icular type of data, and further filtering the results to only include certain record sets, years or spellings.

1

Address

Search for a specific address by county and street name, e.g. Park Avenue

house icon

2

Keywords

Search for a person using keywords such as their occupation, e.g. farmer

house icon

3

Family

Search for a family by forename and surname, e.g. John, Emma and Mark Smith

house icon

4

Map
Explorer

Pinpoint your Ancestors’ records using georeferenced historic maps

house icon

5

Related Records

SmartSearch finds related records for you, e.g. children from a marriage record

house icon
wood grain background image
family group husband, wife and 3 girls family group on fake boat

Start building your
family tree today

TreeView is our powerful family tree builder. Whether you're an experienced family historian or just starting out, you'll find TreeView easy to use and an essential tool in your research. Record your family's history and view details of your ancestors in a number of different and attractive ways. Create beautiful charts and detailed reports to present your family tree.

old map

Genealogy’s Best
Mapping Website

Our exclusive Map Explorer adds a rich functionality to our ever-growing collection of map-based records. This great tool uses georeferenced historic maps that overlay several modern background maps including Ordnance Survey, Open Street Map or Bing road and satellite views.

The tools panel allows you to search for Modern and Historic Places, County and Parish Boundary Indicators, and offers the ability to manipulate the map layers, making it easier to pin-point the information you require.

Map Layers

The maps are divided into three types of layer that can be viewed on top of each other like sheets of paper. You can then change the transparency of a layer to view the layers below, allowing you to see how the area changed over time.

The Base Layer

This is the modern layer, which can be used to select a modern OS Map, Open Street Map or a Bing Satellite Image.

The Historic Layer

The historic layer can be used to select a range of Ordnance Survey maps from the 1890s to the 1960s.

The Record Set Layer

This layer provides access to the map-based record sets such as the 1910 Lloyd George Domesday Survey, or our georeferenced Tithe Maps. The map markers link directly to records for the individual prop­erties beneath, so you can see who was living there when the record was taken.


Try The Genealogist free for 14 days to discover what the Map Explorer has to offer and gain
access to millions of records
with our unique brick wall busting tools.

Other Subscription Benefits

Unique, Powerful Search Tools

Find exactly what you’re looking for by refining your search with event filters and keywords.

Records from 1127–2005

Our vast collection spans more than 870 years of record transcripts and images.

Award-winning BMD record and Census transcripts

Researchers were given membership to five genealogy websites for eight weeks. 3/5 rated us as their number 1.

Non-Conformist and Non-Parochial Records

We’re the official site for Non-Conformist and Non-Parochial Records with over 8 Million records available.

Census transcripts and Images 1841 to 1911

Access to all transcripts and images from 1841–1911 for England and Wales and 1841–1901 for Scotland.

Military Records – WW1, WW2, Casualty Lists, PoWs, and more

Ancestors who served in the forces may be hard to find. We have many military lists ranging from 1661–1944.

Extensive Collection of Parish Records

Search parish register transcripts and images from 43 counties, which can take your family back as far as 1538.

Extensive Collection of Trade and TelepPhone Directories

A collection of over 400 Directories provides insights into the lives of ancestors who had their own businesses.


Get started today

We offer a range of subscription packages to suit your needs

User Feedback and Comments

I just can not express how I feel right now. You have given me something so, so special and brought 15 years of shear frust­ration to an end. I was about to give up on my hobby, thinking I could get no more information and believing the family was not trace­able. How can I ever say thanks for this I can only pro­mise you I will continue to renew my sub­scription for a long time yet. I never ever thought you would offer me so much help. B. Connor – Cheshire

I find the genealogist a very helpful site. I have found many ancestors there that are obvi­ously mis-transcribed by other sites and whom I have not been able to find any­where else. Thank you and please keep up the good work! J. Hedges – New Zealand

Thank you!!! At last I have found my only two outstand­ing great-great grand­parents and the highly elusive great grand­father who I couldn't trace before his marriage – I've been hunting for him for 20 years! L.B. – UK

News and Events

Latest News

New Records for Removal of Graves and Tombstones

19th May 2023

We have added copies of records from certain local authorities and the Church Commissioners that relate to the removal of graves and tombstones in burial grounds to our Headstone Collection. These records from The National Archives cover former cemeteries from all over England and Wales. A number …

Continue Reading…

New Hertfordshire Records & Maps

4th May 2023

This week also sees the release of over 33,000 Lloyd George Domesday Survey records for the Hitchen area of Hertfordshire where we find the occupation and ownership records of people from across the social strata. These link through to highly detailed contemporary maps to show exactly where your ancestor lived. You …

Continue Reading…

New War Memorials Released

3rd May 2023

We have added over 56,924 new individuals to our War Memorial collection, bringing the total number of fully searchable War Memorial Records to over 665,000. This release includes images from war memorials of a variety of shapes and sizes and have been fully transcribed. Covering the war dead from various conflicts …

Continue Reading…

Enhanced census images show entries hidden in plain sight

See the census in greater detail than ever before

21st April 2023

New Major Release!

Subscribers will now have access to the highest resolution and quality census images for England and Wales ever seen online with vastly improved readability revealing even faint writing in pencil.

Building on the success of our previously upgraded 1891 census images release, we have …

Continue Reading…

Next Event

Featured Article

online talk

The Family History Show, York!

Saturday 24th June 2023,
10:00–16:00 (GMT)

Put your research questions to an expert, watch a free talk, speak to a local society, archive or genealogical supplier.

  • Free talks all day, held in two large lecture areas.
  • Free Experts on hand to help with your queries
  • Many family history societies, archives and companies will be attending from all over the country.

Early Bird Offer! One ticket for £8 or Two for £12.00 if purchased before the day

Find Out More Purchase Tickets

Featured Article

Featured Article image

Claire Foy

5th June 2023

Award-winning Actress Claire Foy gets the Who Do You Think You Are? broadcast on 8 June 2023 - Claire discovers the drama in her family tree

Continue Reading…

Start Your Research

Begin using all the services The  Genealogist has to offer,
completely free for two weeks with our 14-day trial