Featured Articles

Read about our newest Record Set releases and how they could help further your research, get inspired by our historical articles which show how famous ancestors such as Florence Nightingale, the Brontë sisters or Charles Darwin can be traced online, or enjoy fascinating discoveries about well-known celebrities in our Who Do You Think You Are section.

2011 Articles

Sir Christopher Cockerell - History and Hovercrafts

TheGenealogist.co.uk has now completed 1911 census transcripts for Cambridgeshire, Wiltshire, Bedfordshire, Shropshire and Suffolk, bringing the total to over 22 million records. Included in the transcripts for Cambridgeshire is Sir Christopher Cockerell, inventor of the hovercraft.

Bulmer's Cider: Past and Present

The 1911 census transcripts for Herefordshire are now available on TheGenealogist.co.uk and include the founders of H. P Bulmer, which owns a number of famous brands such as Bulmer's Cider. Read the story of the Bulmer family from the son of a Yorkshire farmer to a multi-million cider empire.

Ian Fleming: the real 007

The Oxfordshire 1911 census is now available on TheGenealogist and includes James Bond author, Ian Fleming. As the focus around the country turns to our brave ancestors who fought in the First World War and we pay our respects to those who sacrificed everything, they are never far from a family historian's mind, as discovering the role our ancestors played in key events of the past is always an important part of our research. .

Honouring the Fallen

As we remember those who fought and fell in the Great War, TheGenealogist is adding millions of new military records to help you discover the role your ancestor played in the conflict. Records include- World War 1 Casualty Lists, Army, Navy and Air Force Lists and new Rolls of Honour for our Gold and Diamond subscribers.

The Story of Bram Stoker and his 'Count Dracula'

With Halloween upon us again, and the next instalment of the Vampire themed Twilight saga due to be released in November, we'll looking at the family history of an iconic figure, Bram Stoker, creator of the infamous Count Dracula. Bram Stoker introduced Victorian society to a world of vampires and started an obsession with the undead that would continue for nearly two hundred years.

Isambard Kingdom Brunel

The famous engineer, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, played a key role in Britain's industrial revolution, designing and constructing railway lines, bridges, tunnels and docks around the country, as well as providing massive advances in naval architecture.

Tracey Emin

Tracey was brought up in Margate with her twin brother Paul. Her father owned the Hotel International in Margate. He was not married to her mother but was married to another woman with whom he had a separate family and he split his time between the two.

From Bloody Sunday to My Fair Lady

George Bernard Shaw's personal life spanned the different classes. With his own rise from working class origins to a middle class gentleman, and marriage to a wealthy Irish heiress, he had a rare view of the different layers of society and actively campaigned for an equal society.

Len Goodman

This episode of the 'Who Do You Think You Are''series is well timed as it features Strictly Come Dancing head judge, Len Goodman. Len was born Leonard Gordon Goodman in 1944, at the end of the Second World War, and his birth was registered in Bromley, although he spent his early years in Bethnal Green.

Richard Madeley

Richard attended Coopers Company School but rather than go to university Richard began his career in media through local newspapers. At the age of 19 he moved to BBC radio, before moving into television.

Robin Gibb

Robin Gibb, from the Australian group 'the Bee Gees',was raised in Australia, although he was originally born in the Isle of Man to British parents Hugh Gibb and Barbara Pass. They have an older brother Barry, as well as an older sister Lesley and younger brother Andrew.

Alan Carr

Alan Carr explores the mysterious circumstances surrounding a change of name on the maternal line of his tree. Several members of Alan's paternal line can be traced back through the census years...

Emilia Fox

The fifth celebrity taking part in this year's 'Who Do You Think You Are' series, Emilia Fox is best known for her role as Dr Nikki Alexander in the BBC series 'Silent Witness'. Born in Hammersmith 31st July 1974 to parents Edward Fox and Joanna David (Joanne Hacking), Emilia is descended from a well known theatrical line.

Baden-Powell, Chief Scout of the World

It was in Africa where many of his ideas for the Boy Scouts were born. On the advice of King Edward VII he retired from the army, as he believed he should focus all his energies on the Scouting movement. His colourful career with the Army included working as a secret agent. You can read the full article to find out how he hid military plans which would avoid detection if captured.

The Jersey Lily

Lillie Langtry was originally born Emilie Charlotte Le Breton on 13th October 1853 in St. Saviour's Jersey, and was given the nickname Lillie during her early teens. It was used frequently by the press during her rise to celebrity status, often referring to her as the 'Jersey Lily', and was later adopted as her official stage name. After catching the eye of the Prince of Wales, Albert Edward, son of Queen Victoria, Lillie became his semi-official mistress. He had a private house built for them in 1877 in Bournemouth, which Lillie designed herself and named 'The Red House'.

Larry Lamb

Larry is well known for his television role on 'Eastenders' and 'Gavin and Stacey'. The programme will look into Larry's colourful ancestors and his mother's biological line after she was adopted.

Seb Coe

Sebastian Coe, former athlete and politician, is the latest to take part in the WDYTYA? TV series for 2011. Coached by his father Peter, Seb went on to win a number of medals at the Olympics.

J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter author J K Rowling was born on 31st July 1965, in Yate, Gloucestershire, to Peter James Rowling and his wife Anne Volant. Joanne's mother Anne, who passed away in 1990, was the grand-daughter of Louis Volant, born in France in 1878. The 'Who Do you Think You Are?' episode will be looking in depth at Rowling's French ancestry.

June Brown

June Brown featured in this year's BBC series 'Who Do You Think You Are?' is best known for her role as 'Dot Cotton' in the British soap EastEnders. June, one of five children to Harry and Louisa Brown was evacuated during World War II to Pontyates in Wales and was later to become a Wren.

BBC launching new series of Who Do You Think You Are?

The latest series of BBC's 'Who Do You Think You Are?' begins on 10th August with more famous faces exploring their ancestry. Past episodes have been emotional, heart warming and at times shocking, and it looks as though the new series will be just as gripping.

Were your ancestors Pirates of the Caribbean?

The exploits of Captain Jack Sparrow and his crew in the films 'Pirates of the Caribbean' are based on real life characters who terrorised the seas. Some of us may well be related to ancestors that were involved in piracy and privateering. The most notorious pirate of all time is featured in the fourth instalment 'On Stranger Tides' and recorded in Johnson's contemporary account 'A General History of the Pirates'.

Tracing Prisoners of War during World War I

Some Officer POW's in Germany were allowed to take walks out of the camp and shop in local villages, if they provided their word in writing that they wouldn't escape. POW's in Germany could be sent to neutral Switzerland or Holland if they were suffering from physical or mental illness in the final years of the war. They were also permitted to live in hotels, could bring their wives to join them, and were allowed visits from sweethearts and relatives.

How Royal Do You Think You Are?

Sir Thomas Fairfax had twin sons named Nicholas and William. As the eldest, Nicholas inherited his father's estate, including Gilling Castle in Yorkshire, and is an ancestor of Lady Diana Spencer and her son Prince William. The younger twin William Fairfax is the direct ancestor of William's bride-to-be Kate Middleton.

Terry's Chocolate Dynasty

Easter is a time for family but also a time to indulge guilt free with your favourite chocolate. 'Terry's Chocolate Orange' is a popular choice at Easter for many, and is a well-known brand within the UK and around the world. The original chocolate orange was created in 1931 by Joseph Terry and Sons Ltd.

A Royal Wedding

With this year's Royal Wedding coming up, using our Illustrated London News you can look back at the historical Royal Wedding newspaper coverage, such as the marriage of Princess Alice and Louis IV, Grand Duke of Hesse.

Who Do You Think You Are?

Every year the popular BBC series Who Do You Think You Are? brings us a host of new and exciting stories. We have taken a look at each celebrity as they journey into their family history, and you can read about their discoveries in our articles.