What’s your story?
Truth is stranger than fiction, they say. So if creative writing isn’t your thing, why not do some detective work into your own family story? Or perhaps you’d like to know more about your local area and its history?
Whatever your interest, you’ll find lots of help to make researching fun. In this section we explain how to get started, and give you tips for exploring further.
Going back to your roots
People love to hear about their ancestors. It takes us on a journey into past lives, times and places. And it’s fascinating to discover what we’ve inherited – whether it’s a family heirloom or the family chin.
Start the quest
The best place to start is – you! Write down everything you know about yourself and your family, noting:
• Full names
• Dates of birth, marriage and death
• Places they’ve lived.
Ask your relatives for this information too, and see how far back their memories can stretch. But remember to be tactful. What’s an intriguing piece of history to you might be a painful memory for them.
Picking up clues
When you speak to family members, ask if you can look through their official documents – often stuffed in boxes, briefcases and drawers! Particularly useful are:
• Birth, marriage and death certificates
• Wills
• Records of employment
• Pension payments
• Educational and professional qualifications
• Military service papers.
Check out heirlooms such as bibles, too, as people often recorded family trees on the inside cover.
Photo albums are another great source of information. If possible, write people’s names in pencil on the back. If you can borrow the photos, you could scan them into your computer, or have someone do it for you at your local UK Online centre. A picture really brings your family tree to life.
Draw your family tree
Armed with this information, you can now start drawing your family tree – or simply fill in the chart that you can download here:
• Write your name and date of birth in the bottom half of a blank sheet of paper
• If you’re married, put your husband/wife next to you, linked with an 'm'
• Below you, write the names of any children, connected to you by a line, and their children below them
• Above you, write the names of your parents, and above them their parents, and so on
• Show dates of birth and death
Getting help
A treasure house for anyone researching family or local history. Ask the librarian to show you how to use the catalogues. They can also tell you about local societies and other useful organisations. UK Online centres, some of which are located in libraries, will help you to research using different websites. Click here to find the nearest centre to you, or call free on 0800 77 1234.
Books and magazines
We give a basic list in this section. Why not see if your library has them, or can order them?
Click here to find your nearest library
Who Do You Think You Are?, from the BBC series in which celebrities trace their family trees
Ancestors Magazine, from The National Archives, is packed with the news and online resources, articles and expert advice about tracing your ancestors.
The internet
A lot of the information you’ll need is available online. Some is free, some you have to pay for.
Bbc.co.uk/history/familyhistory (free). The BBC website is a great place to start researching your family history. You can sign up for a free newsletter too.
Ancestry.co.uk (paid for). The largest family records site in the UK, with records dating back to the 1300s.
Genesreunited.co.uk (free). Lots of useful information and resources.
Genuki.org.uk (free). A huge store of tips, advice and information.
Useful organisations
The National Archives – the UK government's official archive, containing over 1,000 years of history.
Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 4DU.
Tel: 020 8876 3444
Society of Genealogists – the national library and education centre for family history.
14 Charterhouse Buildings, Goswell Road, London EC1M 7BA.
Tel: 020 7251 8799
People’s Network – gives online access to a range of public library services, including personal enquiries.
Want to get online?
Don’t worry if you’ve never even used a computer – help is at hand. UK Online centres provide people of all ages with free or low-cost access to computers and the internet. To find the centre nearest to you, click here or call free on 0800 77 1234.
Your local library
A treasure house for anyone researching family or local history. Ask the librarian to show you how to use the catalogues. They can also tell you about local societies and other useful organisations.
Click here to find your nearest library
