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FAQs - Family History

This section is intended as a guide to websites and online resources relevant to specific queries.


Q: I'm new to family history. Where do I start?
A: Several websites can help you to get started:
http://www.genuki.org.uk/gs/

http://www.sog.org.uk/leaflets/index.html

http://www.archives.wyjs.org.uk
West Yorkshire Archive Service family history information. Good summaries of information found in church registers, Quarter Sessions, wills etc. Good for dates (changes in content of registers, for instance) and for nonconformist sources, though obviously with specific relevance to Yorkshire.


Q: How can I find out if anyone else is researching the same surname?
A: http://www.sog.org.uk/leaflets/done.html

http://www.genuki.org.uk/indexes/SurnamesLists.html

http://www.one-name.org/

Guild of One Name Studies


Q: How can I obtain a birth/marriage/death certificate?
A: These exist from 1837 onwards. You will need to apply to the Office for National Statistics (which includes the General Register Office)

http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/
or email certificate.services@ons.gov.uk or apply to the relevant register office:

http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/RegOffice/
Nationwide directory of Register Offices

http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/environment/birthsmarriagesdeaths/index.asp
For information about register offices in Lancashire

http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/civreg/index.html
For further information on the civil registration system


Q: I'm looking for wartime service records
A: http://www.cwgc.org/
Commonwealth War Graves Commission: contains searchable database.
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/default.htm
The National Archives (formerly Public Record Office) site: contains catalogue online. First World War service records are gradually being made available at TNA.

http://www.iwm.org.uk
Imperial War Museum

http://www.national-army-museum.ac.uk/
National Army Museum


Q: Are there any other useful family history sites?
A: http://www.familysearch.org
Online version of FamilySearch with the additional benefits of millions of websites to search.

http://www.ffhs.org.uk
Online list of English family history societies with contacts and links to websites.

http://www.rootsweb.com
American electronic reference library.

http://www.sog.org.uk/
Society of Genealogists

http://www.Ihgs.ac.uk/
Institute of Heraldic and Genealogical Studies

http://www.ancestry.com
UK genealogical research

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/familyhistory/
More than just Who Do You Think You Are?


Q: I am adopted. Where do I find information on tracing my birth parents?
A: http://www.norcap.org.uk/home.asp
Established in 1982 NORCAP was formed to help adults affected by adoption and to reduce distress and anxiety.

http://www.ffhs.org.uk/

 
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