Getting started

How to start a family tree
Who Do You Think You Are? family history expert Laura Berry shares her tips on how to start a family tree

How to find birth, marriage and death records
We explain how to easily find birth, marriage and death records in the UK for family history research

What UK census records are available online?
UK census records are a crucial family history resource, but when was the census taken and where can you find census records including free census websites?
Trending articles

"Her biological father was a Hollywood actor": How 'DNAngels' are helping people uncover the truth about their family origins
How volunteer organisation DNAngels is helping people solve their family mysteries

What is a second cousin? Cousin relationships explained
Find out what a second cousin is, what people mean by 'removed' and how to work out cousin relationships with our chart

Gypsy surnames: How to tell if you have Gypsy ancestry
What are the most common Gypsy surnames and first names, and how can you tell if you have Gypsy ancestry? Find out with our guide

Find old photos of your house online
Jonathan Scott shares some of the best websites for finding old photographs of your house or street including aerial photographs

Radio programme tells the story of French couple who were left fearing they were half-siblings because of DNA test ban
Radio 4's The Gift interviewed Audrey and Arthur, a couple who thought they might be half-siblings because DNA testing is banned in France

The historic court records that revealed the shocking family tragedy in Amy Dowden's episode of Who Do You Think You Are?
Who Do You Think You Are? researcher Sara Khan reveals more about the records used to solve a mystery on Amy Dowden's episode

Everything you need to know about Joe Swash, including his appearance on Strictly and his marriage to Stacey Solomon
Everything you need to know about Joe Swash ahead of his appearance on Who Do You Think You Are?

When is Who Do You Think You Are? next on TV?
When is Who Do You Think You Are? next on TV, and who will appear on it? We answer your questions about the popular family history TV show

Where to find historical trade directories online
Historical trade directories are a crucial tool in family history - luckily, there are plenty available online