England Genealogy

Guide to England ancestry, family history and genealogy: parish registers, transcripts, census records, birth records, marriage records, and death records.

Country Information
England is one of the four constituent countries of the United Kingdom (together with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland). It has a history that goes back over a thousand years. In 1707, the Kingdom of England joined the Kingdom of Scotland in union to become the Kingdom of Great Britain. The official language is English.

Why England Historic Counties are Used
The England counties listed below are based on historic boundaries pre-1974. The records dating before 1974 are located within the information found in the historic counties. This practice better assists our patrons who are researching their ancestors before the modern time period.


 * For further information see England County Boundaries

England Clickable Map
Genealogy records are kept at the Parish level in England. The map below shows county boundaries as of 1851. Click on a county below to go to the county Wiki article listing more information.

Counties and Parishes
The England counties listed below are based on historic boundaries pre-1974. Genealogy records are kept on the county and parish level in England. Click on a county or parish name below to go to the relevant wiki article listing more information.  Bedfordshire (parishes) Berkshire (parishes) Buckinghamshire (parishes) Cambridgeshire (parishes) Cheshire (parishes) Cornwall (parishes) Cumberland (parishes) Derbyshire (parishes)</li> Devon (parishes)</li> Dorset (parishes)</li> Durham (parishes)</li> Essex (parishes)</li> Gloucestershire (parishes)</li> Hampshire (parishes)</li> Herefordshire (parishes)</li> Hertfordshire (parishes)</li> Huntingdonshire (parishes)</li> Kent (parishes)</li> Lancashire (parishes)</li> Leicestershire (parishes)</li> Lincolnshire (parishes)</li> London (parishes)</li> Middlesex (parishes)</li> Norfolk (parishes)</li> <li>Northamptonshire (parishes)</li> <li>Northumberland (parishes)</li> <li>Nottinghamshire (parishes)</li> <li>Oxfordshire (parishes)</li> <li>Rutland (parishes)</li> <li>Shropshire (parishes)</li> <li>Somerset (parishes)</li> <li>Staffordshire (parishes)</li> <li>Suffolk (parishes)</li> <li>Surrey (parishes)</li> <li>Sussex (parishes)</li> <li>Warwickshire (parishes)</li> <li>Westmorland (parishes)</li> <li>Wiltshire (parishes)</li> <li>Worcestershire (parishes)</li> <li>Yorkshire (parishes)</li> </ul>

More England Research Strategies
Research strategies give guidance on how to research or what records to search for first. Below are additional research strategy Wiki articles for England Genealogy Research.
 * England Research Guidance Category
 * Finding Ancestors in England
 * English Ancestry - Video Tutorials and Lessons
 * English Script Tutorial
 * A Checklist of Compiled Sources and Where to Find Them

More England Research Tools
Research tools can include resources that assist in locating correct records to search and determining the correct locality to search in. Below are links and Wiki articles to research tools for England.
 * England Jurisdiction 1851 Maps project
 * Topographical Dictionary of England (1848)
 * England Genealogical Discussion Groups
 * The Workhouse
 * thepeerage.com A genealogical survey of the peerage of Britain as well as the royal families of Europe
 * Phillimore's Atlas and Index of Parish Registers (2003) - available at Ancestry
 * Discovering English Ancestors a BYU research guide.
 * Accessing FamilySearch's Record Collections in One Step for England
 * Parish Registers - Family History Before 1837

FamilySearch Help Center Online Lessons
Note: Microsoft or Mozilla Firefox browser may be required for viewing videos.
 * England Beginning Research Series
 * Lesson 1: Getting Started
 * Lesson 2: Understanding Census Records
 * Lesson 3: Understanding Civil Registration
 * Lesson 4: Understanding Church Records
 * England Research Using FamilySearch.org - Parts 1 and 2
 * England Online Websites
 * Church of England Church Records Part 1
 * Church of England Church Records Part 2
 * England Estate Duty:
 * England Estate Duty I: What Is It and Why Use It?
 * England Estate Duty II: Content and Organization
 * England Estate Duty III: Locate and Obtain the Record
 * England and Wales Civil Registration
 * British Resources on Findmypast
 * How to Trace England Ancestry Online
 * Tracing Non-Church of England Ancestry
 * England and Wales Census Records 1841-1911 Indexes
 * England Nonconformist Church Records - Parts 1 and 2
 * Surname Searching in the Treasures of the Society of Genealogists
 * Livery Company Records and Furthering Your Ancestry
 * British Resources on FamilySearch.org  - Parts 1 and 2

FamilySearch Resources
Below are FamilySearch resources that can assist you in researching your family.
 * Facebook Communities - Facebook groups discussing genealogy research
 * Learning Center - Online genealogy courses
 * Historical Records
 * Family History Center locator map