Beginning UK Genealogy

Created by: Evlyn Jackson

Available Records• National Censuses 1841-1911• Free BMD index and FreeReg• Parish Records and Bishop Transcripts• Wills and probates• Quarter session records• Poor Laws

National Censuses

• Every 10 years starting 1841 lists household names.

Free BMD and FreeReg Index

• Free Birth Marriage Death Index can be searched by district, county. Gives certificate number and quarter or event.

• FreeReg- non-conformist same records

*** civil registration started 1837, but no fines until 1875.

Parish Records and Bishops Transcripts

Check both sources. Parish records were recorded at the time of Banns, Special Licenses, Baptism and Death.

Bishop transcripts were sent quarterly. Sometimes a priest would add additional information to impress the diocese bishops

Wills and Probate

Prior to 1858 wills were proven by the local Bishop or Archbishop. Most wills were sent to the National Archives of Wales. A free search of a 3 year period. If successful than copies can be paid for. An index is currently being completed. Wills dating back to 1300.

1858 to current wills/probate is help by Principal Registry of the Family Division. The index is free, a fee is charged for searching, it is possible to attend yourself.

Quarter Session Records

County court records. Some as early as the 16th century up to 1889.

May include: Minute or Order Books, Bastardy Maintenance Orders, Jurors' Lists, Land Tax Assessment, Indictments, Recognizances, Petitions.

These offer a wealth of information on a variety of subject often giving names and family relationships.

Often kept in the County Records Office.

Poor Laws

Started with Queen Elizabeth I, these were detailed records of money taken form the wealthy and redistributed to the needy.

1834 Poor Law Amendment Act set up unions to help the poor, work-houses. These records kept by an area guardian board often had birth, death, health information.

All records are available in the county Records Office.

Wales

Welsh Flag adopted 1959

Wales researchNaming Pattern:First son was named after the father's father. Second son was named after the mother's father. Third son was named after the father. Fourth son was named after the father's oldest brother. Fifth son was named after the father's 2nd oldest brother or mother's oldest brother.

First daughter was named after the mother's mother. Second daughter was named after the father's mother. Third daughter was named after the mother. Fourth daughter was named after the mother's oldest sister. Fifth daughter is named after the mother's 2nd oldest sister or father's oldest sister.

**** Don’t be misled, that is only a pattern

Got it? Now take into accountPatronymics

• ab or ap would be added to a son’s name– David ab Owens is David son of Owen• Later may be known as David Owens • Or they drop the “a” and go by David

Bowen

Sooooo… when looking for sources, check original records, parish records will often give the parents names.

Scotland

www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk (Pay as you go)

Naming Pattern1st son named after father's father 2nd son named after mother's father 3rd son named after father 1st daughter named after mother's mother 2nd daughter named after father's mother 3rd daughter named after mother

Scotland more than other countries does not follow spelling patterns. i.e.. Jannet, Jhonet, Jonat, Jonnet or Jonet instead of Janet

Names are often interchanged ie…. Donald = Daniel or Jean = Jane

Research the Gaelic spelling of the name ie… Morag as Mary, Iain as John and Hamish as James

***** Mac or Mc mean son of in Scotland and Ireland *****

Ireland

Government Northern Ireland

Unified Ireland

Naming Pattern

The 1st son was usually named after the fathers father The 1st daughter was usually named after the mothers motherthe 2nd son was usually named after the mothers fatherthe 2nd daughter was usually named after the fathers motherthe 3rd son was usually named after the fatherthe 3rd daughter was usually named after the motherthe 4th son was usually named after the fathers eldest brotherthe 4th daughter was usually named after the mothers eldest sisterthe 5th son was usually named after the mothers eldest brotherthe 5th daughter was usually named after the fathers eldest sister.

***** Mac or Mc mean son of in Scotland and Ireland

England

Union Jack adopted 1801

England Naming Pattern

• The first son was named after the father's father• The second son was named after the mother's father• The third son was named after the father• The fourth son was named after the father's eldest brother• The first daughter after the mother's mother• The second daughter after the father's mother• The third daughter after the mother• The fourth daughter after the mother's eldest sister

Naming a child for a desired virtue = Thankful, Charity, Benoni (sorrow)Latin baptism name = Carolus = Charles

Web Sites

General Wales Scotland Ireland England

Find my past welshgenealogy

scotlandspeople

irishgenealogy

National archives

British Origins

National archives

scotlandsfamily

rootsireland

Ancestry scottishdocuments

National archives

FreeBMD/REG National archives

Roots UK

Family Search

genuki