Findmypast Blog

Build Your Family Tree

A complete guide to building your family tree

Making a family tree is a key part of family history research. With this easy-to-follow guide, you'll be making exciting discoveries in no time...

A complete guide to our World War 1 Prisoner of War records

Published in association with The National Archives, these fascinating prisoner of war records offer a detailed glimpse into the experiences of those heroic soldiers who were taken captive during World War 1.

Build Your Family Tree

Using hints and historical records: how to grow your family tree

Findmypast's handy family tree builder is like your personal genealogy genie. Here's how to use record hints to get your tree flourishing.

Ancestors that made the headlines: Community discoveries from our newspaper archive

Our newspaper collection allows you to discover your family tree's colourful stories in black and white. Here are some of the most exciting discoveries made by our community.

What's New?

Explore new hospital records, apprentice books and more

Remembering wartime stories with new records this VE Day

An old war illustration

Explore new Commonwealth War Graves records

Celebrating Suffolk stories with new parish records

Getting Started

discover rare surname origins

How rare is your surname?

Genealogy with family

How genealogy can bring your family closer

family tree template

Use our free family tree template to kick-start your family history research

Using hints and historical records: how to grow your family tree

Family Tree

king charles iii family tree

Who's who on King Charles III's family tree?

family tree template

Use our free family tree template to kick-start your family history research

Using hints and historical records: how to grow your family tree

How old is Santa Claus?: Santa's family tree goes back further than you might think

Family Records

Did your ancestors fight in the Napoleonic Wars? Here's how to find out

A complete guide to building your family tree

Guide to UK census records

Here's everything you should know about UK census records, from the 1921 Census to the present day

Your go-to guide to the extensive Royal Archives Collection on Findmypast

Help Hub

How to trace ancestors that emigrated

How to find World War 2 ancestors that served on the Home Front

Here's how to research the double-barrelled surnames in your family tree

Understand your Irish roots with these books and top tips

Discoveries

Seven surprising finds in the 1911 Census

Who Do You Think You Are? Series 21: here's what you missed

Kamala Harris' family tree tells a tale of migration and education

Labourers and landed gentry: Kate Middleton’s family tree

History Hub

First Aid Post volunteers at wartime

The crucial role of first aid posts in World War 2 Britain

The Auxiliary Fire Service: Brave heroes of the home front

The role of Air Raid Wardens in the Second World War

World War 2 Special Constables

Understanding the vital role of the Special Constabulary in wartime Britain

The Findmypast Community

Who Do You Think You Are? Series 21: here's what you missed

Finding Eli: A granddaughter’s story

The Women's Prize Trust announces Findmypast as the inaugural sponsor of the Women's Prize for Non-Fiction

How old is Santa Claus?: Santa's family tree goes back further than you might think