Search Kent, Freemen of Canterbury
Who are you looking for?
Search our genealogy records
Delve into Freeman records from Canterbury to uncover your ancestors’ occupations and the masters who taught them their trade. Do you come from a long line of plasterers or builders? With these records, you can uncover your family's early plasterers or builders, tracing how their skills and traditions were passed down through generations. These ancestors weren’t just crafting homes or structures—they were helping to build the nation's very fabric, contributing to its growth and shaping its communities. Freeman records might give you the name of our ancestors’ master, father and spouse. Findmypast worked in partnership with the Canterbury Cathedral Archives to bring these records online so you can discover more about your ancestry.
Learn about these records
What can these records tell me?keyboard_arrow_down
Findmypast created transcripts from original records held at the Canterbury Archives. Each record will give you a combination of the following facts about your family history:
- Name – the name of any individual in the records
- Role – explains whether they are the freeman, master, spouse or father of freeman
- Event date
- Occupation
- Admission method
- Place
- Freeman’s name
- Master’s name
- Father’s name
- Spouse’s name
- Archive and document reference
Discover more about these recordskeyboard_arrow_down
Did your ancestors live and work on the ancient city streets of Canterbury? The city is known for its beautiful Cathedral, but these records reveal centuries of artisans and tradesmen, from silk weavers to plasterers to cordwainers (shoemakers). Did your ancestors make and repair shoes for the millions of pilgrims who have followed the Pilgrim's Way to Canterbury since medieval times?
What was your ancestors' role in society? Being a freeman often came with privileges like the right to trade within a town, vote in local elections, or own property. These records can reveal an ancestor's social and economic standing within their community.
These records include the method of freeman admission; freeman's status was often hereditary or granted after an apprenticeship or marriage. Did your ancestors study with a master or inherit the status from earlier generations? Women were freeman – often by marriage or patrimony
Other recommended records to explore
Take a look at these other related record sets suggested by Findmypast’s genealogy experts.
Narrow your search by Subcategory
Looking for something in particular? Choose the category of Education & Work you’d like to search.