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  1. Findmypast Help
  2. Exploring family records
  3. Searching for records on Findmypast

How do I search records by category on Findmypast?

All Findmypast record sets are broadly categorised into nine distinct, searchable categories so you can find what you’re looking for quickly and easily.

  1. Birth, marriage, death & parish records
  2. Census, land & surveys
  3. Military, armed forces & conflict
  4. Newspapers & periodicals
  5. Institutions & organisations
  6. Travel & migration
  7. Directories & social history
  8. Education & work
  9. Churches & religion

To search by category:

  1. Select ‘Search’ from the menu when logged into the site
  2. Select the category you want to search from the drop-down menu. You’ll be taken to a search page designed specifically for your chosen category
  3. Enter your search criteria and select the blue search button

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Each record category is further broken down into a range of searchable subcategories, useful for when you need to focus your search even further.

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Here's a detailed list of all of Findmypast's record categories and subcategories:

Category

Birth, marriage, death & parish records

Census, land & surveys

Military, armed forces & conflict

Institutions & organisations

Subcategories

Civil Births


Civil Deaths & Burials


Civil Marriage & Divorce


Family Histories & Pedigrees


Parish Baptisms


Parish Burials


Parish Marriages


Parish Registers

Religious Ceremonies


Wills & Probate

Census


Courts & Legal


Directories & Almanacs


Electoral Rolls


Land & Estates


Rate Books


Social History


Surveys

Boer Wars


Civil War & Rebellion


Directories & Almanacs


First World War


Government


Medal Rolls & Honours


Newspapers & Magazines


Other Wars & Conflicts


Regimental & Service Records


Second World War


Vietnam War


Clubs & Societies


Courts & Legal


Directories & Almanacs


Government


Guild & Trade Associations


Hospitals & Institutions


Postal Service


Prison Registers


Schools & Education


Social History


Workhouses & Poor Law



Category

Travel & migration

Directories & social history

Education & work

Churches & religion

Subcategories

Migration

Naturalisations

Passenger Lists

Transportation

Travel

Directories & Almanacs


Family Histories & Pedigrees


Government


Medal Rolls & Honors


Newspapers & Magazines


Postal & Telephone Directories


Social History

Apprentices


Civil Service


Colonial Service


Farming & Agriculture


Guild & Trade Associations


Merchant Navy & Maritime


Occupations


Professions

Schools & Education


Transport & Railways


Workhouses & Poor Law

Administration


Courts & Legal


Directories & Almanacs


Newspapers & Magazines


Religious Ceremonies

 

Searching newspapers and periodicals works differently than the rest of the site’s record searches. Read how to search historical newspapers for details.

To search by subcategory:

  1. Follow steps 1 and 2 outlined above for searching by category
  2. Use the drop-down menu or filters to select a subcategory within your chosen record category
  3. Alternatively, follow the link to the subcategory you want to search from the above table
  4. Enter your search criteria and select the blue search button

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