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Find your ancestors in English family history records

With millions of exclusive English parish records and newspaper archives, Findmypast is the perfect place to trace your ancestors. Discover your family’s amazing story in the most comprehensive collection of English records online.

Local records from every corner of England

Do you have Hertfordshire heritage, roots in Rutland or Liverpool lineage? At Findmypast, you’ll find records covering every county, city, town and village in England. Maybe it’s because you’re Londoner. Perhaps your great-grandparents found it grim up north. Whatever your family story, we’ve got the regional resources that reveal the bigger picture of your past.

Choose an area of England from the map or drop-down list to dig deeper into local record collections and learn about the history of your ancestral home.

Which English region made you, you?

Vintage photo of North East England: family history search

The North East

The rich history of Northumberland and Durham is reflected in their impressive array of cathedrals and castles. While the cities of Newcastle, Sunderland and Middlesbrough are steeped in coal mining and shipbuilding heritage.

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Vintage photo of Liverpool's liver bird: family history records online

The North West

With Liverpool and Manchester at its heart, England’s North West consists of the historic counties of Cheshire, Cumberland, Lancashire and Westmorland. The stories of the Suffragettes, the Beatles and many more icons of British culture started here.

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Vintage photo of the Yorkshire dales: ancestry records online

Yorkshire

Nicknamed God’s Own Country, Yorkshire and the Humber is the largest and one of the most scenic regions of England. Did your ancestors hail from the sprawling dales and moors, or the urban centres of York, Leeds, Hull or Sheffield?

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Vintage photo of a cathedral in England's West Midlands: search ancestry records online

The West Midlands

For generations, the West Midlands of England has seen an eclectic mix of rural life in the hills of Herefordshire and Shropshire, and city dwelling in Birmingham and its other cities. Notably, the region is the birthplace of Shakespeare and rugby.

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Vintage photo of a castle in England's East Midlands: online records

The East Midlands

Do you have family heritage in Leicestershire, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire or Rutland? This region of England has deep-rooted ties to the textile and automotive industries, even claiming the world’s first factory.

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Vintage photo of a sail boat in the East of England: online record search

The East

From beautiful coastal scenery to easy access to London, the seven historic counties that make up the East of England have been attracting locals and visitors for centuries. Part of the region, East Anglia, includes Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire.

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Vintage photo of Big Ben in London: family history search

London

England’s capital city has been a settlement for millennia. One of the biggest cities in the world, it’s long been a centre of commerce, arts and tourism. As such a vibrant hub, London boasts a diverse, multicultural history that your ancestors may have been part of.

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Vintage photo of windmills in South East England: family history search

The South East

With national parks, seaside resorts and universities in abundance, the South East of England is one of the country’s most populous regions. Historically, the iron and aviation industries thrived, with much of the Battle of Britain fought in the skies above.

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Vintage photo of a seaside in South West England: family history records online

The South West

Steeped in history, the South West of England is home to attractions like Stonehenge and the city of Bath. The region has rich folklore and customs, with Cornwall even retaining its own language to this day. Did your ancestors call Bristol, Exeter or Swindon home?

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Explore essential and exclusive English family history records

From must-see genealogy documents to unique, detailed collections, our online archives are brimming with everything you need to trace your ancestors’ lives and times.

1921 census: Collage of life in the 1920s

What was England like in the 1920s?

Find out in the 1921 Census of England and Wales, exclusively available online at Findmypast. After being locked away for a century, this snapshot of 38 million lives unearths never-before-seen family stories, secrets and surprises.

Discover colourful family stories in black and white

Read all about your relatives amongst the small print of millions of national, regional and local English newspaper pages.