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Find amazing family stories in Rutland archives online

Are you linked to the smallest county in England? Find out if family names feature in exclusive Rutland archives online at Findmypast. Discover fascinating facts in parish registers from the Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester & Rutland. Your story starts with your family tree.

A look back at Rutland history and heritage

Before it was first mentioned as a distinct county in 1159, Rutland was considered part of Nottinghamshire and Northamptonshire.

This ceremonial county is the smallest in England and has only two towns, Oakham and Uppingham. 

Rutland Water, a man-made lake and reservoir, dominates the county. Since its construction was completed in 1975, the lake has become a nature reserve, an important overwintering site for wildfowl and a breeding site for ospreys. 

Oakham Castle is a Grade 1 listed building and one of England's finest examples of Norman architecture. A local tradition requires royalty or peers of the realm who pass through Oakham to present a horseshoe to the Lord of the Manor of Oakham. This may explain the castle’s impressive horseshoe collection. The Viking Way, a long-distance trail running 147 miles, ends in Oakham.  

The flag of Rutland displays a golden horseshoe, the traditional emblem of the county.

Only at Findmypast

Unlock incredible family stories in Rutland records you won’t get anywhere else online.

Rutland census data: Vintage photo of two men on a bicycle

The 1921 Census

Step back 100 years and get closer to your Rutland relatives. See life through a local lens just after the First World War.

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Rutland Catholic records: A photo of a Catholic church

The Catholic Heritage Archive

Search and view exclusive church records from Nottingham Diocese to find Roman Catholic connections in Rutland.

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Rutland wills and probate records: An old will record

Rutland probate index

Did your Rutland ancestor leave a will? Discover their legacy, executors and more in these detailed records. 

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Where will your past take you?

"I came back to Findmypast specifically to search the Rutland archives for my wife's family and have been amazed at what I have been able to learn."

George Hutchindon

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Rutland’s local family history records at your fingertips

Follow the paper trail your Rutland ancestors have left in detail-rich military records, parish registers and more. 

Root out your Rutland family

Enter a detail or two to instantly reveal your relatives’ records.

Rutland’s newspaper archives now online

Old Rutland newspapers are rich in colour and context about your ancestors’ experiences. Gain essential family tree information from birth, marriage and death announcements or learn about local news stories in the centuries-old pages.

Uncover local records all over England

Does your family research stretch beyond Rutland? Scour our collection of nationwide resources to see where your relatives pop up next. 

Select a region from the map or drop-down list to dig deeper into local record collections and learn about the history of the places your ancestors called home.

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