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Discover your ancestors’ stories in detail-rich Northumberland records online

Does your family tree stem from Northumberland? Maybe your Newcastle relatives have Roman roots. Unlock hidden family stories with exclusive Northumberland archives online at Findmypast. Wherever your Northumberland story begins, endless discoveries await.

A fleeting history of Northumberland

Northumberland means the land north of the Humber. As a northern frontier of England, it is the county with the most castles, with over 70 in its boundaries.

Northumberland is known as the cradle of Christianity because the religion flourished on the island of Lindisfarne, north of Bamburgh. 

Coal mining started in Northumberland in Tudor times and helped fuel industrial expansion in Britain. The need to transport coal to the River Tyne also led to the development of the railways. Shipbuilding and armaments were other prevalent industries. In the 18th century, the glass industry thrived in the village of Seaton Sluice.  

Today, Blyth, Cramlington and Ashington are the county’s most populated towns. 

The region also boasts the first Greggs bakery shop in Gosforth, the Christmas song Little Donkey written by Sunderland’s Eric Boswell, and 1960s rock band The Animals.

Could your ancestor have owned a coal mine, driven one of the first trains or been a glass blower? Maybe your family is related to the famous Percys of Alnwick Castle? 

Historically, Newcastle was the county town of Northumberland until the city became part of Tyne and Wear in 1974.

Only at Findmypast

Find family names in Northumberland records you won’t get anywhere else online.

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

The 1921 Census

Discover how your Northumberland relatives saw their world over 100 years ago. This revealing post-war snapshot tells all.

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Staffordshire parish registers: An old photo of a mother and baby at a baptism

Northumberland parish records

Search baptism, marriage and burial records dating back to medieval times, many only available online at Findmypast.

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Northumberland military records: An old photo of a soldier

Northumberland Fusiliers records

Compiled from multiple sources, this index details the men who served with the ‘Fighting Fifth’ during the Boer War and First World War.

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Entire life stories unfold before you...

“Findmypast has helped me build the bones of my family tree. It is wonderful seeing old newspaper reports mentioning my ancestors and interesting to track how households changed in the censuses, including the 1921 Census.”

G Harvey

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Extra! Extra! Northumberland newspaper archives are now online

News, views and local gossip are all hidden in the pages of Northumberland's old papers.

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