Piece together your family’s past with Westmorland archives online

When was your family in Westmorland? Discover new clues through Westmorland archives online at Findmypast. Ponder parish registers from places like Grasmere and Shap. Wherever your Westmorland story takes you, it begins with your family tree.

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Winding back to Westmorland’s earlier years

Half of what we now know as Westmorland was once in Yorkshire, with the other half in Scotland. Later, the two baronies of Kendal and Westmorland came together as the single county of Westmorland, with Appleby as its county town.

Don’t be surprised if you encounter variations in how Westmorland is spelt. The historic county has boundaries with Cumbria, County Durham, Yorkshire and Lancashire. Windermere and Ullswater are also part of the Westmorland border.

Though development was often held back by warfare with Scotland, Westmorland prospered through the wool industry.

The growth of the railways brought the tourist industry to Kendal and Windermere. The area remains popular today, attracting visitors to its old parish churches and Norman castles at Appleby, Brough and Brougham.

Westmorland’s flag features a golden heraldic apple tree on white and red stripes. The tree represents Appleby while the stripes symbolise Kendal.

Find fascinating family stories in Westmorland archives online

From baptism to burial, trace your Westmorland ancestors through every step of their remarkable lives. Incredible discoveries are just a search away.

WEstmorland 1921 census: Collage of life in the 1920s

What was Westmorland like in the 1920s?

What do you really know about your Westmorland relatives? Exclusively available online at Findmypast, the 1921 Census of England and Wales will reveal more about their lives 100 years ago.

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Rich stories from the past reimagined

“Findmypast is easy-to-use and offers handy tips for beginners. I especially like the newspaper articles. The insights on social history they bring are so interesting. It really brings your ancestors to life.”

Claire Laing

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Read all about your ancestors in old Westmorland newspapers

From birth, marriage and death announcements to scandalous local stories, Westmorland newspaper archives can illuminate your family history.

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Millions of English family history records at your fingertips

If your family ventured beyond Westmorland, pinpoint their next stop in our extensive collection of historical resources. Every county, city, town and village in England is covered. Where will your past take you?

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Choose a region from the map or drop-down list to access more local record collections and learn about the history of the places your ancestors called home.