Discover your family story in detail-rich Sussex records online

Are you seeking ancestors in the sunniest county? Illuminate who they were and when they lived using Sussex archives online at Findmypast. Explore Sussex parish registers, military records and more to see where your family tree takes you.

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A snippet of Sussex history and heritage

Bronze and Iron Age communities. Roman occupation. Saxon invaders. The Battle of Hastings. Sussex has seen it all.

Once a kingdom and now a county, Sussex is home to Brighton and Hove, Chichester, Crawley, Hastings and Worthing.

Sussex people are known for their independence of thought and respect for those with the same traits. The county loves bonfire celebrations and has a strong musical heritage and cultural food identity. Local delicacies include herring from Rye, the Selsea cockle and the Amberley trout. Brighton Pride is one of the UK’s largest and oldest gay pride parades.

Hastings was home to John Logie Baird, the inventor of the televisor, the world’s first commercial television set. The region continues to be at the forefront of innovation.

Sussex and neighbouring Hampshire share the title of the sunniest places in the UK.

Steeped in history, Mermaid Street in Rye has been dubbed Britain’s prettiest street.

Search millions of Sussex family history records

Trace your Sussex ancestors and their incredible life stories by delving into our vast and varied collection of online records.

Sussex family history records: Collage of life in the 1920s

What was Brighton like in the 1920s?

Only available online at Findmypast, the 1921 Census of England and Wales offers a never-before-seen glimpse into local life a century ago. See where your Sussex ancestors were, who they were with and what they were doing at the time in this detail-packed snapshot of their lives.

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The largest online archive of Sussex newspapers

Read what made headline news in your ancestor’s day. Old, digitised Sussex newspapers can reveal family stories you won’t find anywhere else.

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If your family tree extends beyond Sussex, we've got you covered. Our historical record collections cover the entire country.

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