The 1939 Register is one of the most valuable resources available to family historians. Discover what information it contains, why some records remain closed and how it can help bridge the gap between the 1921 and 1951 censuses.

The 1939 Register is one of the most valuable resources available to family historians. Discover what information it contains, why some records remain closed and how it can help bridge the gap between the 1921 and 1951 censuses.
Census records offer one of the richest windows into the lives of our ancestors. Taken every ten years, they reveal households, occupations, and changing family lives across generations. This article explores what the UK censuses from 1841 to 1921 can tell us, and how a single return can help bring family history to life.
When I first started my family tree, I thought I was being careful—until I trusted a well-researched tree that quietly sent an entire branch in the wrong direction. Two first cousins, the same name, the same birth year, and the same village.
Read the blog to see how I untangled it—and what I learned along the way.
A practical introduction to family history research, focused on taking the first step, where to begin, and how to start building your family story step by step.
A reflective post about the role AI tools can play in family history research. Used thoughtfully, they can help us plan next steps, explore historical context, organise notes, and shape family stories. They don’t replace original records or careful research — but they can offer guidance, inspiration, and a fresh way of thinking along the research journey.
Welsh patronymic naming is frequently misunderstood by modern indexes. Two Selattyn baptisms show how transcription errors can mislead genealogy research.