In UK has anyone traced their family tree back further than 1763?

Question

How difficult is it. I dont know where to go from that date. Is it worth seeking the services of a professional?

Answer 1

I've got back to 1680 on one branch of my family. I'm Scottish and many of our records are available on line, which makes it much easier and cheaper to research (using http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/ ).

In England and Wales you can use ancestry.co.uk, but you can't access the actual certificates - you have to buy them from http://www.gro.gov.uk/ and that costs £7 a time.

But I have managed to get back to 1736 on one branch of my husband's (English) family. Cost me a fortune! Plus I had help from other people on www.genesreunited.co.uk to get that far back because ancestry.co.uk only goes back to 1837.

The people who helped me trace back to 1736 were all folk who had gone to the local records office and library in Devon and got information there.

If you know where your ancestors lived, it might be worth phoning the local council for that area and asking them where their old records are held.

I don't know about the professionals. I'm sure some of them may be very good. But I'm told they can be expensive.

Before going down that road you should check whether there is a local genealogy society in the area where your ancestors lived. They would know the best ways to find information about families in their area. Some of these people are incredibly knowledgeable. I got in touch once with a lady in Tenby, Wales, and she sent me a huge family tree with lots of my husband's ancestors that she had found in the local library.

It's a tricky business, but absolutely fascinating when you get into it, don't you think?

My top find so far is a pirate called Foxy Ned (Edmund Scanes) who was my husband's great great grandfather. My children were thrilled to have a real pirate as an ancestor!

Well, I've wittered on long enough! I wish you all the best with your research. I hope you find what you're looking for.

Answer 2

If you are tracing British heritage it is fairly common to get back further than 1763. It is more difficult, from my experience, to trace other lineages. The best way approach it is to google your surname like this: "Surname genealogy" where your surname replaces the word 'surname'.

I've been lucky in a few instances with finding other researchers who have more elaborate databases than mine and have been able to find the connections quite easily.

Professional genealogists can be pretty expensive. Try to find your way around the internet. Genealogy is the biggest hobby going on the internet.

For starters, you might get some pointers here:

http://www.cyndislist.com

Databases can be found here for free:
http://www.rootsweb.com

If you know the area where your tree 'dead-ends', you can search that geographical area on the internet. Most counties or districts have their own genealogy message board where people can exchange information. As well you may find that someone living in that area will do a 'look-up' in local sources on your surname; sources that you yourself would not have access to.

You can find these boards listed through Cyndi's List.

There are also a slew of records at http://www.familysearch.org
although many of the user-submitted records that I've found are inaccurate.

Answer 3

yes back to 1400 on one side of the family and the question of is it worth seeking the services of a professional only you can answer that question . I had very good luck with using ancestry .com . and did the work myself just had to think and search a bit no more than a term paper you can do it go for it!!!!

Answer 4

There are still church records around that haven't burned over the years. Cemetaries also can be a resource. Luckily, until the 20th century people rarely went more than 20 miles away from where they were born their entire lives. Find out where your people are from and go there. I got mine back to the 1300's and possibly further. Prior to this, most people didn't have last names. You were "Tom the miller" or "John the smith".

Answer 5

My Grandfather (Mother's side) traced his family right back to Elizabeth the first's time (1533) he used church records but having a French surname rather than an English one made it easier! My Brother is trying to go further but keeps getting side tracked as he is tracing his Father's side too!
Church records are the best way to try.

Answer 6

Hi >
Websites mentioned are all goodly sources of info, I shall not elaborate , except to say that I am back to around 1550, on one side of the family.
Most of whom appear a tad weird.
It is all easily looked up on a variety of sites.
Type in "geneology" or similar.
Apparantly I am about 300th in line to an Earldom.
Weird, but true.
It is all worth persuing, and most interesting.
Best of luck.
Bob

Answer 7

I have a written family tree going back over 500 years, although that was in mid east. Parish records are a good source, also the websites people have mentioned before. You can also trace your ethnic background with dna testing these days!

Answer 8

Yup.

Can trace that branch of the family tree back prior to the Norman Conquest.

Answer 9

have you tried Ancestry.com? I have had really good luck and traced my Scottish side back to early 1700, late 1600. Orkney islands. it has helped me keep things straight, who's, who, where in the family tree. it costs, but its been worth it for me. access to lots and lots of records, birth, death, and census's. been an interesting ride through time and learned a lot on the way. good luck and keep it fun....

Answer 10

Yes. The Queen.