Family History
Do you have family roots in South East Wales? Ever wondered who your ancestors were? Use this guide of local genealogy sites to build your family tree. If you know of any other sites, let us know.
See our new Family History website for more tips and tricks on tracing your roots. Please note that the BBC does not offer any means of publishing messages attempting to contact or trace relatives - please use one of the websites listed below.NB The BBC is not responsible for the content of these external websites and cannot respond to any issues relating to access, payment etc
Genes Reunited
http://www.genesreunited.com
Billed as the UK's largest family tree and ancestry site, listing more than 33 million people. You'll need to register to use a range of free and paid-for services. See also www.friendsreunited.com
1901 Census
http://www.census.pro.gov.uk
A comprehensive database, searchable by surname, place of birth or residence. Note that once a person has been found, you'll have to pay to access their census return and information about others living with them. If you can't find your relative, here's a tip - try alternative spellings of their name in case of mistakes or misreading of handwriting in the original census returns.
Family Search
http://www.familysearch.org
A wide-ranging site, its most useful resource is the entire 1881 UK Census free of charge, along with US and Canadian census for 1880. Also includes a searchable database of births, deaths and marriages.
The Origins Network
http://www.originsnetwork.com
Subscription access to exclusive genealogy related collections, including most of the 1841 and 1871 census.
Documents Online
http://www.documentsonline.pro.gov.uk
The website of the Public Records Office allows you to search for the wills of your ancestors as far back as 1650. You can search the database free of charge, but there is a £3 cost to download the digital image of a document.
Free BMD
http://www.freebmd.org.uk
Search for details of your relative via a birth, death or marriage between 1837 and 1983 and it'll tell you where the official record can be found. This service is free of charge, but the database being compiled by volunteers is not yet complete.
National Archives
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
UK government records including census, births, marriages, deaths and more.
British Data Archive
http://www.britishdataarchive.com
A company selling census information on CD. Covering census years from 1841 to 1901 inclusive, except 1881.Related sites offering information online:
www.TheGenealogist.co.uk and www.BMDindex.co.uk
OGRE - Online Genealogical Research Engine
http://www.cefnpennar.com
Cemeteries can be a valuable source of information - this project aims to publish photographs online of all pre-1930 gravestones in south Wales. Names from a number of war memorials are also included.
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
http://www.cwgc.org
Search this site for relatives in the forces who may have died on active service during the two World Wars.
Find My Past
http://www.findmypast.com
Subscription based website offering census information, military records, parish records, ocean liner passenger lists and more.
GENUKI site for Monmouthshire/Gwent
http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/wal/MON/
Contact details and links to archives and libraries, church and cemetery records, local genealogy societies and civil registration sources.
Monmouthshire Gen Web Project
http://www.rootsweb.com/~wlsmon/
Wide-ranging resource covering Monmouthshire and Gwent. Links to local Family History Societies, mailing lists, forums and newsgroups.
Gwent Record Office
http://www.llgc.org.uk/cac/cac0004.htm
A simple but useful site with details about opening hours, services offered and reading room rules and regulations.
South Wales Coalfield Collection
http://www.swan.ac.uk/swcc/
A useful site for tracking relatives who were prominent members of mining organisations in South Wales. The site has details of all the archive material in the collection, and offers some assistance to people tracing surnames.
GENUKI site for Glamorgan
http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/wal/GLA/
A mine of information for anyone looking up their roots in the Glamorgan area. Browse through lists of organisations, publications, historical information and statistics.
The Glamorgan Family History Society
http://www.rootsweb.com/~wlsglfhs/
An informative site, with details of the latest society news and events, as well as a comprehensive links page, and information about parish registers.
The Glamorgan Record Office
http://www.glamro.gov.uk
A clear site, with details of courses on tracing family history, downloadable leaflets, and information for visitors.
Glamorgan Mailing List
http://lists.rootsweb.com/index/intl/WLS/GLAMORGAN.html
Use this page to subscribe to the Glamorgan mailing list or search the Glamorgan archive of messages.
Missing Ancestors - Industrial Schools
http://www.missing-ancestors.com
A new website focussing mostly on lists of children sent away to industrial schools. The site includes census details plus court and School Board records. The organisers are particularly interested in gathering more information about residents of the West of England and South Wales Industrial School for Catholic Boys at Cannington, Somerset.
National Library of Wales
http://www.llgc.org.uk
Includes a wealth of material relating to family history searches online and at the library itself in Aberystwyth.
Tredegar Family History Page
http://www.tredegar.co.uk/family_history.htm
A genealogy links page for the Tredegar area.
EGGRA - East Gwent Genealogy Research Agency
http://www.eggra.co.uk
Offering expert help with family history searches in Torfaen - Cwmbran, Pontypool, Blaenavon and surrounding areas.
Unearth Your Roots
http://www.your-roots.co.uk
A Bridgend-based company offering a personalised service helping you trace your family history. Their website includes tips and tricks on how to make the most of your research.
Parish Chest
http://www.parishchest.com/
A useful site featuring parish registers, family trees, census records, and directories.
RootsWeb
http://www.rootschat.com
Online messageboards where you can share information and ask for help in tracing your family tree.
Genealogy Links
http://www.genealogylinks.net
More than 50,000 genealogy links from around the world, including continental Europe, the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, South Africa, Jewish links and more.
Roots Magic
http://www.rootsmagic.co.uk
Software for sale with which to create wallcharts and websites to display your family history.
National Missing Persons Helpline
http://www.missingpersons.org
The UK's only charity dedicated to finding missing persons and supporting those who are left behind. Visit their website if you wish to call home, have information about a missing person or are concerned about a missing relative or partner.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites
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