Findmypast.co.uk
Findmypast is a UK-focused genealogy service that gives subscription access to millions of digitised records — censuses, parish registers, newspapers and military files. Its indexed search and family-tree tools help hobbyists and professional researchers trace ancestors across Britain, Ireland and beyond, with regular promotions and temporary free-access events.
Highlights
Details
Searchable Records
Findmypast indexes millions of primary-source documents so you can search by name, date, location and relationship. Powerful filters narrow results across censuses, BMD indexes and electoral rolls. Scanned originals are often available alongside transcriptions, letting researchers verify entries and capture images for their personal archives or family tree profiles.
Parish & Civil Registers
The site holds extensive parish registers and civil registration indexes covering baptisms, marriages and burials. Many entries include full-page scans of original registers and clerical notes, useful for tracing pre-civil-registration ancestors or resolving name and date discrepancies in family lines.
Newspapers & Military
Findmypast's newspaper collections and military records add rich context—service records, medal rolls, wartime reports and personal notices. These sources are especially valuable for adding life details and resolving gaps when vital records are sparse or missing, and often include clippings and originals for citation.
Categories
Verdict
What we like
- Deep, UK- and Ireland-focused collections rarely aggregated elsewhere
- Scanned original documents available alongside searchable transcriptions
- Advanced search filters and record hints speed research
- Integrated online family tree tools and media attachments
Worth knowing
- Most valuable content requires a paid subscription
- Some specialist collections remain behind additional paywalls or are incomplete
- Site navigation and record-viewer can be overwhelming for beginners
