Who do you think you are? How to start researching your family tree
The 1921 census was released last month giving us a greater insight into our family history and where we live
People researching their family tree has seen a rise in popularity over the last few years, thanks to programmes like BBC One’s Who Do You Think You Are?.
But where do you start if you want to look back through your family history.
We asked our readers on Facebook what their advice was to anyone wanting to find out more.
Many of you recommended talking to family members, such as your grandparents to get names of anyone they know and work back from them.
Taylor Allen said: “Be prepared for shocks, be prepared for your life to be taken over with research. But, it is good, as since I have been doing mine, I have found several cousins in Canada, and even met two of them before the pandemic. It is very worthwhile and gets even more exciting when you do your DNA.”
Helen Catchpole said: “Record everything. Who said what and where info came from e.g. hearsay, local paper, website. Remember anything is possible until proved different.”
Zoey Elizabeth added: “Ask elderly relatives. Drama isn’t juicy, it’s real life. Get a good notebook and a decent subscription. Try not to get confused when all the men in your family are named one of three things.”
If you know names and surnames and dates of birth you can search through records and websites such as Findmypast or Ancestry.co.uk
Stuart Marler said: “Start. Actually start. Talk to your parents, grandparents etc.”
Sandra Edwards added: “You can only get access to the 1921 census on Find My Past. Plus it is difficult to search for some people because of spelling mistakes, also people you may know as Uncle Harry may have been christened as Henry. A lot of people use names they were not given at birth.”
Locally you can find a lot of information at the West Sussex or East Sussex record offices.
For any extra help there is Sussex Family History Group, which was set up in 1972.
Its aim is to promote family history within Sussex and to help members and others with their genealogical problems, and has talks on family history.
Mick Henry, SFHG chairman, said: “We have our Library at The Keep manned by volunteers.
“We have transcribed and indexed all Sussex marriages, and we have nearly completed baptisms and burials from parish registers too.
“We have an extensive collection of transcripts of monumental inscriptions from churchyards all over Sussex. We have collected and indexed many of our members family trees, which
Remember anything is possible until proved different.
HELEN CATCHPOLE Reader