Family History

Follow your ancestors to Hampshire. . . walk in their footsteps, find out where they lived and died, and what they did for a living.

Getting started in family history

Taking your first steps in family history? Check out our top tips online where you will also find indexes to civil records of births, marriages and deaths, and possibly other records, too.

On site at record offices, you will find church records of baptisms, marriages and burials, census records, wills, newspapers, trade directories and other sources in archives and records.

Finding Hampshire ancestors

If you are researching your family tree, archives about the county’s past which may help you are held by Hampshire, Southampton and Portsmouth councils. Contact them by email, telephone or in person, and expert staff will be able to help with your enquiries:

o Hampshire Archives and Local Studies
o Southampton City Archives   
o Portsmouth City Records Office  

These services are free to visit, and you can purchase copies of documents relating to your ancestors. Opening hours are given on their web sites. Hampshire Archives and Local Studies is open 6 days a week: Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm (7pm on Thursdays), and 9am to 4pm on Saturdays.

Hampshire Archives and Local Studies also runs workshops on tracing your family history, military ancestors, reading old handwriting, and much more, so keep an eye on its events page.

Next, find out how to trace your military ancestors...