Getting Started

It is a good idea to gather together as much information as you can about your family history. This will save you time and money later on.

You can:

• talk to surviving family members and record all the information they can supply.
• collect as many copies of birth, marriage and death certificates as possible. You can then use the information the certificates contain, starting with the most recent, to work back wards, generation by generation.

Birth, marriage and death records
These form the basic skeleton of all family history research.

You can find statutory records from 1855 to present day, for births, marriages and deaths by contacting you local registrars.
View local contact information regarding Births, Deaths and Marriages

You can also purchase online historical certificates using the Certificate ordering service Opens in a new window.

Information contained in birth certificates includes:

• child's full name and gender
• place of birth
• parents' names, including maiden surname
• father's occupation
• date and place of parents' marriage
• name of informant and relationship to child

Information contained in marriage certificates includes:

• for both people, their full name, age, marital status, occupation and usual residence
• date and place of marriage
• names, including maiden name of mother, for both parents, occupation of the father and if they are deceased
• names of witnesses and officiating clergy

Information contained in death certificates includes:

• name of deceased, their sex, marital status, age and occupation
• time and place of death
• details of informant
• usual residence
• spouse's name, parents' names and occupations.

Next steps in your research
There are may other records which can help you with your family history research, including:

• census records
• Old Parish Records
• local newspapers
• trade directories
• monumental inscriptions
• electoral registers, voters rolls and valuation rolls

For more information contact:

Surrey History Centre
130 Goldsworth Road
Woking GU21 6ND
Tel: 01483 518737
email:shs@surreycc.gov.uk
www.surreycc.gov.uk/surreyhistoryservice Opens in a new window

It is always advisable to book before you visit Surrey History Centre.