| When it comes to family, there are few things in | | | | estimated 6 to 10 per cent of births were not |
| life that are more important. And if you've ever | | | | registered in this period and it was only in 1875 |
| wondered who your ancestors were, then you're | | | | that compulsory registration of both births and |
| certainly not alone! No matter how big or small | | | | deaths was implemented. What's more, searching |
| your family is, finding out about your past | | | | for births, deaths and marriages further back than |
| ancestors is not only a fascinating business but | | | | this proves even more difficult, since the |
| could also be crucial to helping you understand | | | | introduction of General Civil Registration of Births, |
| yourself as a person. | | | | Marriages and Deaths only occurred in 1837 in |
| In fact, genealogy has taken off in Britain in | | | | England and Wales. |
| recent years, particularly as recent legislation has | | | | Novice genealogy searchers, however, should also |
| helped in the release of census documents from | | | | bear in mind census inaccuracies when trying to |
| hundreds of years ago. Programmes like the | | | | compile their family trees. Census records are an |
| BBC's 'Who Do You Think You Are?' have | | | | invaluable resource for people who are tracing |
| popularised the importance of finding out your | | | | their family history; in fact, census returns are |
| family history, with famous TV stars and | | | | crucial because they can not only tell people who |
| personalities - including Barbara Windsor, Jeremy | | | | their ancestors were and what they did, but also |
| Paxman and David Tennant, among others - all | | | | where they lived and whether or not they had |
| portraying their search for their ancestors. | | | | brothers and sisters. This can help reunite families |
| In today's world, where people are perpetually | | | | as people exploring their family past may discover |
| online, there are hundreds of websites that allow | | | | they have uncles, aunts or cousins they didn't |
| you to search for your family history. Genealogy | | | | know existed. |
| search is becoming ever-more important as more | | | | Many websites and resources that allow people to |
| and more look towards their past to find answers | | | | make genealogy searches will offer excellent tips |
| for the present and the future. If you're a novice | | | | and techniques in order for you to make the |
| at family tree research, then it's important to | | | | most effective search for your family tree. So, |
| explore a variety of family search tools in order | | | | wherever you choose to search for your |
| to familiarise yourself with techniques and tips | | | | ancestors, you can rest assured you'll find |
| that will help you find what you're looking for. | | | | something that will afford you a glimpse into your |
| For instance, if you're looking for an ancestor that | | | | family past! |
| was born prior to 1875, bear in mind that an | | | | Andrew Regan is an online, freelance journalist. |