British Isles Diaspora

Resources for tracing ancestors who left the British Isles for other countries. As a loose geographical term, in this case British Isles refers to English, Scottish, Welsh, and Irish ancestors.

Australia

Australia Orphans and Orphanages

Gold rushes: Following the Gold Rushes Class

Home Children

Barnardos Children's Homes (also includes Marchmont, the Annie Macpherson Home or the Liverpool Sheltering Home)

History of Britain's Child Migrants

Irish

Irish Convicts to Australia

Scottish

Highland and Island Emigration Records from Scotland

Canada

Home Children

British Home Children Canada

Barnardos Children's Homes (also includes Marchmont, the Annie Macpherson Home or the Liverpool Sheltering Home)
Canada Home Children British Sources - International Institute
Canada Home Children Immigration Records - International Institute

Caribbean

Britain, Registers Of Licences To Pass Beyond The Seas 1573-1677 at Findmypast
The original lists of persons of quality; emigrants; religious exiles; political rebels; serving men sold for a term of years; apprentices; children stolen; maidens pressed; and others who went from Great Britian to the American plantations 1600-1700, digital book including those who came to Barbados

Early Emigration to Barbados, 1678-1680, 1715 at Findmypast

Emigrants in Bondage, 1614-1775 at Ancestry

More Emigrants in Bondage, 1614-1775 at Ancestry
Early Emigration From Britain 1636-1815 at Findmypast
Former British Colonial Dependencies, Slave Registers, 1813-1834 at Ancestry
Emigrant Ministers To The Americas at Findmypast
Immigrant Ancestors Project (BYU). Includes "a list of invalid soldiers (most born in England) given permission to stay in particular colonies [including the Caribbean islands]. It provides descriptions of the soldier, the amount of pension, birthplace, regiment, and injuries. The original documents also contain information on years of service at each rank, which in some cases has not been extracted. The records vary depending on the year when they were created. 1817-1875 with gaps."
Lists of emigrants to America 1600-1700 edited by John Camben Hotten. (link is to book at the FSL - there is also an online book version, I just can't tell if it's available to the public. I need to check when I'm at home. -Kori)
- From 1650-1700, about half of all English emigrants went to the West Indies: 20,000 to Jamaica, 43,000 to Barbados, 30,000 to other Caribbean islands. When the Jacobites lost their fight for the crown in Scotland in 1715 and 1746, many Scots prisoners of war were transported to the Caribbean. Between 1750 and 1799, it's estimated that 80,000 Scots went to the Caribbean. Many of the Irish went to Montserrat. ("British Migration to the West Indies Before 1800" By Dr. David Dobson)
- Note that from the late 1600s to the early 1700s, South Carolina served as an extension of Barbados for English settlers.

Scottish

The Original Scots Colonists of Early America, 1612-1783 at Ancestry

The Original Scots Colonists of Early America. Supplement 1607-1707 at Ancestry

The Original Scots Colonists of Early America. Caribbean Supplement 1611-1707 at Ancestry
U.S., Directory of Scottish Settlers in North America, 1625-1825 at Ancestry

English

Caribbean, English Settlers in Barbados, 1637-1800 at Ancestry

Irish

Irish Emigrants in North America, 1775-1825 at Ancestry

India

New Zealand

Immigration Research Guide
Immigration to New Zealand (Auckland)
Immigration to Christchurch
New Zealand Bound
Papers Past Historic Newspapers
- Many colonial era newspapers have lists of ships arriving and the passengers they carried.

Immigration Schemes

New Zealand Company (1839-1858)
- An immigration scheme that brought 15,500 settlers from Britain to New Zealand.
Parkhurst Boys (1842-1843)
- Inmate boys between 12 and 20 years old who were relocated and sent to farms to work.
Royal New Zealand Fencibles (1847-1852)
- Retired British and Irish Soldiers who were given land and free passage in exchange for seven years serving as a protection force for British settlements.