England Medieval Records

England

Searching for ancestors in medieval England can be fascinating. Extensive collections survive in English archives dating back to the Domesday Book (1086 A.D.). Medieval records most often record activities of nobility and the landed class. They are typically written in Latin or Old French, but modern English translations are available for many record groups.

The following graphic will help you identify types of medieval records and the years they exist. Click on the text to learn more.

With special thanks to Paul C. Reed, FASG for compiling this chart.

Prosopography

• 597-1042 - Prosopography of Anglo-Saxon England. Online.
• 400s-1400s - Cawley. Medieval Lands: A Prosopography of Medieval European Noble and Royal Families. Online.
• 1066-1166 - Keats-Rohan. Domesday People: A Prosopography of Persons Occurring in English Documents, 1066-1166, Volume I: Domesday Book. 1999. FHL 942 H2kr v. 1 | Updates.
• 1066-1166 - Keats-Rohan. Continental Origins of English Landholders 1066-1166. 1995. FHL 942 D32kr
• 1066-1166 - Keats-Rohan. Domesday Descendants: A Prosopography of Persons Occurring in English Documents, 1066-1166, Volume II: Pipe Rolls to Cartae Baronum. 2002. FHL 942 D3kk | Updates.
• Medieval-present - Dictionary of National Biography. Online.
• 1093-1314 - People of Medieval Scotland 1093-1314. Online.
• Medieval-1800s - Shaw. The Knights of England. 1906. Online: Vol. I | Vol. II.
• 1386-1832 - Member Biographies. The History of Parliament. Online.
• 1400s - Rogers. Fifteenth-Century Biographical Index. Online.
• Medieval - Emden's Biographical Registers to 1500 (Univ. of Cambridge students). Online.
• Medieval - Emden's Biographical Registers to 1540 (Univ. of Oxford students). Online.
• 1261-1900 - Alumni Cantabrigienses (Univ. of Cambridge students).Online.

Compiled Genealogies

• Medieval - Cokayne et al. The Complete Peerage. Online | Corrections and additions.
• Medieval-1900s - Ruvigny et al. The Plantagenet Roll of the Blood Royal. Online listing.
• Medieval - Heraldic Visitations. Guide to online records at Some Notes on Medieval English Genealogy.
• Medieval-present - Roberts. The Royal Descents of 600 Immigrants. Online.
• Medieval-1800s - Royal and Noble Houses of Europe, Medieval Unit (FamilySeach). Online
• Medieval-present - Genealogics by Leo van de Pas. Online.
• Medieval-1600s - Richardson. Royal Ancestry. Amazon.

Websites

• Some Notes on Medieval English Genealogy. Extensive guide to online medieval English records.
• The National Archives. Discovery Catalogue, Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills Index, Manorial Documents Register, E 179 Database, and research guides.
• British History Online. Victoria County Histories and many published medieval record groups.
• Anglo-American Legal Tradition. Digitised original records from The National Archives.
• GEN-MEDIEVAL mailing list. Discussions on medieval pedigrees and sources.
• Foundation for Medieval Genealogy. Journal, Medieval Lands project, Index to the Ancestry of Charles II.
• Prosopography Research (University of Oxford). Bibliography, Directory of Prosopographical Research.
• Ancestry. Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills 1384-1858.
• FindMyPast. York Medieval Probate Index 1267-1500.