Wales Research Tips and Strategies

Revision as of 13:43, 16 June 2017 by WilliamsDa (talk | contribs) (added new beginner start page content)

Wales Wiki Topics
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Beginning Research
Record Types
Wales Background
Local Research Resources

Beginner: Wales Genealogy

More major record sets for Wales are available to search online than most countries. Success with Welsh census, birth, marriage and death records depends on a few key points.

What information do you want to learn about your ancestor?

Beginners birth button icon.jpg
Beginners marriage button icon.jpg
Beginners death button icon.jpg
Birth Marriage Death & burial


Research Tips

  • Many surnames in Wales are quite common. Extra reference points improve search options and success.
  • Where a person lived can be a great help to group individuals into their correct families.
  • Dates in a person's life will point to various options for learning more about them. Even approximate dates for birth, marriage and death can help.



Intermediate & Advanced Research Strategies

Research strategy pages to help you locate your Welsh ancestors.

Emigrant Record Selection Guide
Census Records

Wales Research Tips

  • Look in all censuses: Always look for your ancestor in every possible census. There are clues regarding immigration, naturalization, and occupation that can lead to other records. Sometimes parents can be found living with their children later in life. Search Wales Censuses.
  • Cemetery records (including burial records, monumental or memorial inscriptions), sometimes provide birth, marriage, death, and occupational information. They sometimes give clues to military service, residence, and cause of death.  Cemetery Records.