Discover your Nottinghamshire Roots

Exploring your personal family tree and ancestry in Nottinghamshire

County map of Nottinghamshire by Thomas Moule from The English Counties, Delineated, 1837. BRE 29 courtesy of Manuscripts and Special Collections, University of NottinghamFind your family tree and ancestry in Nottinghamshire and discover genealogy roots that date back to the times of Robin Hood and maybe even the Roman period or our earlier prehistoric settlement. You'll also be able to research family connections and history at the time of the industrial revolution when changes to the landscape and the way of life brought large scale migration.

Nottinghamshire has seen its fair share of migration making it a rich destination for ancestry and genealogy. Perhaps most famously in the 17th century when dissenting Puritans separated from the Anglican Church. One of the separatists, William Brewster, who grew up in Scrooby, north Nottinghamshire, sailed on The Mayflower to New England in North America in 1620, helping to shape the future of what became the United States.

Nottingham University College personnel planting out spring cabbages and lettuces as part of the 'Dig for Victory' campaign, 20 September 1940 UMP/2/1/40/2. Courtesy of Manuscripts and Special Collections, University of Nottingham

Coming home to Nottinghamshire, whether to find generation after generation of ancestors or simply to make use of the wonderful resources to research your family tree, you'll be able to explore the many archives, libraries and museums looked after by the County Council. 

You can do lots of family tree research using the resources that are available online of course, but ancestry is an intensely personal experience and to understand your genealogy and heritage fully you need to walk in your ancestors’ footsteps. Imagine yourself standing beside an ancestor’s grave or at the door of a home they knew.

Use these web pages and our downloadable guide to help plan your family tree research and start your own special ancestral journey of discovery.

    • Nottinghamshire Archives

      Nottinghamshire Archives

      Going to the source - pay a visit to Nottinghamshire Archives and Manuscripts and Special Collections at The University of Nottingham.

    • Libraries & Family History

      Libraries & Family History

      Making it local - head to Nottingham's Local Studies Library, the city and countywide libraries or the Nottinghamshire Family History Society.

    • Museums & Attractions

      Museums & Attractions

      Did your ancestors work in the mines, hosiery industry, a cotton mill or as a lace-maker? Local museums and attractions help you discover more.

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Special offers

  1. Free taxi transfer from the city centre

    Free taxi transfer from the city centre

    Book accommodation at the New Gables with the Nottingham Tourism Centre and the hotel will pay your taxi fair from the city centre.

    From: Friday, 9th March 2012

    To: Sunday, 30th September 2012

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Tourist info centres

Nottingham: 08444 77 5678

Sherwood: 01623 824545

Retford: 01777 860780

Worksop: 01909 501148

Newark: 01636 655765

Southwell: 01636 819038

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