14/10/2026
Looking though some of my pulled-out pages from Family History magazines.
Think many of us have a collection that we have put aside for 'later' and maybe never looked at it again!
One of these has hints and tips from the WDYTYR magazine on the subject of missing ancestors.
Now before I toss it some good tips were:
1. Your ancestors may have used middle names
(Seems common in my tree, or nick names!)
2. Check the mother's maiden name.
Not all children were born in wedlock, especially a first born.
4. Have they moved?
The family is missing in a census. Did they move for work? Most ancestors did not own a home and may have moved quite often.
5. Use wildcard searches.
A frequent reason to miss folks is that their name may have been incorrectly transcribed.
6. Try different databases.
If you cannot find what you are looking for, it can be worth venturing into other genealogy websites. Commercial databases can have different indexing, transcribing systems.
7. Did they change names? Did they register a name change, or perhaps just anglicize it.
8. Focus on occupations. Maybe add that into your search terms for a more common surname.
9. Try parish records. In England it was not compulsory to register a child's birth until 1874. The onus to register deaths was on the registrars rather than next of kin to ensure deaths were recorded prior to 1874.
10. If they disappeared. Were they a convict or immigrated.
11. Check local register offices. Primary indexes are still maintained by district register offices.
12. Are they serving in the armed forces?
13. Search for a will. The National Probate Calendar was compiled from 1858 onwards with deceased's occupation and address, as well as next of kin.
14. Look at old maps. Check land records, nearby parishes.
15. Shift the search to a sibling. Preferably one with a less common name. A younger sibling's place of birth might also be more accurate.
15. Check newspapers, as local as possible to the last known location.
16. Check the National Archives.
Feel free to add to the list in comments!!!!!!
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