Welsh Genealogy

Welsh research faces a few extra problems. Inherited surnames came later than in England, and a relatively small number of names (including Jones, Evans, Davies and Thomas) emerged.

Most of the Welsh record offices produce their own genealogical leaflets as does the Welsh Tourist Office. The National Library holds many parish registers and transcripts as well as wills, deeds, personal and estate records and the records of Welsh courts before 1830. The Golden Grove Book of Pedigrees is an early eighteenth century genealogical collection now in the care of the Carmarthenshire Archives Service. Most of the records sources already described will be as helpful in locating Welsh ancestors as English. Consider checking hearth records of the late 17th century. For Welsh births, deaths and marriages go to the FRC.

Because of the strong non-comformist tradition in Wales this category of records may prove especially productive. They are arranged by county then denomination. Census records are also arranged by place and there are lots of Welsh history records at Kew. The University of Wales, Board of Celtic Studies has published a History and Law series covering legal disputes and these are well indexed. Also check out the Bernau Index at the Society of Genealogists, and the assize records in the National Library. You can locate Welsh army records from the territorial basis of regiments. For earlier Welsh records look at the PRO Guide.

This and the following national record categories are covered very briefly as you can get plenty of information from high level links in all the main genealogy websites, such as GENUKI and Cyndi's List. At national level there is also a plentiful bibliography. In any case, so much of what you will learn about family history and searching methods applies across the board so does not require repetition.