findmypast

In 1965, a small group of professional genealogists and probate researchers called themselves "Title Research". They did much of their research using microfiche records. In 2001, Title Research started an in-house project, called "1837 online", to produce a computerised version of the birth, marriage and death register pages of the General Register Office (GRO), and the following year began work to put this on an internet website.Findmypast.co.uk, [https://www.findmypast.co.uk/page/company Company History timeline]. Retrieved 2013-09-02. Another online project, FreeBMD, had already been working on this since 1999, gradually transcribing the indexes through the efforts of volunteers and publishing searchable indexes freely on the internet.Christian, P., 'The Genealogists Internet', The National Archives, 3rd Edition (2005), pp 50-53. {{ISBN|978-1-903365-83-0}}

In April 2003, www.1837online.com went live on the internet. This was a pay-per-view service allowing access to images of the pages of the original GRO registers. Initially there was no index of individual entries for the period before 1984, but subsequent years had already been electronically recorded by the GRO and were fully searchable. Gradually the UK Censuses, passenger lists, and other databases were added to the site, the first being an index of the 1861 England and Wales Census in 2005.

1837online rebranded as Findmypast in November 2006 because its scope had spread beyond the GRO registers, and was awarded the Queen's Award for Innovation in 2007 for the "provision of public internet access to official genealogy records".Businesslink.gov.uk [http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20120823131012/http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/Growth_and_Innovation_files/QA0024_2011_Awards_Innovation.pdf The Queen's Award for Enterprise: Innovation - Winners List]. Retrieved 18 December 2016. In 2007 it acquired United States–based PedigreeSoft, a web-based family tree building platform.{{Cite web |date=2008-02-14 |title=FindMyPast.com Acquires PedigreeSoft.com |url=http://www.pedigreesoft.com/community/about87.html |access-date=2023-04-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080214084834/http://www.pedigreesoft.com/community/about87.html |archive-date=2008-02-14 }} Later in 2007 it was purchased from Title Research Group by DC Thomson. In 2008 Findmypast published the 1851 and 1901 censuses online, and it also gained a license to publish the United Kingdom Census 1911. In 2011 it became sponsor of the Society of Genealogists in their centenary year and agreed a reciprocal arrangement where each would give access to one another's online databases.Society of Genealogists website [http://www.societyofgenealogists.com/free-access-to-findmypast-co-uk-at-the-society-of-genealogists-library-now-including-1911-census/ Free access to Findmypast.co.uk at the Society of Genealogists' Library – now including 1911 census] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111201010238/http://www.societyofgenealogists.com/free-access-to-findmypast-co-uk-at-the-society-of-genealogists-library-now-including-1911-census/ |date=2011-12-01 }} January 5, 2011. Retrieved 2011-11-01.

A sister site for Australia and New Zealand was launched in May 2010{{cite web|url=http://www.findmypast.com.au/content/fmpau_about_us|title=Trace your Family Tree Online {{pipe}} Genealogy & Ancestry from findmypast {{pipe}} findmypast.com.au|publisher=findmypast.com.au|access-date=2014-11-07}} with findmypast.ie launched in the Republic of Ireland a year later,[http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/who-do-you-think-you-are-2907670.html Who do you think you are?], Independent.ie, October 16, 2011. Retrieved 2011-11-01. followed by findmypast.com in the United States and Canada in July 2012.{{cite web|url=http://blog.familytreemagazine.com/insider/2012/07/24/FindmypastcomOfficiallyLaunchesIntoUSGenealogyMarket.aspx|title=Genealogy Insider - Findmypast.com Officially Launches into US Genealogy Market|publisher=blog.familytreemagazine.com|access-date=2014-11-07}}

In early April 2014, Findmypast changed their website interface and received subscriber complaints demanding the return of the old site. The editor of Who Do You Think You Are magazine wrote: "Nothing annoyed people more than the feeling that they weren't being listened to".Sue Williams (10 April 2014) [http://www.whodoyouthinkyouaremagazine.com/blog/magazine-team/office-collective-passion-family-historians "From the office: The collective passion of family historians"], Who Do You Think You Are Magazine blog. Findmypast responded, saying they now had "a system in place to analyse all of our customers' feedback and make the necessary improvements as quickly as possible".Jon Bauckham (8 April 2014) [http://www.whodoyouthinkyouaremagazine.com/news/exclusive-findmypast-responds-website-redesign-criticism "Exclusive: findmypast responds to website redesign criticism"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140414163153/http://www.whodoyouthinkyouaremagazine.com/news/exclusive-findmypast-responds-website-redesign-criticism |date=2014-04-14 }}, Who Do You Think You Are Magazine. Retrieved 2014-04-13.

In June 2014 Family Tree magazine ran a three-page article on Findmypast's new interface. A Findmypast spokesperson stated, "The new search has fantastic potential" but "constant tweaks are being made to the site". They stated that they would extend customers' subscriptions if they were having difficulty. Family Tree responded that it "all sounds very encouraging... [but] the technologists had perhaps won out over the genealogists". The Family Tree forum administrator stated, "After wrestling with the new website ...for nearly a month, I was on the point of giving up... [but] I can now see that there are indeed many improvements and benefits". The magazine concluded by stating that "Many of our questions remain unanswered and we are still waiting to hear what Findmypast has to say".{{cite book|title=Family Tree Magazine - Changes prompt customer fury. Findmypast - what have they done?|date= June 2014|pages= pps 6, 78 and 79}}

A researcher from Family Search reported in December 2014 that she found using the Findmypast web site had got easier.{{Cite news|url=https://www.familysearch.org/blog/en/cheerio-finding-british-ancestors-easier-findmypastcom-2/|title=Cheerio! Finding British Ancestors Just Got Easier Using findmypast.com|last=McBride|first=Lisa|date=2014-12-31|work=Family Search|access-date=2018-08-15|language=en-US}}

Findmypast has billions of searchable records worldwide but, though it is possible to search their indexes for free, a payment or subscription was required to access the full data.Findmypast.co.uk, [http://www.findmypast.co.uk/helpadvice/site-tour/viewing-records/index.jsp Site Tour]. Retrieved 2013-09-02.{{Cite web|url=http://britishgenes.blogspot.com/2017/11/findmypast-launches-new-uk-subscription.html|title=FindmyPast launches new UK subscription tiers|last=Paton|first=Chris|date=2017-11-28|website=The Genes Blog|access-date=2018-08-15}}Findmypast.co.uk, [https://www.findmypast.co.uk/page/company Company All Recordsets Page].

In 2014, Findmypast, in partnership with the Imperial War Museum, entered into a collaboration to launch the "Lives of the First World War" platform. During the centenary period, anyone could sign up for an account, and those who paid for a subscription had the ability to add records from Findmypast's collections.{{cite web|url=http://family-tree.co.uk/2013/05/iwm-brightsolid-partner-to-create-lives-of-the-first-world-war-digital-memorial/ |title=IWM & brightsolid partner to create Lives of the First World War digital memorial - Family Tree |publisher=family-tree.co.uk |access-date=2014-11-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141207230621/http://family-tree.co.uk/2013/05/iwm-brightsolid-partner-to-create-lives-of-the-first-world-war-digital-memorial/ |archive-date= 7 December 2014 |url-status=dead }}

In November 2015, Findmypast and the National Archives made the 1939 national identity register available online.{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/about/news/the-1939-register-is-now-available-online/|title=The 1939 Register is now available Online|publisher=The National Archives|access-date=2016-05-13}}

As of 2017, the website hosted a wide variety of census, directory, historical record, church and newspaper information available from across the English-speaking world and tends to concentrate on the former British empire and the UK.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rootstech.org/blog/getting-to-know-the-big-4-findmypast|title=Getting to Know the Big 4: Findmypast|last=Armstrong|first=Chris|date=2017-06-19|website=Rootstech|language=en-US|access-date=2018-08-15}}Findmypast.co.uk, [http://www.findmypast.co.uk/XdbStartSearchServlet Family history records on findmypast.co.uk]. Retrieved 2013-09-02.

On 6 January 2022, Findmypast and the National Archives made the England and Wales component of the 1921 United Kingdom census available online.{{cite web|url=https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/about/news/1921-census-for-england-and-wales-published-today/|title=1921 Census for England and Wales published today|date=2022-01-06 |publisher=The National Archives}} The information was available on a pay-per-view basis. Unrestricted access to Premium subscribers became available from October 2022 onwards.

File:A promotional image for Find My Past the TV Series.jpg, the host of Find My Past, with Evie Leatham, a descendant of Lord Carnarvon]]

Findmypast has partnerships with several family history organisations, libraries and archives,{{cite web |url=http://www.findmypast.co.uk/content/our-partners|title=Our partners {{pipe}} findmypast.co.uk|publisher=findmypast.co.uk|access-date=2014-11-07}} including the Federation of Family History Societies,{{cite web |url=http://www.ffhs.org.uk/projects/findmypast.php |title=FFHS - Projects |publisher=ffhs.org.uk |access-date=2014-11-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141107210311/http://www.ffhs.org.uk/projects/findmypast.php |archive-date= 7 November 2014 |url-status=dead }} the Society of Genealogists,{{cite web|url=http://www.societyofgenealogists.com/society-of-genealogists-collection-now-online-at-findmypast-co-uk/|title=Society of Genealogists Society of Genealogists' Collection now online at Findmypast.co.uk|publisher=societyofgenealogists.com|access-date=2014-11-07}} FamilySearch (through which members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints get free FindMyPast accounts),{{cite web |url=https://familysearch.org/node/2412 |title=DC Thomson Family History and FamilySearch.org to Make Billions of Records Available for People to Search {{pipe}} FamilySearch.org |publisher=familysearch.org |access-date=2014-11-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151102041846/https://familysearch.org/node/2412 |archive-date= 2 November 2015 |url-status=dead }} The British Library,{{cite web|url=http://pressandpolicy.bl.uk/Press-Releases/British-Library-and-findmypast-co-uk-to-digitise-5-million-pages-of-family-history-records-4b5.aspx |title=British Library - Press and Policy Centre - British Library and findmypast.co.uk to digitise 5 million pages of family history records |publisher=pressandpolicy.bl.uk |access-date=2014-11-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141107214421/http://pressandpolicy.bl.uk/Press-Releases/British-Library-and-findmypast-co-uk-to-digitise-5-million-pages-of-family-history-records-4b5.aspx |archive-date= 7 November 2014 |url-status=dead }} The National Archives{{cite web|url=http://www.findmypast.co.uk/articles/the-national-archives|title=The National Archives|publisher=Findmypast.co.uk|access-date=2017-09-13}} and the National Archives of Ireland.{{cite web|url=https://blog.findmypast.com/pre-1901-irish-census-records-online-for-the-first-time-1406080224.html|title=Pre-1901 Irish census records online for the first time|publisher=Findmypast.co.uk|access-date=2017-09-13}}

In June 2014 it acquired two more family history providers, Origins.net{{cite web|url=http://www.whodoyouthinkyouaremagazine.com/news/weekly-round-originsnet-acquired-findmypast|title=Weekly round-up: Origins.net acquired by findmypast {{pipe}} Who Do You Think You Are Magazine|publisher=whodoyouthinkyouaremagazine.com|access-date=2014-11-07}} and the United States–based Mocavo.com.{{cite web|url=http://www.thecourier.co.uk/business/news/findmypast-and-mocavo-to-provide-dynamic-family-history-experience-1.438203|title=Findmypast and Mocavo to provide 'dynamic family history experience' - News / Business / The Courier|publisher=thecourier.co.uk|access-date=2014-11-07|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141107210558/http://www.thecourier.co.uk/business/news/findmypast-and-mocavo-to-provide-dynamic-family-history-experience-1.438203|archive-date=2014-11-07}} In July 2018 Findmypast announced it was partnering with Living DNA, a British company that specialises in DNA testing and analysis.{{Cite news|url=https://www.familytreemagazine.com/articles/genealogy-websites/findmypast/findmypast-partnering-living-dna/|title=Findmypast Partnering with Living DNA|last=Peck|first=Ashlee|date=2018-07-20|work=Family Tree Magazine|access-date=2018-08-15|language=en-US}}

Findmypast began sponsoring the UKTV channel Yesterday in July 2010, and another TV series named Find My Past, funded by findmypast.co.uk, was broadcast from October 2011.Bradshaw, T. [http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/98f0e2e6-f67e-11e0-9381-00144feab49a.html#axzz1cP7twjYH Find My Past set for full product TV placement] The Financial Times, October 14, 2011. Retrieved 2011-11-01. {{subscription required}} UKTV stated that it was the first example of a product placement and advertiser funded programming deal for a factual TV series in the country.O'Reilly, L., [http://www.marketingweek.co.uk/sectors/media/television/uktv-and-find-my-past-in-product-placement-first/3027126.article UKTV and Find My Past in product placement first] Marketing Week, June 7, 2011. Retrieved 2011-11-01. Presented by Chris Hollins, the series won best Content Partnership at the 2012 Broadcast Digital Awards.{{cite web|url=http://www.c21media.net/screenings/liontv/find-my-past|title=Find My Past {{pipe}} {{pipe}} Screenings {{pipe}} C21Media|publisher=c21media.net|access-date=2014-11-07}} An American remake called "Follow your Past" was shown on Travel Channel in 2016.{{cite web|url=http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/lions-find-my-past-heads-to-travel-channel/5070898.article|title=Lion's Find My Past heads to Travel Channel {{pipe}} News {{pipe}} Broadcast|publisher=broadcastnow.co.uk|access-date=2014-11-07}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.michigandaily.com/section/arts/%E2%80%98follow-your-past%E2%80%99-too-distant|title='Follow Your Past' is too distant from its powerful stories|last=Avindav|first=Shir|date=2016-03-28|work=The Michigan Daily|access-date=2018-08-15|language=en}}

The website is frequently used as a resource in the family history television show Who Do You Think You Are?{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/whodoyouthinkyouare/how-we-did-it/key-resources.shtml|title=BBC - Who Do You Think You Are? - How we did it: overview of key resources|publisher=bbc.co.uk|access-date=2014-11-07}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{official|https://www.findmypast.co.uk/}}

{{Genealogy software}}

{{DCThomson}}

Category:British genealogy websites

Category:Internet properties established in 2003

Category:2003 establishments in England

Category:British companies established in 2003