Finding your ancestors starts here

Founded in 1975, Berkshire Family History Society works to meet the needs of those researching their ancestry across the UK and overseas – as well as those looking for former relatives in historic Berkshire

A registered charity, Berkshire Family History Society exists to help you in your research … WHEREVER your ancestors came from... and you do not need to be a member to benefit 

The society offers:

The largest Berkshire-focused Family History Community
Extensive website with Research Wizard and an online shop packed with books, maps, CDs, data downloads and more to boost your research
Free or reduced-price admission to society online talks, specialist workshops and courses, natter group and DNA special interest group
YourTrees – we will host a backup copy of your family tree for free – to help you create an enduring legacy. 
Family Research Centre –giving all visitors free access to Ancestry Worldwide, Findmypast Worldwide, The Genealogist and The British Newspaper Archive, plus friendly expert advice – if you would like it
Local meetings – giving members across the World access to experts in local, social and family history
Member discounts on society products
Member discounts on Findmypast membership
Quarterly journal Berkshire Family Historian packed with news, reviews and features; and a journal exchange programme with other societies around the UK and overseas 
Exclusive member-only website content
Forum – enabling you to share research problems with like-minded family historians across the world
Free online help and advice about Berkshire-specific family research
Active and popular Facebook site – run by experienced society volunteers
Email newsletter – to bring you the latest news, events and research ideas, direct to your inbox
Projects – your chance to join with others in society project work – wherever you live in the world. It’s your chance to give something back to family history – for researchers of today and tomorrow

The society has around 1,000 members worldwide. It is a registered charity (Number 1204390) and subject to the provisions of charity law in England and Wales.

 Objectives of the society

  • to advance education of the public in research into family history and genealogy, primarily but not exclusively within the boundaries of the pre-1974 Royal County of Berkshire; and
  • to work to promote the preservation, transcription, indexing and ready public accessibility of related records and information

An Executive Committee and a 100-strong volunteer team run day-to-day operations and activities. All are unpaid.