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 exclusive 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. 
Heritage 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 Branch 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
Award-winning quarterly journal Berkshire Family Historian packed with news, reviews and features
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 1,200 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.