April 2025

Family history news
Learn about new family history-related projects & developments: including Mitotree - the awesome new online family tree to tell the DNA story of womankind over the past 100,000 years!

Dear Paul
Find new things to enjoy in the census. This month Paul Chiddicks examines the oddities that can sometimes be found in the census returns

Why did they sometimes lie? Illegitimacy on the record
Look behind what's written to get to the facts. Family Tree Academy tutor David Annal examines the social stigma that has historically been associated with illegitimacy

RMS Lusitania & the Goetz Medal
Dig into a long-standing mystery. The chance discovery of a WW1 era medal led Lisa Edwards to find out more about the tragedy of the Lusitania and the questions that still remain unanswered

Twiglets - what's the latest chapter in Gill's story?
Enjoy a fellow genie's trail. Researching her mum’s dad’s side of the family, Gill Shaw has a lucky break

Perfect pictures for your family history
Work on that family history legacy. Wayne Shepheard gives us a handy step-by-step guide to enhancing old photographs, and creating impressive visuals - perfect for your family history book (yes you can write one!)

Abandoned twins ... & a new life for mum
Read and reflect. Julie Johnson finds that some stories may be tough to research, and tough to read

Making a start with autosomal DNA testing
Get going making progress with your DNA. Karen Evans introduces us to the autosomal DNA test and the myriad tools that can help you to analyse and organise your matches

Tracing an Irish surname - investigating the Terry lineages
Learn about a surname DNA project. Kevin Terry leads us on a fascinating DNA journey in his quest to discover the origins of the Terry surname in Ireland

The Goddard Association of Europe
Discover a family history organisation that is centuries old! This month we celebrate a surname society that can trace its history back to a meeting in a London pub in the 17th century 

Photo Corner
Get skills to date old photos. Jayne Shrimpton shares advice to help you date your unidentified pictures

Ancestry Tree-Building Tips
Learn how to share and brainstorm your research with fellow family history enthusiasts

Your questions answered
See how reader queries are solved. Our experts pit their wits to solve reader puzzles

Thoughts on
Take a trip down memory lane with Diane Lindsay as she explores the family fashions of bygone decades