Who Do You Think You Are?

Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine not only explores the stories behind the popular BBC genealogy TV series, but also helps you uncover your own roots. Each issue is packed with practical advice to help you track down family history archives and get the most out of online resources, alongside features on what life was like in the past and the historic events that affected our ancestors.

SARAH'S TOP TIP • Be aware that illegitimate births may be wrongly indexed, so be flexible

Welcome

CONTRIBUTORS

Illegitimate names

Letters

Who Do You Think You Are?

What's On

Findmypast adds 151,000 Royal Navy records to the site

NEWS IN BRIEF

Historians trace Birmingham almshouse residents

Ancestry adds UCL records

University to compile first ancient Celtic languages dictionary of Britain

Cambridgeshire Archives acquires 18th-century land ownership document

DINNER WITH PHIL • Alan Crosby on a colourful ancestor he'd love to invite to dinner

BECOME A PRO WITH ANCESTRY • Genetic genealogist Debbie Kennett puts Ancestry's Pro Tools membership through its paces - is it worth the cost of upgrading?

TREE CHECKER • You can use this tool to spot common problems with your family tree

HOW TO USE TREE CHECKER • Debbie explains how to make the most of the tool's abilities

TREE MAPPER • Uncover your relations’ locations with Ancestry's handy map feature

TREE INSIGHTS • Find out more about the surnames in your tree, and other details

CHARTS AND REPORTS • Ancestry offers powerful new ways to present your family history

SMART FILTERS • Smart Filters make your tree easier to use

MATCHES BY CLUSTER • This tool helps you work with DNA matches

ENHANCED SHARED MATCHES • New strategies to solve your DNA-matching mysteries

NETWORKS • Shed new light on your relations’ lives by exploring their networks

CASE STUDY: TRACING AN RAF CREW • Debbie is using Networks to research her uncle's service in the RAF

IS ANCESTRY PROTOOLS RIGHT FOR YOU?’

SOLVING DNA DILEMMAS • DNA testing has become the go-to when the paper trail goes cold. But interpreting results can be tricky – and sensitive. That's where the DNAngels come in, says Claire Vaughan

JOHN CLAUSON • Laura reveals how the DNAngels helped one client

RESOURCES • Take your research further

‘MY GRANDFATHERS FOUGHT ON OPPOSITE SIDES IN WW2’ • When researching her family history, adoptee Kerryann Davies tells Claire Vaughan how she uncovered German heritage and one line that endured a string of tragedies

Resources • These resources helped Kerryann research both families

Irish Teaching Records • Irish genealogist Nicola Morris explains how to research an ancestor who taught in Ireland

RESEARCHING YOUR IRISH TEACHER FOREBEAR • Nicola explains how to make the most of a vital online source

Anne ‘Nancy’ Donoghue • Aisling Bea's Victorian forebear taught in County Kerry

Teachers’ List, 1905 • This list of teachers in the service of the Commissioners of National Education on 31 March 1905 is held by the National Archives of Ireland and available online (tinyurl.com/nai-teachers-1905)

RESOURCES • Take your research further

Free British resources • Jonathan Scott selects the best free sites for beginners with roots in Britain

Expert's Choice • Simon Fowler is a researcher and the author of Known Unto God: Searching for the Missing (Amberley, 2025)

Go Further • More free sites worth their weight in gold

Will, 1906 • This record is held by the National Records of Scotland and available digitally on Scotland's People...