Hertfordshire Family History resources

The Hertfordshire family history page focuses on local resources available to family historians who are researching individuals who lived (or died) in the county of Hertfordshire. Once you have drilled down your research to a particular county, it becomes much easier to trace local family history records such as Hertfordshire parish registers, burials, wills and probate etc.

Local newspaper archives can also be of considerable historic value. They can provide fresh sources of historical information – they can also help confirm or clarify places and dates that have already been gathered from other more traditional family history sources (such as parish records).

Local family history societies and local archives can be an invaluable source of information and support. They are often staffed with volunteers or employees who have a deep interest in family history and are keen to assist you in your research.

The County of Hertfordshire

The county of Hertfordshire is one of the ‘home counties’ – i.e. one of the counties that surround London. It is sandwiched between London to the South, and Cambridge to the North, so it is a great place to stay for sightseeing.

Hertfordshire contains many large towns such as; Watford, Hemel Hempstead, Stevenage and Welwyn Garden City (which is not actually a city). The county town is Hertford, although it is roughly a fifth of the size of Watford.

Hertfordshire also has one (small) city; the city of St Albans. This ancient city was previously named ‘Verulamium’ and was situated on the old Roman Road of Watling Street. Verulamium was renamed St Albans in memory of Saint Alban, who was martyred by the Romans when he voluntarily took the place of a condemned Christian Priest. He was beheaded on Holywell Hill.

The county of Hertfordshire contains one university; the University of Hertfordshire which is based in Hatfield.

Places to visit in Hertfordshire

The county of Hertfordshire is a county with many historic settlements, some of which go back to Roman times. If you are visiting the county of Hertfordshire during your family history investigations, do try to visit at least one historic site. Here are a couple of suggestions:

Hatfield House is a beautiful Jacobean House situated on the edge of the town of Hatfield. The grounds of Hatfield House are so extensive that they were used for testing tanks during the First World War. Robert Cecil, the 1st Earl of Salisbury, built Hatfield House in 1611 and the Cecil family have lived there ever since. It was built on the same site as the Royal Palace of Hatfield, where Elizabeth 1 lived as a child, and parts of the old Royal Palace still exist.

Berkhamsted Castle was a motte-and-bailey castle first built during the time of the Norman conquest in the late 11th Century. Its first owner was William the Conquer’s half-brother (Robert of Mortain). In the 13th Century, it was besieged during the civil war between King John and his barons. In the 14th Century, it was owned by Edward, the Black Prince and it later became used for holding royal prisoners. Unfortunately, many of the stones of the old castle were used in the construction of other buildings in the town.