Yorkshire Family History Resources

Including Bradford, Leeds and Sheffield

The Yorkshire family history page focuses on where you can source Yorkshire family history records and other resources in the historic county of Yorkshire. We also discuss all the changes to Yorkshire local government that have occurred over the last millennia and that often cause confusion to family historians. Finally, please also read our brief summary of the varied, and often violent, history of Yorkshire in which your descendants may have played their part.

The Historic County of Yorkshire

Yorkshire, situated in North England, is by far the largest historic (i.e. ‘traditional’) county in England. It has a population larger than Scotland and contains the cities of Bradford, Leeds and Sheffield – all of which are in the top ten UK cities by population. Yorkshire can also boast the Yorkshire Dales; arguably the largest area of countryside in the England. Its county town is the historic and beautiful city of York.

In England and Wales, the term ‘county’ can refer to different geographical areas depending upon circumstances and this can cause confusion. Generally speaking, most historians refer to ‘historic counties’ i.e. centuries old counties, many of which were based on Anglo-Saxon ‘shires’ that were adopted by the Normans for administrative purposes. You will also encounter the term ‘ceremonial county’ (aka geographical county) and this refers to a county with its own Lord Lieutenant (as distinct from its own administration).

The local government of Yorkshire through the ages

The area of Yorkshire has undergone significant administrative and geographical changes over the centuries. Here is a brief summary of the main developments in the local government of Yorkshire since the Vikings.

The Vikings establish administrative areas

It was the Vikings who first divided Yorkshire into the three Ridings of Yorkshire i.e. East Riding, North Riding and West Riding (‘Riding’ is Old Norse for ‘third part’). These three administrative areas were further subdivided into regions known as ‘Wapentakes’ – the Danelaw version of Anglo-Saxon ‘hundreds’. Since the Restoration in 1660, each Riding of Yorkshire was treated as a separate county, with its own appointed Lord Lieutenant.

Administrative Counties and County Boroughs – established in 1889

Following the Local Government Act of 1888 (effective: 1889), the historic county of Yorkshire was subject to major administrative reform. This Act created the ‘administrative counties’ of East Riding, West Riding and North Riding. These new ‘administrative counties’ broadly followed the boundaries of the traditional Ridings of Yorkshire. Under the terms of this Act, the three Ridings of Yorkshire were now to be administered separately by newly created county councils. A system of urban and rural district councils followed a few years later.

In addition, the larger conurbations of Yorkshire were now to be administered separately as newly created ‘county boroughs’. The towns elevated to county boroughs were: Bradford, Halifax, Huddersfield, Kingston upon Hull, Leeds, Middlesbrough, Sheffield and York. More Yorkshire towns were added to this list as their population grew. These were: Teeside, Barnsley, Dewsbury, Doncaster, Rotherham, Wakefield. Eventually, the combined population in the county boroughs exceeded the combined population of the administrative counties of the Ridings of Yorkshire.

However, despite all these administrative changes, the 1888 Act continued to recognise Yorkshire as an integral county.

The ‘Ridings of Yorkshire’ abolished in 1974

The Local Government Act of 1972 (effective: 1974), introduced controversial changes to the administration of Yorkshire. The administrative counties (including their county councils) and the county boroughs were all abolished. In addition, the three Ridings of Yorkshire lost their Lord Lieutenant – meaning they were no longer ‘ceremonial’ counties either.

The geographical area of Yorkshire was now carved up and apportioned amongst various metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties. Parts of North Riding and West Riding, plus almost all East Riding, were now absorbed into the counties of Cleveland, Cumbria, Durham, Greater Manchester, Humberside and Lancashire. The remaining areas of the Ridings of Yorkshire were split between North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire and West Yorkshire.

East Riding of Yorkshire reinstated as a ceremonial county in 1996

Following a review in 1996, further changes were made to local government. These included the abolition of Cleveland and Humberside, and the reinstatement of East Riding (including Kingston-upon-Hull) as a ceremonial county.

North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire and West Yorkshire also became ceremonial counties (i.e. they gained a Lord Lieutenant). North Yorkshire also gained some territory making it the largest ceremonial county in England.

A brief history of Yorkshire

If your ancestors came from Yorkshire, congratulations; they came from a beautiful county steeped in history.

The Romans

Before Roman occupation, the area we now refer to as Yorkshire was occupied by three tribes; the Brigantes, the Parisii and the Carvetii.

From 71AD until the Romans left Britain in 410AD, the area of Yorkshire fell under Roman rule. During Roman occupation, the fort and city of Eboracum (modern-day York) was the provincial and military capital of Northern England. The Emperor Constantine (who founded Roman Christendom) was declared Roman Emperor by the army at Eboracum and two Roman emperors also died there.

The Middle Ages

The Anglo-Saxons

From the late 5th Century, the area of Yorkshire began to be colonised by the Anglo-Saxons and formed part of the Kingdom of Diera. Diera later merged with the neighbouring Kingdom of Bernicia to form the Kingdom of Northumbria. Eboracum (i.e. York) was renamed Eoforwic and continued as the capital of this region. Edwin of Northumbria, who converted to Christianity along with many of his subjects, was baptised in Eoforwic. The first Archbishop of York was in 735.

The Vikings

The Danes (i.e. Vikings) conquered the Kingdom of Northumbria in the late 9th Century, taking Eoforwic in 866. Although the Danes plundered many churches, they too eventually converted to Christianity. Under the Danes, Eoforwic was now renamed Jorvik, from which is derived its modern name York. It was the Danes who established an administrative structure for the region of Yorkshire. First it was divided into the three Ridings of Yorkshire i.e. East Riding, North Riding and West Riding (‘Riding’ is Old Norse for ‘third part’). The boundaries for all three Ridings met at Jorvic which maintained its status as capital of the region. The three Ridings of Yorkshire were further subdivided into regions known as ‘Wapentakes’ – the Danelaw version of Anglo-Saxon ‘hundreds’.

The Normans

The East Riding of Yorkshire played a pivotal role in the outcome of the Norman invasion in 1066. The Battle of Stamford Bridge, in East Riding, pitted King Harold against Norwegian invaders aided by his own brother. King Harold emerged victorious but within 3 weeks he had to meet the invading Normans at the Battle Hastings. Two major battles at opposite ends of the kingdom, less than 3 weeks’ apart, proved too much for Harold and his men. The fate of England was sealed.

After the Norman Invasion of 1066, Yorkshire, along with the rest of the North of England, initially held out against the Norman invaders. This resulted in the infamous ‘Harrying of the North’, a campaign of cruelty waged by William the Conquerer against the North to bring it to heel. By the time of the Domesday Book (1086) William the Conquerer had largely succeeded in subjugating Yorkshire.

In the centuries which followed, many beautiful priories and abbeys were built, including Selby Abbey which was founded in 1069 and York Minster founded around 1080.
Unfortunately, many of these were destroyed during the dissolution of the Monasteries by Henry VIII between 1536 and 1540.

Civil War

Yorkshire has seen more than its fare share of war and conflict.

The Wars of the Roses (1455 – 1487), saw the House of Lancaster (symbol: Red Rose) pitted against the House of York (symbol: White Rose). Much of the conflict, which ended the House of Lancaster, was played out in Yorkshire.

During the English Civil War 1644 – 1651, Parliament won a decisive victory at the Battle of Marston Moor in North Yorkshire. This pivotal victory gave them control of York and the North of England. Both the 11th Century Pontefract Castle (West Yorkshire) and the 12th Century Helmsley Castle (North Yorkshire) were besieged by Parliamentarians during the Civil War and demolished shortly afterwards. However, their ruins can still be seen today.

The Industrial Revolution

Yorkshire played a pivotal role in the industrial revolution of the 19th Century. It was a centre of the textile industry, steel industry (in Sheffield) and coal industry. Unsurprisingly, therefore, the Trades Union movement also flourished there; the United Kingdom Alliance of Organised Trades (a precursor to the TUC) was established in Sheffield.

Places to see in Yorkshire

From the Roman period to the industrial revolution, every period of history has left a physical footprint on Yorkshire. There are so many places of interest to visit it can be hard to know where to start. If you are searching for tranquility, few places in Britain beat the scale or beauty of the Yorkshire Dales.

For those of you interested in Roman history, visit Aldborough Roman Site. Aldborough, near Boroughbridge, used to be the capital of the Brigantes tribe during Roman occupation and has wonderful Roman mosaic pavements on display.

There is also an abundance of medieval treasures such as York Minster and Clifford’s Tower – the remains of York Castle built by William the Conqueror.

Fountains Abbey was once the most important Cistercian Monastery in England. Its beautiful ruins are now designated a World Heritage Site.