Whitchurch Genealogical Records

Whitchurch Birth & Baptism Records

England & Wales Birth Index (1837-2006)

An index to births registered throughout England & Wales. Provides a reference to order copies of birth certificates from the national registrar of births, marriages and deaths – the General Register Office.

Whitchurch, St Nicholas Baptisms (1813-1907)

Baptism records list the name of people's parent's and other details.

Early Somerset Baptism Transcripts (1597-1700)

Transcriptions of 255 parish baptism registers. They list children, their parents' names, residences, occupations and sometimes other details.

Wells Diocese Bishop's Transcripts (1594-1695)

Transcriptions of copies of parish registers that were compiled for the Bishop of Wells.

British Birth and Baptism Records (1400-2010)

A collection of indexes and transcripts of birth and baptism records that cover over 250 million people. Includes digital images of many records.

Whitchurch Marriage & Divorce Records

England & Wales Marriage Index (1837-2008)

An index to marriages registered throughout England & Wales. This is the only national marriage index that allows you to search by both spouse's names. Provides a reference to order copies of marriage certificates from the national registrar of births, marriages and deaths – the General Register Office.

Whitchurch Marriage Registers (1754-1837)

An index to marriages in Whitchurch listing the date of marriage and the names of the bride and groom.

Whitchurch, St Nicholas Marriages (1837-1932)

Brief notes on marriages that occurred at the church between 1837 and 1932.

Whitchurch Marriages (1754-1837)

Brief notes on marriages that occurred at the church between 1754 and 1837.

Somerset Marriages Index (1650-1935)

An index of 369,186 Somerset marriages. Condition and residence may be included.

Whitchurch Death & Burial Records

England & Wales Death Index (1837-2006)

An index to deaths registered throughout England & Wales. Provides a reference to order copies of death certificates from the national registrar of births, marriages and deaths – the General Register Office.

Whitchurch, St Nicholas Burials (1813-1916)

An index to burial records kept by the church. This resource is an index and may not include all the details that were recorded in the registers.

St Nicholas, Whitchurch Burial Records (1752-1839)

An index of burials recorded at St Nicholas, Whitchurch_. The index includes the name of the deceased, the date of burial, age (where available) and occasionally other notes.

Early Somerset Burial Transcripts (1597-1700)

Transcriptions of around half the parish burial registers for Somerset. They list the name of the deceased, the date of their death and/or burial and sometimes other details, such as age and occupation.

Somerset Monumental Inscriptions (1582-2005)

An index to vital details engraved on over 25,000 monuments across the county of Somerset.

Whitchurch Census & Population Lists

1939 Register (1939)

An index to and digital images of records that detail 40 million civilians in England and Wales. Records list name, date of birth, address, marital status, occupation and details of trade or profession.

England, Wales, IoM & Channel Islands 1911 Census (1911)

The 1911 census provides details on an individual's age, residence, place of birth, relations and occupation. FindMyPast's index allows searches on for multiple metrics including occupation and residence.

Hearth Tax for Somerset (1664-1665)

A transcription of records naming those who had taxes levied against them for the privilege of owning a hearth.

Somerset Electoral Registers (1832-1914)

Digital images of books the list people eligible to vote in Somerset. Includes addresses and nature of that address.

Somerset Certificates of Muster (1569)

An early census of men able to serve in the militia.

Newspapers Covering Whitchurch

Wells Journal (1851-1867)

A record of births, marriages, deaths, legal, political, organisation and other news from the Wells area. Original pages of the newspaper can be viewed and located by a full text search.

Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette (1749-1949)

Original images of a local newspaper, searchable via a full text index. Includes news from the Bath area, business notices, obituaries, family announcements and more.

Bristol Mercury (1716-1900)

A searchable newspaper providing a rich variety of information about the people and places of the Bristol district. Includes obituaries and family announcements.

The Bristol Times And Mirror (1897)

A single year's run of a newspaper covering the Bristol area. Contains family, business and legal notices among others.

The Bristolian (1829-1831)

A good run through 1829-1831. Original images, searchable by an OCR index.

Whitchurch Wills & Probate Records

England & Wales National Probate Calendar (1858-1966)

Searchable index and original images of over 12.5 million probates and administrations granted by civil registries. Entries usually include the testator's name, date of death, date of probate and registry. Names of relations may be given.

Somerset Medieval Will Abstracts (1385-1558)

Summaries of 1,616 wills that may detail family relationships, land ownership and other details.

Prerogative Court of Canterbury Admon Index (1559-1660)

An index to estate administrations performed by the Prerogative Court of Canterbury. The index covers the southern two thirds of England & Wales, but may also contain entries for northerners.

Archdeaconry of Taunton Wills & Administrations (1537-1799)

A calendar to wills and admons granted by the Archdeaconry of Leicester. Contains year of the grant, name and residence.

Prerogative Court of Canterbury Probate Abstracts (1630-1654)

A searchable database of mid-17th Century probates performed by the Prerogative Court of Canterbury. Supplies details of testator and executor.

Whitchurch Immigration & Travel Records

Passenger Lists Leaving UK (1890-1960)

A name index connected to original images of passenger lists recording people travelling from Britain to destinations outside Europe. Records may detail a passenger's age or date of birth, residence, occupation, destination and more.

UK Incoming Passenger Lists (1878-1960)

A full index of passenger lists for vessels arriving in the UK linked to original images. Does not include lists from vessels sailing from European ports. Early entries can be brief, but later entries may include dates of births, occupations, home addresses and more. Useful for documenting immigration.

Victoria Assisted & Unassisted Passenger Lists (1839-1923)

An index to and images of documents recording over 1.65 million passengers who arrived in Victoria, Australia, including passengers whose voyage was paid for by others.

Alien Arrivals in England (1810-1869)

Details on over 600,000 non-British citizens arriving in England. Often includes age and professions. Useful for discerning the origin of immigrants.

17th Century British Emigrants to the U.S. (1600-1700)

Details on thousands of 17th century British immigrants to the U.S., detailing their origins and nature of their immigration.

Whitchurch Military Records

Memorial Book of Somerset (1914-1919)

An index to almost 11,000 men connected with Somerset who died during WWI.

Somerset Certificates of Muster (1569)

An early census of men able to serve in the militia.

2nd Somersetshire Regiment History (1801-1815)

A history of the regiment in the run-up to and during the Napoleonic Wars.

Somerset WWI Memorials (1914-1918)

A list of names found on World War One monuments in Somerset, with some service details.

Somerset WWII Memorials (1914-1918)

A list of names found on World War Two monuments in Somerset, with some service details.

Manuscripts of the Dean & Chapter of Wells (1100-1799)

A collection of charters, writs, letters, conveyances and other records from the Dean & Chapter of Wells.

Somerset Inquests (1790-1825)

Transcripts of a large number of records detailing investigations into deaths.

Act Books of the Archbishops of Canterbury (1663-1859)

An index to names and places mentioned in act books of the Province of Canterbury. It records various licences and conferments, such as marriage and physician licences.

Home Office Prison Calendars (1868-1929)

Records of over 300,000 prisoners held by quarter sessions in England & Wales. Records may contain age, occupation, criminal history, offence and trial proceedings.

Central Criminal Court After-trial Calendars (1855-1931)

Over 175,000 records detailing prisoner's alleged offences and the outcome of their trial. Contains genealogical information.

Whitchurch Taxation Records

Hearth Tax for Somerset (1664-1665)

A transcription of records naming those who had taxes levied against them for the privilege of owning a hearth.

Tithe Apportionments (1836-1856)

An index to 11,000,000 parcels of land and property, connected to digital images of registers that record their owner, occupier, description, agricultural use, size and rateable value.

Land Tax Redemption (1798-1811)

This vital collection details almost 1.2 million properties eligible for land tax. Records include the name of the landowner, occupier, amount assessed and sometimes the name and/or description of the property. It is a useful starting point for locating relevant estate records and establishing the succession of tenancies and freehold. Most records cover 1798, but some extend up to 1811.

Duties Paid for Apprentices' Indentures (1710-1811)

An index linked to original images of registers recording apprenticeship indentures. Details are given on the trade and nature of apprenticeship. Many records list the parents of the apprentice.

Red Book of the Exchequer (1066-1230)

A compilation of records from the Court of the Exchequer primarily dealing with taxes and land. These records are in Latin.

Whitchurch Land & Property Records

Manuscripts of the Dean & Chapter of Wells (1100-1799)

A collection of charters, writs, letters, conveyances and other records from the Dean & Chapter of Wells.

Tithe Apportionments (1836-1856)

An index to 11,000,000 parcels of land and property, connected to digital images of registers that record their owner, occupier, description, agricultural use, size and rateable value.

Land Tax Redemption (1798-1811)

This vital collection details almost 1.2 million properties eligible for land tax. Records include the name of the landowner, occupier, amount assessed and sometimes the name and/or description of the property. It is a useful starting point for locating relevant estate records and establishing the succession of tenancies and freehold. Most records cover 1798, but some extend up to 1811.

UK Poll Books and Electoral Rolls (1538-1893)

Poll books record the names of voters and the direction of their vote. Until 1872 only landholders could vote, so not everyone will be listed. Useful for discerning an ancestor's political leanings and landholdings. The collection is supplemented with other records relating to the vote.

Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem (1236-1291)

Abstracts of records detailing the estates and families of deceased tenants from the reigns of Henry III and Edward I.

Whitchurch Directories & Gazetteers

Kelly's Directory of Somerset (1939)

An exhaustive gazetteer, containing details of settlement's history, governance, churches, postal services, public institutions and more. Also contains lists of residents with their occupation and address.

Kelly's Directory of Somerset (1935)

A comprehensive place-by-place gazetteer, listing key contemporary and historical facts. Each place has a list of residents and businesses. Contains details on local schools, churches, government and other institutions.

Kelly's Directory of Somerset (1923)

A comprehensive place-by-place gazetteer, listing key contemporary and historical facts. Each place has a list of residents and businesses. Contains details on local schools, churches, government and other institutions.

Kelly's Directory of Somerset (1919)

A comprehensive place-by-place gazetteer, listing key contemporary and historical facts. Each place has a list of residents and businesses. Contains details on local schools, churches, government and other institutions.

Kelly's Directory of Somerset (1914)

A comprehensive place-by-place gazetteer, listing key historical and contemporary facts. Contains details on local schools, churches, government and other institutions. Also contains a list of residents and businesses for each place.

Whitchurch Cemeteries

Somerset Monumental Inscriptions (1600-2000)

An index to vital details engraved on over 100,000 monuments across the county of Somerset.

Somerset Church Monuments (1300-1900)

Photographs and descriptions of Somerset's most illustrious church monuments, often featuring effigies, medieval inscriptions and heraldic devices.

Deceased Online (1629-Present)

Images of millions of pages from cemetery and crematoria registers, photographs of memorials, cemetery plans and more. Records can be search by a name index.

Billion Graves (1200-Present)

Photographs and transcriptions of millions of gravestones from cemeteries around the world.

Mausolea and Monuments (1500-Present)

Profiles of several hundred mausolea found in the British Isles.

Whitchurch Obituaries

iAnnounce Obituaries (2006-Present)

The UKs largest repository of obituaries, containing millions of searchable notices.

United Kingdom and Ireland Obituary Collection (1882-Present)

A growing collection currently containing over 425,000 abstracts of obituaries with reference to the location of the full obituary.

Quakers Annual Monitor (1847-1848)

A collection of 364 obituaries of Quakers from the British Isles. The volume was published in 1849 and includes obituaries of those who died in late 1847 through 1848.

Musgrave's Obituaries (1421-1800)

This transcribed and searchable work by Sir William Musgrave contains 10,000s of brief obituaries. The work is a reference point for other works containing information on an individual.

British Medical Journal (1849-Present)

A text index and digital images of all editions of a journal containing medical articles and obituaries of medical practitioners.

Whitchurch Histories & Books

Notes and Queries for Somerset and Dorset (1888-1906)

Selected issues of a periodical which contains many historical and genealogical tracts relating to the counties of Somerset and Dorset.

Catholic History in South West England (1517-1856)

A history of Catholicism in South West England with biographies of noted Catholics. Contains details of the Dominican, Benedictine, and Franciscan orders.

Victoria County History: Somerset (1086-1900)

A detailed history of the county's hundreds, parishes and religious houses.

Somerset Church Photographs (1890-Present)

Photographs and images of churches in Somerset.

Somerset Turnpikes (1707-Present)

A history of turnpikes and tollhouses in Somerset. Includes profiles of individual turnpikes.

Whitchurch School & Education Records

National School Admission & Log Books (1870-1914)

A name index connected to digital images of registers recording millions of children educated in schools operated by the National Society for Promoting Religious Education. Records contain a variety of information including genealogical details, education history, illnesses, exam result, fathers occupation and more.

Teacher's Registration Council Registers (1870-1948)

A name index linked to original images of registers recording the education and careers of teachers in England & Wales.

Oxford University Alumni (1500-1886)

A name index linked to original images of short biographies for over 120,000 Oxford University students. This is a particularly useful source for tracing the ancestry of the landed gentry.

Cambridge University Alumni (1261-1900)

A transcript of a vast scholarly work briefly chronicling the heritage, education and careers of over 150,000 Cambridge University students. This is a particularly useful source for tracing the ancestry of the landed gentry.

Cambridge Alumni Database (1198-1910)

A searchable database containing over 90,000 note-form biographies for students of Cambridge University.

Whitchurch Occupation & Business Records

Somerset Parish Apprentice Indentures (1575-1800)

Abstracts of apprenticeship indentures initiated by parishes in Somerset. These records provide details on parents' names and occupations.

Smuggling on the West Coast (1690-1867)

An introduction to smuggling on the west coast of Britain & the Isle of Man, with details of the act in various regions.

Somerset Pub Histories (1820-Present)

Histories of Somerset pubs, with photographs and lists of owners or operators.

South England Mines Index (1896)

Profiles of coal and metal mines in the south of England.

West Country Police in Glamorgan (1839-1901)

An index of Glamorgan police officers who came from the West Country.

Pedigrees & Family Trees Covering Whitchurch

The Visitation of the County of Somerset (1623)

Pedigrees of Somerset gentry families, including depictions of their arms. The book also contains some biographical information.

Victoria County History: Somerset (1086-1900)

A detailed history of the county's hundreds, parishes and religious houses.

British & Irish Royal & Noble Genealogies (491-1603)

Extensive and impeccably sourced genealogies for British, Irish & Manx royalty and nobility. Scroll down to 'British Isles' for relevant sections.

FamilySearch Community Trees (6000 BC-Present)

A searchable database of linked genealogies compiled from thousands of reputable and not-so-reputable sources. Contains many details on European gentry & nobility, but covers many countries outside Europe and people from all walks of life.

Debrett's Peerage (1923)

A searchable book, listing pedigrees of titled families and biographies of their members.

Whitchurch Royalty, Nobility & Heraldry Records

The Visitation of the County of Somerset (1623)

Pedigrees of Somerset gentry families, including depictions of their arms. The book also contains some biographical information.

Victoria County History: Somerset (1086-1900)

A detailed history of the county's hundreds, parishes and religious houses.

Somerset Church Monuments (1300-1900)

Photographs and descriptions of Somerset's most illustrious church monuments, often featuring effigies, medieval inscriptions and heraldic devices.

British & Irish Royal & Noble Genealogies (491-1603)

Extensive and impeccably sourced genealogies for British, Irish & Manx royalty and nobility. Scroll down to 'British Isles' for relevant sections.

FamilySearch Community Trees (6000 BC-Present)

A searchable database of linked genealogies compiled from thousands of reputable and not-so-reputable sources. Contains many details on European gentry & nobility, but covers many countries outside Europe and people from all walks of life.

Whitchurch Church Records

Manuscripts of the Dean & Chapter of Wells (1100-1799)

A collection of charters, writs, letters, conveyances and other records from the Dean & Chapter of Wells.

Somerset Parish Apprentice Indentures (1575-1800)

Abstracts of apprenticeship indentures initiated by parishes in Somerset. These records provide details on parents' names and occupations.

Catholic History in South West England (1517-1856)

A history of Catholicism in South West England with biographies of noted Catholics. Contains details of the Dominican, Benedictine, and Franciscan orders.

Somerset Parish Register Transcripts (1538-1956)

Transcriptions of registers that record baptisms, which typically occur shortly after birth; marriages and burials. They can help establish links between individuals back to the 16th century.

Somerset Monumental Inscriptions (1582-2005)

An index to vital details engraved on over 25,000 monuments across the county of Somerset.

Biographical Directories Covering Whitchurch

Somerset Worthies, Unworthies & Villains (1500-1900)

Brief biographies of thousands of notable Somerset men.

Debrett's Peerage (1923)

A searchable book, listing pedigrees of titled families and biographies of their members.

Dod's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage of Britian (1902)

A book containing genealogies and biographies of Britain's titled families.

Dod's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage of Britian (1885)

A book containing genealogies and biographies of Britain's titled families.

Crockford's Clerical Directories (1868-1914)

Brief biographies of Anglican clergy in the UK.

Whitchurch Maps

Maps of Somerset (1607-1902)

Digital images of maps covering the county.

UK Popular Edition Maps (1919-1926)

Detailed maps covering much of the UK. They depict forests, mountains, larger farms, roads, railroads, towns, and more.

Ordnance Survey 1:10 Maps (1840-1890)

Maps showing settlements, features and some buildings in mainland Britain.

Tithe Apportionments (1836-1856)

An index to 11,000,000 parcels of land and property, connected to digital images of registers that record their owner, occupier, description, agricultural use, size and rateable value.

Parish Maps of Britain (1832)

Maps of parishes in England, Scotland and Wales. They are useful in determining which parish records may be relevant to your research.

Whitchurch Reference Works

England Research Guide (1538-Present)

A beginner’s guide to researching ancestry in England.

Parish Register Abstract (1538-1812)

Compiled in 1831, this book details the coverage and condition of parish registers in England & Wales.

Building History Research Guide (1066-Present)

A comprehensive guide to researching the history of buildings in the British Isles.

Surname Origins (1790-1911)

A service that provides advanced and custom surname maps for the British Isles and the US.

British Family Mottoes (1189-Present)

A dictionary of around 9,000 mottoes for British families who had right to bear arms.

Historical Description

WHITCHURCH (or Filton) is a parish and village, on the road from Bristol to Wells, 2 miles south from Brislington station on the North Somerset branch of the Great Western railway and 3 south from Bristol, in the Northern division of the county, hundred, petty sessional division and union of Keynsham, county court district of Bristol, rural deanery of Chew, archdeaconry of Bath and diocese of Bath and Wells. The church of St. Nicholas is an ancient building of stone in the Norman style, consisting of a chancel, nave of three bays, north transept and south aisle, north and south porches and a low central tower, containing one bell: at the end of the south aisle is the Smyth chapel, now used as a vestry; there is also a fine old Norman font: the east windows and three others are stained: the church was restored in 1861, and has sittings for 150 persons. The register dates from the year 1560. The living is a vicarage, net yearly value £130, including 35 acres of glebe, with residence, in the gift of the trustees of the late Sir J. P. Greville Smyth bart. and Earl Temple, and held since 1888 by the Rev. Edmund John Franklin, of Queen’s College, Birmingham. A vicarage was built in 1883. Here is a Congregational chapel. There are charities left by Sir J. Smyth and Messrs. Holbeach, Opie, Tippert and others, amounting to £10 14s. yearly, of which £4 4s. is paid to the vicar for sermons and the remainder in bread.

The principal landowners are the trustees of the late Sir John Henry Greville Smyth bart. (d. 1901), Earl Temple, Alfred Clayfield-Ireland esq. of Brislington Hall, and Joseph Cooke-Hurle esq. of Southfield House, Brislington. The soil is clayey; subsoil, stone. The chief crops are wheat, roots, turnips and swedes. The parish contains 1,911 acres; assessable value, £3,290; the population in 1891 was 495.

National Schools (mixed), built in 1837, for 160 children; average attendance, 92.

Kelly's Directory of Somerset (1902)

Most Common Surnames in Whitchurch

RankSurnameIncidenceFrequencyPercent of ParentRank in Keynsham Hundred
1Miles231:224.43%145
2Clark211:241.29%16
3Pearce181:281.41%32
4Brimble171:307.00%371
5Bees161:329.70%548
6Baker121:420.35%2
6Vowles121:421.70%97
8Adams91:560.68%30
8Mills91:562.01%178
8Felton91:5669.23%3,842
8Veal91:564.97%502
8Winmill91:5650.00%3,173
13Smith81:630.18%1
13Mathews81:633.25%366
13Weeks81:631.45%132
13Blacker81:634.62%523
13Scammell81:6324.24%2,166
13Woolly81:6336.36%2,826
19Price71:721.09%107
19Ford71:720.61%39
19Parsons71:720.33%11
19Tyler71:724.90%638
19Constable71:7229.17%2,687
19Petharam71:72100.00%5,654
25Hall61:840.79%83
25Allen61:840.47%34
25Cole61:841.05%124
25Ball61:840.88%102
25Tucker61:840.32%13
25Bath61:843.08%463
25Handy61:8427.27%2,826
25Vinner61:8450.00%4,036
33Carter51:1010.48%54
33Ross51:1018.47%1,416
33Page51:1012.65%483
33Nicholls51:1011.42%245
33Gibbons51:1011.89%335
33Prentice51:10123.81%2,915
33Hole51:1010.79%109
33Spear51:1013.01%542
33Cooksley51:1012.16%390
33Edgell51:1012.67%491
33Heiron51:101100.00%6,987
44Thompson41:1270.83%166
44Anderson41:1273.67%832
44Parker41:1270.33%36
44Day41:1270.34%37
44Carpenter41:1270.74%134
44Lock41:1270.43%62
44Earl41:1276.56%1,376
44Hazell41:1272.60%591
44Ames41:1273.74%848
44Grist41:1272.92%669
54Harris31:1690.14%12
54Cullen31:1691.37%417
54Cobb31:1696.38%1,681
54Tomkins31:1693.90%1,159
54Kingston31:1691.63%496
54Maggs31:1690.55%133
54Purnell31:1691.19%357
54Gallop31:1692.38%728
54Bussell31:1693.26%984
54Callard31:16916.67%3,173
54Colston31:1694.23%1,241
54Foxwell31:1692.27%691
54Gully31:1693.66%1,099
54Palk31:169100.00%8,898
54Veater31:16911.54%2,545
69Taylor21:2530.08%7
69Barnes21:2530.33%119
69Harvey21:2530.21%58
69Stone21:2530.13%20
69Hobbs21:2530.27%85
69Goodman21:2531.64%754
69Shore21:2531.08%493
69Holbrook21:2530.87%390
69Wait21:2532.38%1,074
69Ryall21:2531.90%870
69Hassell21:2533.77%1,514
69Rake21:2536.67%2,313
81Williams11:5060.04%4
81Lewis11:5060.07%18
81Martin11:5060.07%28
81King11:5060.07%25
81Cox11:5060.04%8
81Ellis11:5060.41%369
81Chapman11:5060.13%73
81Rogers11:5060.09%43
81Lucas11:5060.30%259
81Wyatt11:5060.15%105
81Hodges11:5060.14%92
81Hills11:5064.00%2,616
81Pike11:5060.14%99
81Neale11:5060.98%895
81Shephard11:5063.57%2,419
81Chivers11:5060.17%122
81Snelling11:5061.89%1,514
81Crew11:5060.68%614
81Tozer11:5061.03%943
81Freer11:50650.00%10,160
81McEy11:5060.58%524
81Laver11:5060.36%319
81Somers11:5060.68%614
81Adlam11:5060.77%703
81Levi11:50616.67%6,245
81Patch11:5060.55%499
81Gulliford11:5060.35%308
81Hanney11:5061.47%1,275
81Shearn11:5060.46%419
81Wheadon11:5060.96%881
81Hasell11:5061.32%1,172
81Jewel11:50614.29%5,654
81Trapnell11:5061.39%1,227
81Wart11:50633.33%8,898
81Hieron11:506100.00%12,126
81Slocome11:506100.00%12,126
81Fuse11:506100.00%12,126
81Withler11:506100.00%12,126
81Trocard11:506100.00%12,126