Witnesham Genealogical Records

Witnesham 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.

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.

FreeBMD Births (1837-1957)

An index to births registered at the central authority for England & Wales. The index provides the area where the birth was registered, mother's maiden name from September 1911 and a reference to order a birth certificate.

British Army Birth Index (1761-2005)

An index to births registered to British Army personal at home and abroad.

Birth Notices from The Times (1983-2003)

An index to over 100,000 birth and christening notices from The London Times.

Witnesham 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.

Witnesham Marriage Registers (1813-1837)

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

Sudbury Archdeaconry Marriage Licences (1815-1839)

Abstracts of marriage licences from the Sudbury Archdeaconry. These records may contain more details than marriage registers, including occupations, ages and parents' names.

Sudbury Archdeaconry Marriage Licences (1782-1814)

Abstracts of marriage licences from the Sudbury Archdeaconry. These records may contain more details than marriage registers, including occupations, ages and parents' names.

Sudbury Archdeaconry Marriage Licences (1755-1781)

Abstracts of marriage licences from the Sudbury Archdeaconry. These records may contain more details than marriage registers, including occupations, ages and parents' names.

Witnesham 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.

St Mary, Witnesham Burial Records (1538-1900)

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

Suffolk Quaker Burials (1813-1837)

An index to burials recorded at Quaker meetings. The records contain the name of the deceased, the date they were buried and their age.

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.

British Death and Burial Records (1379-2014)

A collection of indexes and transcripts of death and burial records that cover over 140 million people. Includes digital images of many records.

Witnesham 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.

Suffolk Hearth Tax Returns (1674)

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

Suffolk Hearth Tax Returns (1674)

A list of Suffolk householders and the number of hearths they possessed.

Suffolk Subsidy Returns (1568)

A list of taxes paid by heads of households.

Newspapers Covering Witnesham

Ipswich Journal, The (1748-1900)

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

Ipswich Journal (1720-1800)

A local paper including news from the Ipswich area, legal & governmental proceedings, family announcements, business notices, advertisements and more.

Bury and Norwich Post (1801-1900)

A regional newspaper covering news and events in Norfolk and Suffolk. The newspaper contains numerous notices and articles useful to family historians, such as notices of birth, marriage and death.

The Colchester Gazette and General Advertiser (1814-1817)

A newspaper covering Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire. Around 50% of issues from 1814-1817. Original images, searchable by an OCR index.

The Daily Herald (1926)

A London newspaper that later became The Sun.

Witnesham 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.

Norwich Diocese Probate Index (1751-1818)

A searchable index to early wills proved in the Court of the Bishop of Norwich. Contains the name of the testator, year of probate, residence and occupation.

Norwich Diocese Probate Index (1370-1603)

A searchable index to early wills proved in the Court of the Bishop of Norwich. Contains the name of the testator, year of probate, residence and occupation.

Sudbury Archdeaconry Will Transcripts (1630-1638)

Full transcriptions of around 1,400 17th century wills from the Archdeaconry of Sudbury in Suffolk. Contains an index of all the people and places mentioned in the wills.

Sudbury Archdeaconry Will Transcripts (1439-1474)

Full transcriptions of several hundred early wills from the Archdeaconry of Sudbury in Suffolk.

Witnesham 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.

Witnesham Military Records

History of the Suffolk Regiment (1685-1959)

An introductory history to an infantry regiment of the line in the British Army.

A Suffolk Regiment Calendar (1685-1962)

A calendar that lists most of the important dates in the history of the Regiment.

Suffolk WWI Memorials (1914-1918)

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

Suffolk WWII Memorials (1914-1918)

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

Prisoners of War of British Army (1939-1945)

A searchable list of over 100,000 British Army POWs. Records contains details on the captured, their military career and where they were held prisoner.

Suffolk, Eastern Division Poll Book (1832)

A book recording people who voted, who they voted for and where the voter lived.

Suffolk Eyre Roll Civil Pleas (1240)

Transcriptions and translations of pleas brought before a court. They largely concern land disputes. A number of cases relate to Suffolk.

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.

Witnesham Taxation Records

Poll for the Knights of Suffolk (1830)

A list of those who voted in the election, stating their residence and for who they voted.

Poll Book for the County of Suffolk (1790)

A list of those who voted in the election, stating their residence and for who they voted.

Poll Book for the County of Suffolk (1710)

A list of those who voted in the election, stating their residence and for who they voted.

Suffolk Hearth Tax Returns (1674)

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

Suffolk Hearth Tax Returns (1674)

A list of Suffolk householders and the number of hearths they possessed.

Witnesham Land & Property Records

Suffolk, Eastern Division Poll Book (1832)

A book recording people who voted, who they voted for and where the voter lived.

Poll for the Knights of Suffolk (1830)

A list of those who voted in the election, stating their residence and for who they voted.

Poll Book for the County of Suffolk (1790)

A list of those who voted in the election, stating their residence and for who they voted.

Poll Book for the County of Suffolk (1710)

A list of those who voted in the election, stating their residence and for who they voted.

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.

Witnesham Directories & Gazetteers

Kelly's Directory of Suffolk (1938)

A directory of settlements in Suffolk detailing their history, agriculture, topography, economy and leading commercial, professional and private residents.

Kelly's Directory of Suffolk (1927)

Descriptions of physical and geological landmarks, a listing of government offices and descriptions of the villages & parishes, including a list of the private Descriptions of physical and geological landmarks, a listing of government offices and descriptions of the villages & parishes, including a list of the private residents..

Kelly's Directory of Suffolk (1925-1926)

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 Suffolk (1916)

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 Suffolk (1912)

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.

Witnesham Cemeteries

Suffolk Church Monuments (1300-1900)

Photographs and descriptions of Suffolk'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.

Maritime Memorials (1588-1950)

Several thousand transcribed memorials remembering those connected with the nautical occupations.

Witnesham 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.

Witnesham Histories & Books

Victoria County History: Suffolk (1086-1900)

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

Suckling's History and Antiquities of Suffolk (1066-1846)

Describes the parishes in the three hundreds of Wangford, Mutford and Lothingland, in the north-east of the county.

Suffolk Church Histories (1000-Present)

Histories of Suffolk's parish churches, illustrated with a plethora of photographs.

Norfolk Church Histories (1000-Present)

Histories of Norfolk's parish churches, illustrated with a plethora of photographs.

Handbook: Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk & Cambridgeshire (1892)

A traveller's guide to four Southern counties.

Witnesham 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.

Witnesham Occupation & Business Records

Smuggling on the East Coast (1600-1892)

An introduction to smuggling on the east coast of England, with details of the act in various regions.

South England Mines Index (1896)

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

Lost Pubs of Suffolk (1750-Present)

Short histories of former public houses, with photographs and lists of owners or operators.

British Trade Union Membership Registers (1870-1999)

An index to and images of registers recording over 3.7 million trade union members.

UK Medical Registers (1859-1959)

Books listing doctors who were licensed to operate in Britain and abroad. Contains doctor's residencies, qualification and date of registration.

Pedigrees & Family Trees Covering Witnesham

Victoria County History: Suffolk (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.

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

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

Witnesham Royalty, Nobility & Heraldry Records

Victoria County History: Suffolk (1086-1900)

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

Suffolk Church Monuments (1300-1900)

Photographs and descriptions of Suffolk'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.

Visitation of England and Wales (1700-1899)

Over 600 pedigrees for English and Welsh families who had a right to bear a coat of arms.

Witnesham Church Records

Suffolk Church Histories (1000-Present)

Histories of Suffolk's parish churches, illustrated with a plethora of photographs.

Norfolk Church Histories (1000-Present)

Histories of Norfolk's parish churches, illustrated with a plethora of photographs.

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.

British Church Albums (1990-Present)

Photographs of churches of all denominations throughout England and part of Wales.

England Parish Registers (1914-2013)

Documentation for those baptised, married and buried at England. Parish registers can assist tracing a family back numerous generations.

Biographical Directories Covering Witnesham

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.

The Concise Dictionary of National Biography (1654-1930)

A directory containing lengthy biographies of noted British figures. The work took over two decades to compile. Biographies can be searched by name and are linked to images of the original publication.

Witnesham Maps

Essex and Suffolk Maps (1360-1910)

A collection of maps plotting the counties of Essex and Suffolk, and some of their settlements.

Maps of Suffolk (1607-1886)

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.

Witnesham 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

WITNESHAM is a parish and scattered village about 2 ½ miles north from Westerfield station on the Ipswich and Lowestoft line of the Great Eastern railway, and 4 north-east from Ipswich, in the South Eastern division of the county, Carlford hundred, Woodbridge petty sessional division and union, Ipswich county court district, rural deanery of Carlford, archdeaconry of Suffolk and diocese of Norwich. The church of St. Mary is an ancient edifice of stone in the Early English and Perpendicular styles, consisting of chancel and nave, and an embattled tower containing 6 bells: it was thoroughly restored in 1845 by the Rev. William Potter MA. then rector; the stained east window, erected in 1847, is a memorial to D. R. Meadows esq. and his son Augustus, formerly of Burghersh house, in this parish: in 1868 a carved stone reredos was presented by Miss King, granddaughter of a former rector: there are 300 sittings, 200 being free. The register dates from the year 1538. The living is a rectory, net yearly value £380, including 47 acres of glebe and residence, in the gift of St. Peter's College, Cambridge, and held since 1886 by the Rev. Frederic Davy Brown, of Huron College, Ontario, NA. There is a Baptist chapel, erected in 1856. J. F. Meadows esq. is lord of the manor of Witnesham and Cockfield. The principal landowners are Mrs. J. P. Cobbold, of Ipswich, Hon. Stanhope Tollemache, of Ipswich, Henry Woolner esq. R. Porter esq. of Rushmere, Miss Busk, J. G. Clarke esq. of Tupwood Lodge, Caterham, Surrey, Edward Brooke esq. of Ufford, Mr. Thomas Mortimer, Rev. J. G. Pooley MA. rector of Stonham Aspal, and the trustees of the late Canon Ea'de. The soil is mixed, and in parts stiff loam; subsoil, clay and loam. The chief crops are wheat, barley, peas and beans. The area is 2,044 acres of land; rateable value, £2,252; the population in 1891 was 488.

National (Public Elementary) School (mixed), erected in 1840, & now under the management of the rector, churchwardens & 6 members elected by the subscribers; the school will hold 100 children; average attendance, 64.

Kelly's Directory of Suffolk (1900)

Most Common Surnames in Witnesham

RankSurnameIncidenceFrequencyPercent of ParentRank in Carlford Hundred
1Webb271:192.40%18
2Garnham231:223.41%66
3Simmons181:2913.53%562
4Fleming151:3414.15%714
4Sadler151:347.81%389
6Brunning131:405.73%322
7Copping111:473.11%184
7Pyett111:4714.86%969
9Gooding101:522.36%130
9Hatten101:5230.30%1,731
9Damant101:529.01%676
12Cook91:570.45%5
12Barnes91:572.14%135
12Reynolds91:571.47%73
12Rouse91:572.66%194
16Hart81:641.07%53
16Cullum81:645.44%511
16Forsdike81:649.64%881
16Ramsy81:64100.00%4,007
16Turtill81:6438.10%2,275
21Thompson71:740.92%52
21Hayes71:749.72%994
21Curtis71:741.69%139
21Burrell71:747.53%800
21Theobald71:741.95%178
21Catling71:748.33%870
21Oxborrow71:743.98%431
28Bird61:860.54%19
28Ramsay61:8660.00%3,464
28Roe61:864.72%587
28Ramsey61:863.13%389
28Banyard61:864.03%503
28Waspe61:868.57%1,019
28Kant61:86100.00%4,877
35Turner51:1030.29%8
35Parker51:1030.47%22
35Simpson51:1030.67%55
35Button51:1031.21%142
35Rush51:1031.03%112
35Calver51:1031.22%145
35Bumpstead51:1036.58%953
42Smith41:1290.05%1
42Young41:1293.74%705
42Barker41:1290.49%40
42Thorpe41:1291.47%258
42Farrow41:1290.57%61
42Emmerson41:1293.23%598
42Smithson41:129100.00%6,084
42Southgate41:1290.72%90
42Catt41:1298.51%1,336
42Sheldrake41:1291.29%223
42Juby41:1295.13%935
53Armstrong31:1721.68%425
53Potter31:1720.43%62
53Burrows31:1720.53%85
53Peacock31:1722.27%568
53Worth31:17213.04%2,163
53Garrod31:1720.52%83
53Bumstead31:1722.61%645
53Thurkettle31:1725.36%1,196
61Johnson21:2580.25%41
61Cooper21:2580.12%10
61Lowe21:2582.86%1,019
61Carr21:2580.84%308
61Leach21:2582.15%800
61Kirby21:2581.61%598
61Mortimer21:2581.25%471
61Spooner21:2580.99%366
61Steward21:2580.44%124
61Jay21:2580.82%300
61Spinks21:2583.13%1,080
61Newland21:25828.57%4,408
61Grist21:25812.50%2,667
61Eade21:2581.17%442
61Pinkney21:2583.45%1,167
61Kersey21:2580.89%326
61Ship21:2582.35%861
61Haggar21:2582.17%810
61Dowsing21:2581.96%742
61Wix21:2583.57%1,196
61Childe21:25850.00%6,084
61Lash21:25814.29%2,863
61Amass21:2586.45%1,814
61Runnicles21:25866.67%6,900
61Burber21:258100.00%7,894
61Cholt21:258100.00%7,894
87Wilson11:5150.17%82
87Roberts11:5150.30%202
87Wood11:5150.32%219
87Robinson11:5150.12%38
87Richardson11:5150.24%144
87Howard11:5150.14%59
87Andrews11:5150.13%46
87Spencer11:5150.92%688
87Lambert11:5150.13%48
87Todd11:5150.26%157
87Wade11:5150.26%155
87Hubbard11:5150.27%169
87Meadows11:5150.24%137
87Last11:5150.08%16
87Bulmer11:5152.63%1,562
87Burrow11:5157.69%2,968
87Cant11:5150.81%598
87Farthing11:5150.30%200
87Baldry11:5150.20%109
87Colville11:515100.00%9,362
87Gowers11:5150.68%515
87Creasy11:5150.88%658
87Spall11:5150.33%233
87Hervey11:5153.33%1,861
87Farnish11:5151.52%1,056
87Aldons11:5155.26%2,429
87Cressnell11:515100.00%9,362
87Laffling11:51510.00%3,464
87Hadleigh11:51516.67%4,877