Compton Genealogical Records

Compton 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.

Sussex Baptism Index (1538-1961)

An index to over 350,000 baptisms extracted from the registers of parish churches in Sussex.

Sussex Parish Registers (1538-1910)

An index to over 400,000 baptisms, marriages and burials recorded in Anglican churches in Sussex.

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.

Compton 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.

Archdeaconry of Lewes Marriage Licences (1670-1729)

Abstracts of licences filed by those who intended to marry in the Archdeaconry of Lewes.

Vicar General’s Office Marriage Licences (1600-1679)

Abstracts of marriage licences granted by the Vicar-General in London. These licences could be used to marry in any church in the Province of Canterbury.

Archdeaconry of Lewes Marriage Licences (1586-1643)

Abstracts of licences files by those who intended to marry in the Archdeaconry of Lewes.

Sussex Marriage Index (1538-1905)

An index to over 55,000 marriages extracted from the registers of parish churches in Sussex.

Compton 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.

Compton Burial Registers (1813-1839)

Burial registers record burials that occurred at Compton. They are the primary source documenting deaths before 1837, though are useful to the present.

Sussex Burial Index (1538-1969)

An index to burials in 235 Sussex parishes.

Sussex Parish Registers (1538-1910)

An index to over 400,000 baptisms, marriages and burials recorded in Anglican churches in Sussex.

West Sussex Burial Index (1538-1600)

Transcripts of all surviving burials recorded in parish registers and Bishop's transcripts.

Compton 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.

Sussex Election Poll (1820)

A list of freeholders eligible to vote in Sussex, listing their residence, location and nature of freehold, name of the property's occupier and who they voted for in the election.

Sussex Electoral Poll (1734)

A list of freeholders eligible to vote in the county.

Lay Subsidy Rolls of Sussex (1524-1525)

Transcriptions of property tax records for Sussex residents.

Newspapers Covering Compton

Portsmouth Evening News (1878-1904)

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

The Sussex Agricultural Express (1895-1944)

A county newspaper, publishing news, editorials, family notices, adverts, sports news etc.

Kent & Sussex Courier (1873-1939)

A conservative-oriented newspaper reporting on local news, births, marriages and deaths in the two counties.

Kent & Sussex Courier (1873-1950)

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

Sussex Agricultural Express (1857-1954)

Fully text-searchable articles from a regional newspaper covering the Sussex area. It includes family announcements, obituaries, court proceedings, business notices and more.

Compton 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.

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.

Sussex Will Transcripts (1490-1560)

Transcripts of wills of Sussex regiments, indexed by name & place and ordered by parish.

Consistory Court of Chichester Probate Calender (1482-1800)

A searchable calendar to wills proved at this court. Contains references to order probate documents.

Sussex Will Transcripts (1622-1917)

Transcripts of Sussex wills. Names of of people occurring in these wills have been indexed.

Compton 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.

Compton Military Records

Wartime in West Sussex (1939-1945)

A collection of articles detailing life in West Sussex during WWII. It includes a number of oral histories.

East Sussex Police WWI Roll of Honour (1914-1918)

Biographies of East Sussex Constabulary police officers who lost their lives in The Great War.

Royal Sussex Regiment History (1701-Present)

A history of a regiment in the British Army. Includes information on the regiment's colours, badges, uniform and marches.

Sussex in the great Civil War (1616-1660)

A detailed history of the puritan revolution in Sussex, includes biographies of county men involved in the turmoil.

Southdown Pals Battalions (1914-1918)

A register of several-thousand men of the 11th, 12th and 13th (Service) Battalions, The Royal Sussex Regiment.

Sussex Feet of Fines (1190-1509)

Abstracts of records that detail land conveyances.

Sussex Election Poll (1820)

A list of freeholders eligible to vote in Sussex, listing their residence, location and nature of freehold, name of the property's occupier and who they voted for in the election.

Sussex Electoral Poll (1734)

A list of freeholders eligible to vote in the county.

Lay Subsidy Rolls of Sussex (1524-1525)

Transcriptions of property tax records for Sussex residents.

Poll for the Election of Members of Parliament (1705)

A list of those who voted in the election, listing the candidates they voted for and organised by settlement.

Compton Taxation Records

Sussex Lay Subsidies (1296-1333)

Transcriptions of tax records that name those who had to pay property tax and how much was due. Returns for 1296, 1327 and 1332/3 are included.

Sussex Lay Subsidies (1296-1332)

Transcriptions of property tax records for Sussex residents. The years covered are 1292, 1327 and 1332.

East Sussex Window and House Tax Assessments (1747)

Transcripts of assessments for the taxation of wealthier households in the east of Sussex. Indexed by name.

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.

Compton Land & Property Records

The Book of John Rowe (1597-1622)

A book comprising rentals from twenty-seven manors in Sussex - their customs and information concerning the Borough and Hundred of Lewes.

Sussex Feet of Fines (1190-1509)

Abstracts of records that detail land conveyances.

The Victoria History of Sussex, Vol. 1 (99999 BC-1086)

Notes on Sussex's natural history, early man, the Anglo-Saxon period, earthworks and political history. Also includes a translation of the Sussex portion of the Domesday Book.

Sussex Election Poll (1820)

A list of freeholders eligible to vote in Sussex, listing their residence, location and nature of freehold, name of the property's occupier and who they voted for in the election.

Sussex Electoral Poll (1734)

A list of freeholders eligible to vote in the county.

Compton Directories & Gazetteers

Kelly's Directory of Sussex (1938)

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 Sussex (1930)

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 Sussex (1918)

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 Sussex (1915)

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 Sussex (1913)

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.

Compton Cemeteries

East Sussex Church Monuments (1530-1830)

Over one thousand photographs of monuments inside Sussex churches.

Sussex Church Monuments (1300-1900)

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

Sussex Monumental Inscriptions (1750-2000)

Abstract details of over 2,000 monuments in Sussex; includes photographs of some monuments.

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.

Compton 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.

Compton Histories & Books

Picturesque Sussex (1906)

A guide to the county and its settlements, focusing on topography, history and architecture.

Sussex Postcards (1890-1930)

A collection of Sussex postcards, all of which have been geographically referenced.

West Sussex Photographic Database (1860-Present)

5000 digital images which cover the social, agricultural, industrial and historical development of West Sussex from the Victorian era to the present day.

Sussex Postcards (1708-1920)

A collection of over 13,000 postcards and other images.

West Sussex Past Pictures (1640-2004)

A database of over 12,000 heritage photographs, prints, drawings and paintings depicting scenes and life in West Sussex.

Compton School & Education Records

The Victoria History of Sussex, Vol. 2 (1000-1900)

A volume produced by one of the foremost authorities on English history. It covers religious houses, maritime history, industry, agriculture, forestry, education and sport.

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.

Compton Occupation & Business Records

The Book of John Rowe (1597-1622)

A book comprising rentals from twenty-seven manors in Sussex - their customs and information concerning the Borough and Hundred of Lewes.

The Victoria History of Sussex, Vol. 2 (1000-1900)

A volume produced by one of the foremost authorities on English history. It covers religious houses, maritime history, industry, agriculture, forestry, education and sport.

Sussex Photographers (1841-1910)

A directory of photographers who plied their trade in Sussex. Some studios are given lengthy profiles, complete with biographies, genealogical information and examples of work.

Sussex Apprentices and Masters (1710-1752)

Abstracts of apprenticeship details collected by tax authorities. The abstracts usually contain genealogical information and details on the nature and terms of the apprenticship.

Smuggling on the South East Coast (1675-1871)

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

Pedigrees & Family Trees Covering Compton

Victoria County History: Sussex (1086-1900)

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

Pedigrees of Sussex Families (1066-1830)

Hand-draw genealogical charts covering Sussex's gentry. Includes descriptions of coats of arms.

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.

Compton Royalty, Nobility & Heraldry Records

Victoria County History: Sussex (1086-1900)

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

Pedigrees of Sussex Families (1066-1830)

Hand-draw genealogical charts covering Sussex's gentry. Includes descriptions of coats of arms.

East Sussex Church Monuments (1530-1830)

Over one thousand photographs of monuments inside Sussex churches.

Post Mortem Inquisitions in Sussex (1485-1649)

Abstracts of records detailing the deaths of landowners in Sussex and the inheritance of their lands.

Post Mortem Inquisitions in Sussex (1558-1583)

Abstracts of records detailing the deaths of landowners in Sussex and the inheritance of their lands.

Compton Church Records

Compton Parish Registers (1813-1839)

Documentation for those baptised, married and buried at Compton. Parish registers can assist tracing a family as far back as 1813.

Sussex Parish Churches (600-Present)

A study of the architectural development of each Anglican parish church in Sussex.

East Sussex Church Monuments (1530-1830)

Over one thousand photographs of monuments inside Sussex churches.

West Sussex Protestation Returns (1641)

The names of over 12,000 males who signed oaths of loyalty to the Crown and Church of England.

West Sussex Protestation Returns (1641-1642)

The names of over 12,000 males who signed oaths of loyalty to the Crown and Church of England.

Biographical Directories Covering Compton

East Sussex Police WWI Roll of Honour (1914-1918)

Biographies of East Sussex Constabulary police officers who lost their lives in The Great War.

Sussex in the great Civil War (1616-1660)

A detailed history of the puritan revolution in Sussex, includes biographies of county men involved in the turmoil.

Glimpses of our Ancestors in Sussex (1878)

Biographies of county persons mixed with past incidents.

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.

Compton Maps

Old Sussex Mapped (1695-1840)

Good quality digital images of early Sussex maps. They vary in scale, from plotting major roads and settlements, to individual fields.

Printed Maps of Sussex (1575-1900)

A book containing reproductions of around 30 maps of Sussex, with detailed information on their background and cartographer.

Sussex: With Maps Diagrams & Illustrations (1909)

A description of the county, some of its settlements and sights.

Maps of Sussex (1579-1900)

Digital images of maps covering the county.

Sussex Parish Map (1841-1974)

A map delineating parishes and probate jurisdictions in Sussex.

Compton Reference Works

A Dictionary of the Sussex Dialect (1875)

A work that attempted to record the provincial Sussex dialect due to its perceived erosion. Includes etymologies.

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.

Historical Description

COMPTON is a parish and pleasant village on the Hampshire border, 10 miles north-west from Chichester, 7 south-east from Petersfield, 4 ½ north-east from Rowlands Castle station (on the London and South Western railway), 6 south from Rogate and Harting station (over the hills), in the South Western division of the county, Westbourne hundred and union, Chichester petty sessional division, rape and county court district, rural deanery of Boxgrove (second division), and archdeaconry and diocese of Chichester. In 1880, under the provisions of the “Divided Parishes Act, 1876” (39 and 40 Vict. c. 61), by Local Government Board Order, 11,289, detached parts of the parishes of East Marden and Stoughton were annexed to this parish. The church of St. Mary is of flint in the Early English and Decorated styles, and has a turret containing 2 bells; it was rebuilt in 1849, and contains some monuments to the families of Peckham and Phipps: there are 200 sittings, 122 being free. The register commences in the year 1558. The living is a vicarage, with the rectory of Upmarden annexed, joint net yearly value £224, with residence and 34 acres of glebe in Upmarden, in the gift of and held since 1897 by the Rev. Horace Marmaduke Langdale. Little Green Manor house, formerly the residence of the Peckhams, was repaired and considerably enlarged in 1874, and is at present occupied by Mrs. Craig Sellar. Capt. Geoffrey Stanley Phipps Hornby, of Gillingham, Dorset, is lord of the manor and chief landowner. The soil is chalky; subsoil, chalk with flints. The chief crops are wheat, barley and oats. The area is 1,864 acres; rateable value, £1,346; the population in 1891 was 268.

National School, built in 1848, for 104 children; average attendance, 70. The school has an endowment of £9 6s. 5d. yearly, arising from bequests by Harriet Phipps & Miss Colyer Dawkins, now amounting together to £311 2s. 10d.

Kelly's Directory of Sussex (1899)

Most Common Surnames in Compton

RankSurnameIncidenceFrequencyPercent of ParentRank in Westbourne and Singleton Hundred
1Benford151:1923.44%1,308
2Twine131:2212.50%895
2Langrish131:2212.50%895
4Munday111:269.17%775
5Hipkin101:2958.82%3,294
6Hotson91:3239.13%2,650
6Farnden91:3223.08%1,878
8Smith81:360.13%1
8Scott81:361.29%107
8Knight81:360.34%6
8Andrews81:361.49%126
8Blackman81:361.19%95
13Taylor71:410.28%4
13Boys71:417.07%936
15Burgess61:480.74%68
15Pratt61:480.98%109
15Coleman61:480.92%99
15Bowers61:484.96%766
15Rawlins61:4814.29%1,766
15Ausernat61:48100.00%7,270
21Lambert51:581.00%148
21Bridle51:585.75%1,017
21Aylwin51:585.00%927
21Frake51:5883.33%7,270
25Etherington41:722.01%480
25Langdale41:7240.00%4,853
25Hedgecock41:728.51%1,623
25Dummer41:725.41%1,157
25Cobby41:722.58%616
25Linkham41:72100.00%9,578
25Peroce41:72100.00%9,578
32Young31:960.31%54
32House31:967.89%1,912
32Gibbins31:963.57%1,049
32Ewan31:9637.50%5,744
32Rockford31:96100.00%11,229
32Perrer31:9650.00%7,270
38Hunt21:1450.30%96
38Saunders21:1450.16%28
38Stacey21:1451.19%564
38Arthur21:1452.33%1,032
38Bayley21:1451.36%642
38Chase21:1451.67%775
38Lambourne21:1453.17%1,320
38Stillwell21:1454.26%1,623
38Restall21:14513.33%3,586
38Rassel21:145100.00%13,219
48Jones11:2890.06%14
48Walker11:2890.16%106
48Thompson11:2890.14%90
48Cooper11:2890.07%17
48Simpson11:2890.37%336
48Russell11:2890.08%24
48Wells11:2890.10%40
48Stevenson11:2890.27%239
48Porter11:2890.33%300
48Cobb11:2892.00%1,557
48Crocker11:2892.08%1,603
48Guthrie11:28920.00%8,333
48Ansell11:2890.38%344
48Joy11:2891.35%1,157
48Warrington11:2893.03%2,116
48Silvester11:2891.15%1,017
48Pink11:2890.75%696
48Luff11:2890.33%300
48Dicker11:2891.37%1,172
48Tree11:2890.75%696
48Noyes11:2897.14%3,771
48Cheek11:28920.00%8,333
48Lintott11:2890.62%585
48Glue11:2890.97%903
48Petters11:28916.67%7,270
48Pescott11:2891.72%1,395
48Catchlove11:2895.88%3,294
48Annals11:289100.00%16,525
48Birker11:289100.00%16,525
48Narus11:289100.00%16,525
48Silester11:289100.00%16,525