All Blogs

Top tip - Genes Reunited blogs

Welcome to the new Genes Reunited blog!

  • We regularly add blogs covering a variety of topics. You can add your own comments at the bottom.
  • The Genes Reunited Team will be writing blogs and keeping you up to date with changes happening on the site.
  • In the future we hope to have guest bloggers that will be able to give you tips and advice as to how to trace your family history.
  • The blogs will have various privacy settings, so that you can choose who you share your blog with.

Electoral Rolls

Looking for living relatives?

Search our UK Electoral Rolls (2002-2013) and find your living relatives today.

Search Electoral Rolls

New electoral roll records

Technical Update - 21st November 2011


Published in Phil Moir's Blog on 24 Nov 2011 14:25 : technical : 26 comments : 7479 views

Over the last month we have been working on four fronts in the development team. We continue to work on code changes to improve the performance. The final results of this will only be seen when they are fully complete. However, we have also worked on other areas, improving the features that currently exist on the website (this month saw the initial phase of the Message Centre revamp for which Daniele has been responsible), improving features that support the website (including an overhaul of the Hot Matches process that is being championed by Chris, although new features have not been released yet) and we continue to work on adding more datasets and new features (which is where Emma has been working). We did deploy an update a couple of weeks ago, but for performance reasons they were withdrawn, but after further testing we are happy to let members try the new functionality. Read on to see what is included in this release:


Find My Past: Mutiny on the Bounty – 17th November 2011


Published in Genes Reunited Blog on 18 Nov 2011 15:14 : find my past tv : 1 comment : 3573 views

This week's episode of Find My Past focused on the Mutiny that occurred on board HMS Bounty on 28th April 1789.


Find My Past: D Day – 10th November 2011


Published in Genes Reunited Blog on 16 Nov 2011 16:04 : find my past tv : 2 comments : 3761 views

The latest episode of the Find My Past TV Show featured the D-Day invasion. The show uncovered British troops on their way to Normandy to take part in the D-Day landings.


Find My Past: The Battle of Britain – 3rd November 2011


Published in Genes Reunited Blog on 4 Nov 2011 13:18 : find my past tv : 1 comment : 3537 views

The Battle of Britain was the first major campaign to be fought entirely by air forces. From July 1940 coastal shipping convoys and shipping centres were the main targets until the Luftwaffe shifted its attacks to RAF airfields and infrastructure. As the battle progressed the Luftwaffe also targeted aircraft factories and ground infrastructure.


Find My Past: The Titanic – 27th October 2011


Published in Genes Reunited Blog on 31 Oct 2011 12:30 : find my past tv : 3 comments : 3655 views

Almost 100 years ago The Titanic set sail from Southampton to New York filled with passengers looking for a new life in America and holiday makers ready for a luxury cruise. The ship was the most luxurious ship ever to be built and public confidence of the ‘almost unsinkable ship' to set sail was split into three passenger categories: First class, Second class, Third class and the ship's crew . All were excited to leave the UK port, encouraged by the excitement that the ship had state of the art communications and was an engineering classic for it's time. Little did any of them on board know that they would be part of the most infamous maritime disaster.


Find My Past - New TV Series on Yesterday Channel


Published in Genes Reunited Blog on 21 Oct 2011 15:49 : find my past tv : 1 comment : 5045 views

Last night saw the start of a brand new series called Find My Past. It looks into the family history of three people and links them all to one significant event that took place in the past. Last night the show focussed on the ancestors of David Green, Lara Lawson and Lulu Alexander who all played a part in the evacuation of Dunkirk.


Parish Records


Published in Estelle's Blog on 13 Oct 2011 16:45 : parish records : 64 comments : 19267 views

I am Estelle, the Genes product assistant, and I'm here to tell you about the new records we have just added to the site. We now have 35 million Parish Records which mean you can search baptisms, marriages and burials as far back as 1538. Until now our earliest UK records were the birth, marriage and death indexes that began in 1837.


Technical Update - 13th October 2011


Published in Phil Moir's Blog on 13 Oct 2011 14:44 : technical : 1 comment : 6520 views

Today saw another release of enhancements, changes and fixes to the Genes reunited website. It's been a very busy three weeks, and we've been working very hard to get Parish records included into the Genes search options (and we've made it!). Continue reading for more information.


Tracey Emin on Who Do You Think You Are?


Published in Genes Reunited Blog on 13 Oct 2011 11:05 : emin who do you think you are : 0 comments : 3112 views

Last night was the final episode of Who Do You Think You Are? and the turn of famous artist Tracey Emin. The programme opens with Tracey discussing how little she knows about her own family history. They start to delve back into Tracey's maternal side and they soon discover some black sheep... Tracey's great grandfather, Henry, was sent to adult prison at just 13 years old.


Who Do You Think You Are? Tracey Emin - Episode 10


Published in Genes Reunited Blog on 12 Oct 2011 14:53 : emin who do you think you are : 1 comment : 7734 views

The controversial artist, Tracey Emin, as perhaps befits her personality, character and extraordinary work, has a somewhat colourful ancestry. WDYTYA? will probably concentrate on her unconventional parentage and upbringing in the Kent seaside resort of Margate. Indeed, she has sometimes been referred to in the press as "Mad Tracey from Margate"!