When you're creating your family tree, you usually include each ancestor's name, key dates — and often their occupation. This proves just how important your forebears' working lives are in your research. We have a wealth of records that will help you find out what your relatives did for a living and discover the impact that had on their lives.
Discover your ancestors’ occupations with our key records. You can then examine their work in more detail — and see how it affected the rest of their life — with our new collections. Learn more about the history behind the records in our exclusive videos.
Until the 19th century, young apprentices relied on their masters for food and shelter as well as their training — so their happiness depended entirely on their employer. Find out whether your ancestors endured these trying conditions with our new Apprentice Registers.
These documents were created to record a tax paid by the master. They can tell you what trade your forebear learnt, the master’s name and address and even details of the child’s parents.
Our railway workers were the most important pioneers of the 19th century, driving the tools and ideas of the Industrial Revolution all over the country. Trace your ancestors who laid the tracks, stoked the engines and drove the trains with our Railway Employment Records.
This was Britain’s first truly mobile workforce. As well as positions and salaries, the one million records reveal your forebears’ transfers, so you can follow your family as they move around the country.
Few organisations have seen more history than the British Post Office. Now you can discover the part your ancestors played in moving from messengers on horseback to bulk airmail, in our Postal Service Appointment Books.
These 1.4 million records reveal everything from the role each person was given to where in the country they were stationed, so you can put together a detailed picture of how they spent their working days.
The skills that powered Britain through the Industrial Revolution were also sought in other countries. If your relatives suddenly disappear from the records, perhaps they emigrated? Try searching our passenger lists.
Our key collections will reveal your ancestors’ occupations all over the country, from farm labourers to lawyers. You can then use our more specialist records — including our latest releases — to probe deeper. Learn more about the history behind our records in our exclusive videos.
Follow these steps to uncover your family’s working lives.
Our censuses are the natural starting point. Right from the first record in 1841, they tell you the jobs of everybody in each household. Follow a forebear through the censuses, and you can track changes in their professional life. Search now.
Certificates can fill in the gaps between the censuses. Marriage and death records tell you the occupations of the people involved, while birth and marriage certificates provide their fathers' jobs. Find your relatives in our indexes then order their certificates.
Learn more about your relatives' working lives in the directories produced by the Post Office and other organisations. These list tradesmen and professionals — with their addresses — and often feature revealing adverts for family businesses. Search our directories now.
When you know an ancestor’s occupation, you can learn more about it through our more specialist collections. These are dedicated to certain professions, such as doctors, vicars, pilots and policemen. Plus, check out our latest releases.
Rather than searching across all our directories, it's easier to browse the ones that are most relevant to your search. Go into our City and County Directories, 1600s-1900s then choose a country and county on the right to see all your options.
Once you’ve discovered your ancestors’ occupations in our key records, you can explore their working lives in more specialist collections — including our latest releases. Then learn more about the history behind the records in these exclusive videos, with expert insight from Tony Robinson.
Find out why occupations are so important, what they reveal about Britain's history, and how you can discover the stories behind your ancestors’ job titles, with the first of our exclusive videos
Learn how our Postal Service Appointment Books, 1737-1969, reveal your ancestors who shrunk our nation in a communication revolution.
Hear how our Railway Employment Records, 1833-1963, follow your forebears around the country, as they spread the word of the Industrial Revolution.
Discover the changes in your family’s circumstances shown by our Register of Duties Paid for Apprentices' Indentures, 1710-1811.
Our recent advert shows how unpredictable your ancestors’ occupations can be.
Our ancestors' occupations reflect the times they lived in. Once common jobs like lamplighter and typesetter have now disappeared entirely, while future family historians will notice a sudden surge in computer technicians and internet service providers in the 21st century.
By following occupations through your family lines, you can see how changes in industry, travel and entertainment affected your ancestors' lives.
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