Dorset

If you're looking for ancestors, local history, genealogy or family history in Dorset, England, these online resources will help you in your research.

Archives

• Dorset History Centre

  The archives service and local studies library for Bournemouth, Christchurch, Dorset and Poole.

Births, Marriages, Deaths & Parish Records

• FreeBMD
• Dorset Parish Registers 1538–1936
• Dorset Online Parish Clerks

  Has over 1.8 million transcribed records available for free. The records are split into parishes, with records including censuses, parish records, BMDs, monumental inscriptions, directories and more.

• Dorset Parish Registers Index

  Has many records which are covered in the above link, but there are some that are unique.

• Marriages from Phillimore's Parish Register Series
  • Alton Pancras 1674–1812
  • Askerswell 1560–1812
  • Beaminster 1558–1685
  • Broadwinsor 1563–1812
  • Cerne Abbas 1654–1812
  • Corscombe 1596–1837
  • Dorchester, Holy Trinity, 1560–1812
  • East Stower 1584–1812
  • Fleet 1664–1753
  • Frome Vauchurch 1667–1812
  • Godmanstone 1654–1812
  • Great Toller 1615–1812
  • Halstock 1701–1812
  • Langton Herring 1681–1812
  • Lyme Regis 1654–1812
  • Netherbury 1592–1839
  • Nether Cerne 1716–1744
  • Piddletown 1538–1812
  • Preston with Sutton Poyntz 1695–1837
  • Rampisham 1574–1741
  • Stoke Abbot 1560–1837
  • Swyre 1588–1837
  • Up Cerne 1682–1812
  • Wootton Fitzpaine 1677–1812
  • Wraxall 1710–1812

General registers that include baptisms, marriages and burials from Dorset towns and villages.

• Almer Parish Registers 1538–1812
• Ashmore Parish Registers (index) 1651–1820
• Beer Hackett Parish Registers 1549–1812
• Caundle Bishop Parish Registers 1570–1814
• Holnest Parish Registers 1589–1812
• Long Burton Parish Records 1580–1812
• Lydlinch Parish Registers 1559–1812
• Stourpaine Parish Registers 1631–1799
• Sturminster Marshall Parish Registers 1563–1812
• Swanage Parish Registers 1563–1812
• Tarrant Hinton Parish Registers 1545–1812

  The first few years of records are in Latin, but the majority are in English.

• Thornford Parish Registers 1677–1812

Burials & Cemeteries

• Dorset Memorial Inscriptions

  Over 120,000 records from 250+ Dorset parishes.

• Dorset Gravestone Photos

  Images and records from many graveyards and cemeteries.

Census Records

• Dorset Census 1841–1921

  Search the census records from 1841–1921, plus the 1939 Register all at once.

• FreeCen

  Has a good, but not complete, selection of free records to search and view.

Criminals and Convicts

• Criminal Ancestor Records
• Dorchester Gaol Registers 1782–1853 Archived

Heraldry

• Visitation of Dorset 1565
• Visitation of Dorset 1623

Historical Directories

• Dorset Poll Book 1807 PDF
• Dorset Historical Directories
• Kelly's Directory of Dorsetshire 1889
• Portland Yearbook 1905

Local History

• Domesday Book Dorset
• Dorchester and Fordington Family History

  Probably the best family history website for tracing your Dorchester and Fordington ancestors. The records are plentiful, including: Census, Parish Records, Wills, Church Officials, Historical Directories, Books, Poor Law Records, Biographies, Postcards, Maps.

• Dorset Ancestors
• Genuki Dorset

  A free family history & genealogy resource which lists links and resources for the English county of Dorset.

• Memorials of Old Dorset
• Streets of Bournemouth
• Weymouth Local & Family History Archived
• Old Dorset Maps
• Speed's Map of Dorsetshire 1610

Military Records

• British Military Records
• Dorsetshire Regiment – 39th Foot
• Dorsetshire Regiment During WW2
• Dorset War Graves
• Dorset Roll of Honour
• Portland Military Burials

Occupations

• Blandford Constables 1842
• Dorset Hemp & Flax Growers 1782–1793
• High Sheriffs of Dorset
• Lost Pubs of Dorset
• Mills of Dorset

Societies & Forums

• Dorset Family History Society
• Somerset & Dorset FHS
• RootsChat Dorset

  Get help, or help others researching Dorset genealogy.

Wills & Probate

• Calendar of Dorset Wills 1383–1700
• Calendars of Dorset Wills and Administrations

  An index of names from many Dorset towns and villages covering the 1600s to 1700s.

Additional Records

• Electoral Registers 1832–1932
• Dorset County Hospital Records Archived

  The history of Dorset County Hospital website has a wealth of information and records about the hospital, its staff, and patients. You can see burial registers, admissions, census returns, staff records, directories, newspaper reports, and more. The site contains information from when the hospital first opened in 1841 until it became part of the NHS in 1948.

• British Newspaper Collection 1710–1953
• Weymouth and Dorset Workhouse Records