If you have access to a computer, use the Family Search (developed by the Church of the Latter-Day Saints) web site to start. It is available online, at the numerous local Family History Centers, at county or regional genealogical societies and at public libraries.

All across the United Kingdom are Family History Centers. The volunteers there are always very helpful in steer your research in the right direction. Everything from microfilm of vital records to family books, maps, local parish records, etc. are at the centers. They keep on hand a large selection of genealogical books of the region the center is located in to help those searching in that county. They will attempt to answer any question or find a source to assist in the research.

Visit some of the general Internet sites relating to the family history centers in the U. K.. Or visit the actual family history centers website for the location of the center along with times of operation across the United Kingdom.

At the Family History Centers or if you use the online Family Search site are the census databases for the U.K. 1881 census and the Canadian 1881 which are free to examine. For example; you’re trying a probable great grandfather with the name ‘Wilfred Brown’, who was born about 1874 in Lancashire County, England. Place the full name, Wilfred Brown, an 1874 birth with a range of two years and Lancashire County, England and the 1881 U.K. Census.

For that census year in Tonge, Lancashire, England at 12 Off Dane Street was the Brown family with a son named Wilfred. To the right of the listing a ‘household’, click on the button to produce the listing of the household members. There are parents John and Emma Brown and their three daughter and two sons, including Wilfred. If the names, dates and locations match previous information, you may have a match. If this is the first listing with any information, get all the names, ages and birth places written down as a possibly for your Wilfred Brown.

Note and record any occupations done by the parents or any of the children. Besides writing the information, there is a download button to place the information in a digital format on your computer.