Would you like to trace your family history?
There are many ways you can get started in tracing your family history. You can look at your parents' birth certificates to locate the family names of your father and mother.
A marriage certificate would be better as this shows not only the persons names, but also the names of the fathers and their professions.
Older generations of family are a great source of information, as are old photographs, diaries, newspaper cuttings and any family archives.
Searches of birth, death and marriage indexes
Superintendent Registrars do not have the staff to undertake searches of an indefinite or protracted nature.
Usually a search in the birth, death or marriage index, covering a period not exceeding 5 years, will be made but if a wider search is required it may be necessary for the applicant or someone on his/her behalf to make a general search in the indexes.
A general search is a search in the indexes conducted in person by the applicant or someone on his/her behalf. By arrangements with the Superintendent Registrar, a person making a general search may have access to the indexes to the registers of births, marriages and deaths but not to the registers themselves. A certificate of any entry identified may be obtained on completion of an application form and on payment of the appropriate fee. For details of fees, visit the Register office charges and fees webpage.
If a person making a general search is uncertain whether a reference found in the indexes relates to the entry for which he/she is searching the Superintendent Registrar, on being given definite details by which the entry may be identified, will verify those particulars by reference to the register. Any additional information from the entry can only be made available in the form of a certificate.
Family and local history resource centres
Bargoed Library and the Winding House at New Tredegar are the main centres for family history research in the county borough and people travel from all over the world to research their family history there.
These facilities hold local census returns for the years 1841-1901 and the Civil Registration Indexes for the years 1837-2002 - which include births, marriages and deaths. Other resources include local parish registers on microfiche, monumental inscriptions, tithe maps and historical Ordnance Survey maps. A number of pre-1950 local newspapers are also available on microfilm and these include the South Wales Echo and Merthyr Express.
A full list of resources can be obtained at Bargoed Library where staff are happy to provide assistance to customers carrying out their family history research. The library has a number of microfiche/microfilm machines available with copying facilities that can be booked in advance.
For further details download the Family History Resources at Bargoed Library leaflet below:
Family History Resources at Bargoed Library (PDF 700kb)
Other resources
There is a wealth of resources available to you if you wish to trace your family history such as:
Further information
If you require further information about tracing your family history or are interested in applying for a general search, contact the Register Office on 01443 863478 or email registrars@caerphilly.gov.uk.