Romany & Traveller Family History Society | Research your roots and learn about your heritage.

Tracing Romany, Traveller or Fairground folk?

We're the family history society for you. It's a great way to trace your special roots, meet people who share your interests and find out more about your heritage.

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Is your ancestor in our Publications?

Browse through the range of specialist books published by the RTFHS. We may have one that includes your family and perhaps even your complete family tree.

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Is your ancestor in our photo Gallery?

Take a look at our great old photos of travelling people and travelling life, sourced mainly from our members' family albums and postcard collections.

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Due to the coronavirus situation, the RTFHS is cancelling this year's Society Day and AGM, that was scheduled to take place on 16 May 2020 in Chelmsford. Check here for updates on other events that we were due to attend or organise later this year.

What's new?

Appleby Fair cancelled for only the second time in 250 years Posted Mar 31, 2020 By Web Master

The organisers of Appleby Fair have just announced that – not unexpectedly – Appleby Fair has been cancelled because of the coronavirus emergency and will

Family Tree Live event cancelled: London, 17-18 April 2020 Posted Mar 19, 2020 By Web Master

The major Family Tree Live family history event that was due to take at Alexandra Palace, London, on 17-18 April 2020 has – understandably –

Free exhibition of photos of Fairground and Circus people: Sheffield University, until 24 April 2020 Posted Mar 10, 2020 By Web Master

Interested in Fairground or Circus families and history? Live in or near Sheffield? There’s a free exhibition now on at the University of Sheffield’s Western

RTFHS Chair to talk about Romany Gypsy family history at event in Winchester – Saturday 22 February 2020 Posted Feb 17, 2020 By Web Master

The Guild of One Name Studies (GOONS) is holding a one-day event on Saturday 22 February 2020 called “Unconventional Lives” to examine the lives of

Interested in the Ayres and associated families? There’s a new, much expanded edition of the biography of William Ayres, 1806-1872 Posted Nov 28, 2019 By Web Master

We are pleased to announce the publication by RTFHS member Tony Dixon of a much expanded and updated second edition of the book that he

Surrey Gypsies in your family tree? Find out more about them with this new RTFHS source book Posted Nov 23, 2019 By Web Master

Did your Gypsy ancestors live in or travel through the English county of Surrey? This new source book from the RTFHS is a short-cut way

Looking for Burton ancestors? The new book from the RTFHS is for you Posted Nov 21, 2019 By Web Master

Interested in the Romany Burton family who lived and travelled in the English West Country? Then the latest book from the RTFHS is for you.

Free access to Find My Past records this weekend: 8 – 11 November 2019 Posted Nov 07, 2019 By Web Master

Find My Past are offering free access to their records from Friday 8 November until Monday 11 November, to mark Armistice Day. Find out more

Records for over 500 new Norfolk parishes launched by Find My Past Posted Oct 26, 2019 By Web Master

Do you have ancestors in Norfolk? You might find them in Find My Past’s latest release of parish register records, launched yesterday. It includes: •

Come and meet the RTFHS team in Woodstock on Saturday 5 October Posted Sep 29, 2019 By Web Master

Please come and say ‘hello’ to the RTFHS team at this Family History Fair, organised by the Oxfordshire Family History Society. It will be at

Big price drop for copies of English and Welsh wills: down from £10 to £1.50 Posted Sep 02, 2019 By Web Master

The fee to get a copy for a will in England and Wales has recently been cut from £10 to just £1.50. You can search

Say ‘hello’ to the RTFHS team in Aylesbury on Saturday 27 July 2019 Posted Jul 16, 2019 By Web Master

Come and meet the RTFHS team on Saturday 27 July 2019 when we take part – as usual – in the annual Family History Fair

Events

May

Research your roots and learn about your heritage.