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.
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.
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.
Please save the date. Your 2019 RTFHS Society Day will be on Saturday 11 May 2019 in Dorchester, Dorset. More details soon.
What's new?
New RTFHS publication – the story of a woman from a Romany family who married a British aristocrat Posted Aug 23, 2018 By Web Master
We’re pleased to announce the publication of a new RTFHS book – The Gypsy Countess by Anne-Marie Ford. This is the first comprehensive biography that
Celebrate the 250th anniversary of British circus in Edinburgh from 1 to 27 August 2018: Philip Astley lives! Posted Jul 28, 2018 By Web Master
Were your Romany, Traveller or Fairground ancestors also circus performers? As you may know, 2018 marks the 250th anniversary of the invention in Britain of
Free access to Ancestry’s UK and Irish records from now until Monday 9 July 2018 Posted Jul 07, 2018 By Web Master
Ancestry.co.uk are offering free access to their UK and Irish records this weekend, from today until midnight on Monday 9 July. Their UK records now
Leicestershire parish records now free online at FamilySearch.org Posted Jun 25, 2018 By Web Master
Did your ancestors travel in or live in Leicestershire? Now you can see transcriptions of parish register entries from that county free at FamilySearch.org The
Meet the RTFHS team in Swindon this Saturday, 30 June 2018 Posted Jun 25, 2018 By Web Master
In or around Swindon this Saturday, 30 June 2018? Come along and say ‘hello’ to the RTFHS team at STEAM – the Museum of the
New book about British Gypsy life – this week’s Book of the Week on BBC Radio 4 Posted Jun 04, 2018 By Web Master
A new book about British Gypsy Life called The Stopping Places by Damian Le Bas is being published on 7 June 2018. Starting today – 4 June
Name-indexed original parish records for Devon baptisms, marriages and burials: now free online at FamilySearch.org Posted May 23, 2018 By Web Master
The free genealogy website FamilySearch has just launched name indexes for its collection of Bishop’s Transcripts for the county of Devon. Previously these records were
Now back in print: the RTFHS guide you need to trace your ancestors’ travels Posted May 16, 2018 By Web Master
Ever wondered why your family happened to be in a particular town or village when they were caught by the census enumerator, got married or
Come and meet the RTFHS team at the Romany Weekend, Rural Life Centre, Tilford, near Farnham, Surrey – 23 & 24 June 2018 Posted May 16, 2018 By Web Master
Meet the RTFHS team at this two-day Romany event at the Rural Life Centre in Tilford, near Farnham, Surrey. We will be attending on both
Free talk about the life of Gypsy Esmeralda Lock, 22 May 2018, Leeds, Yorkshire Posted May 16, 2018 By Web Master
There’s a free talk by Dr Ken Lee – an academic with British Gypsy ancestry – about the life of the Gypsy Esmeralda Lock (1854–1939)
Come and meet the RTFHS team in Dorchester, Dorset, on Saturday 2 June 2018 Posted May 16, 2018 By Web Master
If you’re in or around Dorchester on Saturday 2 June 2018, why not come along and say ‘hello’ to the RTFHS team? We’ll be at this
The 1939 Register – now available on Ancestry.co.uk: a snapshot of England and Wales at the outbreak of the Second World War Posted May 09, 2018 By Web Master
The 1939 Register – which is a census-like record of 40 million of the inhabitants of England and Wales on 29 September 1939 – has
Events
Oct
06
Oxfordshire Family History Society Family History Fair – RTFHS attending
Time: 10am until 4pm
Location: Marlborough School, Shipton Road, Woodstock, Oxfordshire OX20 1LP
Oct
20
Essex Society for Family History Open Day – Chelmsford: RTFHS attending
Time: 10.30am until 4pm
Location: Galleywood Heritage Centre, The Common, Galleywood, Chelmsford, Essex CM2 8TR
Oct
27
Suffolk Family History Society Open Day and Family History Fair – RTFHS attending
Time: 10am until 4pm
Location: University of Suffolk, Waterfront Building, 19 Neptune Quay, Ipswich IP4 1QL
May
11
RTFHS Society Day
Time: TBA
Location: Dorchester, Dorset
