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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Like to speak to the RTFHS team about your Gypsy, Traveller or Fairground ancestors? Or find out more about our publications and the benefits of membership? Meet us online! See our new calendar of Events.

What's new?

Gypsy/Traveller heritage: free exhibition at Poole Museum until 5 September 2021 Posted Jul 10, 2021 By Web Master

“Unearthed: Gypsy and Traveller heritage in Poole” is a current exhibition at the Museum in Poole, Dorset, on until 5 September 2021. It looks at the

Fragments of Five Fairground Females: free exhibition in Camden, North London, until 13 September 2021 Posted Jun 23, 2021 By Web Master

Interested in the lives of the fairground women who travelled with steam fairs in the West Country? A new exhibition opens today – 23 June

Family in the West Country? Check out the new Ian Orchard Collection on the RTFHS website Posted Jun 18, 2021 By Web Master

There’s a new free source online on the RTFHS website for people with Travelling ancestors mainly in the West Country but also in counties across

1921 census: Battersea van-dwellers fill in their forms Posted Jun 10, 2021 By Web Master

Exactly one hundred years ago in June 1921, the population of Britain was busy filling in their census forms, just as we did in March

Celebrate Gypsy Roma Traveller History month with a free animated film about Britain’s Travelling people Posted Jun 07, 2021 By Web Master

June is Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month in Britain. And to mark it we’re pleased to let you know about Roads from the Past, a

Family in the Wardley Street area of Wandsworth, London? A guided walk on Saturday 5 June 2021 Posted May 20, 2021 By Web Master

Did your Gypsy/Traveller people live or work in or around Wardley Street, Wandsworth? If so, you might be interested in a guided walk that takes

Get UK censuses free this bank holiday weekend: 30 April to 3 May 2021 Posted Apr 30, 2021 By Web Master

Find My Past is offering free access to its UK census returns, 1841-1911, from today – 30 April – until Monday 3 May 2021. Find

Meet the RTFHS team virtually next Saturday – 10 April 2021 – at the Really Useful Family History Show online Posted Apr 02, 2021 By Web Master

The Family History Federation (FHF) is holding its next virtual family history show online next Saturday – 10 April 2021 – from 10.00 until 18.00

Free access to Ancestry British and Irish records for Easter weekend: Friday 2 April until Monday 5 April 2021 Posted Apr 02, 2021 By Web Master

From today until midnight on Monday 5 April 2021, Ancestry is offering free access to its millions of UK and Ireland historical records. This includes

Free access to Irish records at MyHeritage from now until 18 March 2021 Posted Mar 12, 2021 By Web Master

Do you have Irish ancestors? Or did your Romany, Traveller or Fairground people from mainland Britain visit Ireland from time to time to attend fairs

Smith ancestors at Black Patch? Our Woodfine Smith Family Tree book is now available again Posted Feb 15, 2021 By Web Master

We’re pleased to announce that the RTFHS publication The Family Tree of Woodfine Smith by RTFHS member Josephine Tombs has just been re-published with minor changes, after

Meet the RTFHS virtually at The Family History Show Online: Saturday 20 February 2021 Posted Feb 15, 2021 By Web Master

A virtual online version of this popular Family History Show takes place on Saturday 20 February 2021 from 10.00 until 16.30 UK time. The RTFHS

Events

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Research your roots and learn about your heritage.