The Isle of Wight Family History Society is for all those who want to research their ancestors.

Members include people with island ancestry who live on the UK mainland or elsewhere in the world as well as those who live on the Isle of Wight but whose families came from elsewhere. The experience and knowledge of our members range from those just starting their researches to those who have over 30 or 40 years experience - one of the aims of the Society is to share the experience to help those just starting.

If you are just starting your researches, then there are a number of sources for beginners. Many of these are subscription sites which offer free short term subscriptions before you commit. We do not have any commercial relationships with these organisations.

See

FindmyPast Getting started

Ancestry Getting started

FamilySearch Getting started

The National Archives Research Guides

 

 

Tree

News

29 Apr 2025

Journal 157 is now available


The latest Journal, No 157, May 2025, is now available to members (only) as a PDF from the website.Printed copies are being despatched by post.All...

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28 Apr 2025

Voting for Officers and Committee - AGM 2025


Online voting for Officers and Committee of the Society and approval of the Chairman's Report for 2024, and the Financial Report for 2024, is open...

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31 Jan 2025

Journal 156 is now available


Journal 156 is now available1st February 2025 The current Journal, No 156, February 2025, is now available to members (only) as a PDF from the...

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Next Meetings

2 Jun 2025

Annual General Meeting


The AGM of the Society will take place at Arreton June 2nd. We have decided to separate the AGM from the annual One Day Conference...

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7 Jul 2025

The Thoroughly Rotten Unreformed House of Commons


Janice Heppenstall will present a talk entitled The Thoroughly Rotten Unreformed House of Commons. It looks at the different rules for parliamentary boroughs and countiesin...

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4 Aug 2025

No Meeting this month


As this is the holiday season, we do not hold any meetings in August

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Databases

Become a Member
for just
£8 per year

More details can be be found on our
'About the Society' web page.

The Society was formed in 1985 and offers members:

  • 4 Journals per year (either printed or an eJournal, depending on type of membership)
  • Monthly meetings with guest speakers (except May, June and August)
  • A One Day Conference with guest speakers (in May)
  • An organised visit to an Island place of historical interest (in June)
  • A Members Area on the website which includes a number of databases and a Journal archive
  • A way to connect with other family historians and those of your family name worldwide
  • A Facebook group (which is also open to non-members)