Using trade directories for family history research

31 July 2018 13:20

Trade directories were the old-fashioned equivalent of today's Yellow Pages, but they were set out in a different way. They covered a particular area, and listed the names, addresses and occupations of all tradesmen and shopkeepers for each town and village. They also listed clergymen and people who lived on private incomes, and often gave details of the village or town and its attractions. You may be able to track down an ancestor and find his or her occupation listed, with the business premises given. Libraries often hold old trade directories, so it is worth asking. Be aware that descriptions of trades varied in the past, so that a plumber may be listed as a plumber and/or glazier, because both trades used lead.

The original purpose of directories was to provide information about towns and localities for travellers and other visitors. A directory would include a general description of the town or area and then include details on local transportation, churches, schools, government offices, shops, and businesses, etc. Sometimes information on specific people, such as businessmen, traders, and shopkeepers, was included as well. Many directories were named after the publishers, such as Pigot or Kelly, and most directories originally included maps. Directories were first published around the beginning of the nineteenth century, primarily only covering cities and larger towns. The first major county directories were published around 1820. In London, however, some directories were published even earlier.

FindMyPast has a variety of online trade directories for Devon from about 1830 onwards. But the largest collection of historical trade directories nationwide, covering England and Wales from the 1760s to the 1910s, is searchable free on the University of Leicester Historical Directories of England and Wales website. This is also available on Ancestry in their UK City and County Directories database from 1766 to 1946. Ancestry's database also includes Post Office listings of householders' names and addresses, and court lists of wealthy residents and government officials.

Susan Francia

Family History Research Services

01822 820855

fhistoryresearch@gmail.com