Situated on the east coast of England, Norfolk is its fifth largest county and contains over 700 ancient parishes. Historically, it was a largely agricultural region, with some manufacturing in the county town of Norwich and significant seaports at King’s Lynn and Great Yarmouth. The resources available for tracing ancestors who lived in Norfolk are vast and varied. While many of the most useful records (such as parish registers) are available online, there remains a wealth of material that can only be accessed at the archives in Norwich and King’s Lynn. In this webinar, the lives of Norfolk ancestors will be placed in context and the sources of use to genealogists will be explained. The session will cover probate records, borough records, quarter sessions records, estate papers, maritime records, newspapers and other relevant resources. Some difficulties that can be encountered when investigating Norfolk ancestors will also be discussed, as well as methods of overcoming such challenges. Additionally, the printed and online publications of relevance to Norfolk research will be considered in detail.
From its flat fenland and medieval churches to its busy North Sea ports, Norfolk offers a distinctive backdrop for family history—and a distinctive set of records. In this webinar, professional genealogist Dr. Nicholas Dixon shows how understanding the county’s landscape, economy, and religious history transforms Norfolk research. Rather than relying only on parish registers, civil registration, and census returns, the session highlights county-specific sources—ecclesiastical and civil courts, borough archives, estate and maritime records, newspapers, and more—that can place Norfolk ancestors in vivid, local context.
Seeing Norfolk ancestors in their proper place and time
The webinar begins with an orientation to Norfolk’s geography, settlement patterns, and role in English history—from medieval prosperity and maritime trade to agricultural change and 19th-century out-migration. This context underscores why researchers must expect internal movement between villages and market towns and look beyond a single parish. Parish registers are complemented by parish chest material, settlement and removal records, and examples showing how one family’s baptisms and poor-law references trace them across several communities.
Mining church and court systems for unexpected detail
Dixon explains Norfolk’s layered Church of England jurisdictions and how their probate and court records can illuminate kinship, property, and social behavior. Consistory and archdeaconry courts, with wills, administrations, inventories, and moral-offence cases, are paired with Quarter Sessions material that ranges from criminal indictments to land tax, apprenticeships, alehouse licenses, and oaths. Manorial and estate papers from major landed families add another tier of evidence for tenants, laborers, and rural communities.
Using borough, maritime, and modern resources to round out the picture
Urban centers such as Norwich, King’s Lynn, and Great Yarmouth contribute rich freeman and apprenticeship records, guild and corporation minutes, and poor-law sources. For seafaring families, local maritime collections dovetail with national merchant-seamen records. The webinar also showcases Norfolk’s extensive newspaper coverage, museum collections, and the practical support offered by the Norfolk and Mid-Norfolk family history societies, along with guidance for working with the Norfolk Record Office and borough archives.
Genealogists seeking to move Norfolk ancestors beyond names and dates are encouraged to view the full webinar, where record images, maps, and case studies demonstrate how these sources interlock in practice. Watching the complete presentation will provide concrete search strategies, jurisdictional shortcuts, and ideas for tackling brick walls both in rural parishes and coastal towns. After viewing, exploring the additional resources listed in the syllabus will help turn the webinar’s many suggestions into a focused, county-specific research plan tailored to individual Norfolk families.
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I can’t wait to watch this one. My Codlings came from Norfolk, and I’m looking forward to finding out how to learn more about them!
The presentation was very informative and helpful. I want to access other county webinars now to bring me up to date on their resources.
Very clear speaker, easy to follow. Lots of useful information and ideas on where to look.
Valuable information regarding potential records availability for tracing my ancestors who migrated from Norfolk County to Massachusetts during the 1630s. Syllabus is especially helpful.
Incredible amount of information and knowledge – thank you for sharing!
Great info on record sources I wasn’t previously aware of. Thanks so much.
Interesting presentation with an impressive number of facts.
Lots of ideas for sources…I would value the handout the speaker mentioned for the details.