Uncover your ancestor through school and university register books. Discover if your relative was a member of the school’s cricket team, on the honours list or a member of staff. Gain biographical knowledge about your ancestor’s life after school, such as employment information and marriage and death dates. Explore the college registers of the world famous Oxford and Cambridge Universities. You can also discover if your ancestor taught at these schools, as all the registers include staff names.
Uncover your ancestor through school and university register books. Discover if your relative was a member of the school’s cricket team, on the honours list or a member of staff. Gain biographical knowledge about your ancestor’s life after school, such as employment information and marriage and death dates. Explore the college registers of the world famous Oxford and Cambridge Universities. You can also discover if your ancestor taught at these schools, as all the registers include staff names.
The records consist of digitised copies of school and university register books. They include a full register of former pupils. The lists often include biographical details like birth year, father’s name, details of employment after school, and family information. Most of the books will include a full history of the institute followed by lists of previous headmasters, tutors, and sporting teams, as well as illustrations or photographs. Many of the registers were written after World War I and contain military career details of alumni in the Great War.
We have register books from 43 different schools and universities. Below is a list of every institute. For further detail about what each register book includes, review our ‘discover more’ section. We have also included search tips to help you to discover your ancestor.
• Ackworth School, Yorkshire, England (1879-1930)
• Bootham School, Yorkshire, England (1822-2011)
• Balliol College Oxford, Oxfordshire, England (1832-1914)
• Blundell's School, Devon, England (1770-1882)
• Carlisle Grammar School, Cumberland, England, (1264-1924)
• Charterhouse School, London, England (1614-1900)
• Charterhouse School, Surrey, England (1872-1900)
• Clifton College, Gloucestershire, England (1862-1912)
• Derby School, Derbyshire, England (1570-1901)
• Duke of Northumberland's School, Northumberland, England (1811-1911)
• Dulwich College, Surrey, England (1619-1926)
• Durham School, Durham, England (1840-1912)
• Edinburgh Academy, Midlothian, Scotland (1824-1914)
• Epsom College, Surrey, England (1855-1905)
• Eton College, Berkshire, England (1893-1899)
• Exeter College Oxford, Oxfordshire, England (1318-1878)
• Free Grammar School of Queen Elizabeth, Lincolnshire, England (1854-1894)
• Free Grammar School of Queen Elizabeth, Yorkshire, England (1591-1891)
• Giggleswick School, Yorkshire, England (1499-1921)
• Haileybury School, Hertfordshire, England (1862-1900)
• Harrow School, Middlesex, England (1801-1893)
• Keble College Oxford, Oxfordshire, England (1870-1925)
• King's College Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England (1797-1925)
• King's School, Kent, England (1835-1920)
• Kingswood School, Somersetshire, England (1746-1897)
• Leeds Grammar School, Yorkshire, England (1820-1900)
• Leys School, Cambridgeshire, England (1872-1911)
• Loretto School, Midlothian, Scotland (1825-1925)
• Manchester Free Grammar School, Lancashire, England (1730-1807)
• Merchant Taylor's School, Middlesex, England (1871-1900)
• Merchiston Castle School, Midlothian, Scotland (1833-1903)
• Quaker schools, Yorkshire, England
• Radley College Oxford, Oxfordshire, England (1847-1904)
• Repton School, Derbyshire, England (1557-1905)
• Rossall School, Lancashire, England (1844-1894)
• Rugby School, Warwickshire, England (1675-1905)
• Sedbergh School, Yorkshire, England (1546-1909)
• Sherborne School, Dorset, England (1823-1892)
• Shrewsbury School, Shropshire, England (1798-1898)
• St Lawrence College, Kent, England (1879-1924)
• St Peter's School, Yorkshire, England (1828-1844)
• Winchester College, Hampshire, England (1836-1890)
• Wellington College, Berkshire, England (1859-1923)
We have separated the school and universities by country and county. In the lists below you will find even greater detail about each individual book.
‘The Edinburgh academy register’
The document contains lists of rectors, master, treasurers and directors. One of the school’s most famous directors was Sir Walter Scott, poet and novelist, from 1828 to 1832. Read through the names of the school’s sporting teams; such as, cricket, rugby, gymnastics and shooting. The register encompasses biographical details of scholars and index of names.
‘The Loretto register, 1825 to 1925’
Loretto is Scotland’s oldest boarding school. The register was published in 1927, including details of scholars, lists of sporting teams and competitions. The register features biographical details like birth date, residence, profession or military career and references to relatives who were Loretto scholars.
‘Merchiston Castle School register, 1833-1903’
The boarding school was founded in 1833. The register, published in 1906, consists of a full index of scholars’ names, plus some include biographical details such as leaving date, military career and death date.
‘Carlisle Grammar School memorial register’
The register features illustrations, a historical sketch of the school, biographical information of the head masters and pupils. Biographical information includes admission date, father’s name, residential address, employment after leaving date and death date. The names of school masters are traced as far back as 1264.
‘Eton College Register, 1441-1698’
Alphabetically arranged and edited with biographical notes by Sir Wasey Sterry, author of “Annals of Eton College”. This volume completes so far as possible the biographical register of Etonians from 1441 until 1790 which was inaugurated by Mr R A Austen-Leigh with his two volumes, published in 1921 and 1927, covering the period from 1698 to 1790. To avoid unnecessary duplication, names of boys in the school before 1698 continuing after 1698 who were recorded by Mr Austen-Leigh are not included here.
‘The Eton register, being a continuation of Stapylton’s Eton school lists’
Compiled by the Old Etonian Association, the register covers 1893-1899, featuring scholars lists and a list of those who served in the Boer War. It includes a register of provosts, fellows, masters and assistant master from 1891.
‘Register of admission to King’s College, Cambridge’
The register was published in 1929 by John J. Withers. It consists of short biographical notes of former students including family details, employment history, address and club membership. Entries are listed by year. On page 16 you will find notes on terms and abbreviations to help with reading through the register. The college was founded in 1441 by Henry VI.
‘Handbook of the Leys school, Cambridge’
The handbook was published by the Old Leysian Union in 1912, compiled by J.C. Isard. It consists of the school history, lyrics of Leys songs and many photographs. The register includes admission and leaving years and school achievements.
‘Wellington College register, January 1859 – December 1923’
This fifth edition of the register was compiled by Charles T. Hunt, the registers consist of a list of winners of cadets’ trophy, athletic challenge cup, dormitory athletic shield and those who won the Victoria Cross after leaving college. You will also find lists of tutors, organists, medical officers, house badges and visitors including Queen Victoria, King Edward VII and King George V. The register lists the pupil’s father’s name and school achievements.
‘Blundell’s School Register, Tiverton’
Read through a detailed introduction, extensive appendices and view illustrations. The given biographical details of students include father’s name, birth date and year admitted into school. The register includes a full alphabetical index of Blundell’s School scholars.
‘The Derby School Register, 1570-1901’
The register stretches across centuries of the school’s history, edited by B. Tacchella, assistant master of Derby School, the document includes lists of head masters, prize donors, captains of school and sports. The scholars list begins in 1570 with Thomas Hadley and continues through to 1901. You will find biographical details such as father’s name, leaving date and employment information after school years.
‘Repton School register, 1557 to 1905’
The register, edited by G.S. Messiter, consists of historical notes about the school, masters, headmasters, governors and biographical details of scholars. Biographical details contain admission and leaving year, father’s name, school achievements, profession and death date.
‘The Sherborne Register, 1823 to 1892’
Compiled and arranged by H. H. House, the register was published in 1893. It features three colour plans of the school, history of the school, lists of prize winners and headmasters. You can find scholar’s father’s name, residence, admission year, age at admission and profession after school.
‘Clifton College annals and register, 1862-1912’
Edited by F. Borwick, assistant master at Clifton College. Read about the founding of the school, achievements in school athletics and Roll of Honour from the Boer War. To assist with reading through the register you can find a list of abbreviations starting on page 148. A full school register begins on page 152 with admission date, father’s name, leaving date, post education employment and residence.
‘Durham School register’
This second edition of the school register consists of historical notes about the school, lists of headmasters and school athletic teams. It was published in June 1912 and edited by Charles S. Earle and Lawrence A. Body. The register features many photographs and lists headmasters as far back as 1541. Find biographical details of alumni including admission and leaving years, father’s name, career, years of service, address and death date.
‘Haileybury Register’
Published in 1900 and edited by L.S. Milford, the register lists names of master, school prize winners and sporting teams. It includes a full alphabetical index of scholars’ names and a history of the school. On page 52 you will find a list of abbreviations to assist you with reading through the register of students. The register includes biographical details such as, career details after leaving school, spouse names and death date.
‘Winchester commoners, 1836-1890’
The document consists of a register of commoners who attended Winchester College. It includes biographical notes like further education and profession, plus an alphabetical index. The register was published in 1891 by Clifford W. Holgate.
‘Register of Old Wycliffians’
The register is arranged alphabetically by the pupils’ names followed by their addresses. Then the pupil’s dates of stay are listed along with facts about his school career, such as offices held and prizes received. Most entries recorded the pupil’s profession or occupation after school. In the register, you will also find pages of photographs of the school buildings, sports teams, and groups of students.
Two volumes
‘Alumni Carthusiani - Foundation scholars of charterhouse’ Includes detailed history of the school, scholars list from 1614 to 1679, admission records from 1680 to 1874 and lists of schoolmasters, preachers and governors.
‘Charterhouse school register’ Register ranges from 1872 to 1900, including biographical details of students, lists of masters, headmasters and governors.
‘The Horncastle Grammar school’
The document consists of a history of the school from 1599 to 1894 and a transcript of the school register. The register starts from page 110, listed alphabetically by year.
‘The Roffensian register’
The register of the King’s School, Rochester was published in 1920. It includes all members of the school from 1835-1920, plus names of headmasters from 1552 and second masters from 1599. The register details pupil’s address, achievements at school and activities after leaving school such as professions and military careers.
‘Admission register of Manchester Free Grammar school, vols I & II’
The register covers 1730-1807, across two volumes. Edited by Rev. Jeremiah Finch and published by the Chetham Society, it encompasses the names of pupils, followed by father’s name, occupation and some include additional detailed annotation about the pupil’s family.
‘The Rossall register, 1844 to 1894’
Published in 1895, the register features historical notes about the school, honours lists, house cups and athletic records. Edited by T.W. Ashworth, it includes 250 pages of names of Rossallians with some biographical notes. Abbreviations can be found on page 8 to assist with reading the register.
‘Register of St. Lawrence College’
This second edition of the register was published in 1925. It features a full list of St. Lawrence scholars with annotated biographical details like birth date, school achievements, athletic records, leaving date, military career, profession and death date. The register also includes a World War 1 Roll of Honour.
‘Tonbridge School, 1553-1926’
The Tonbridge School register includes three editions of registers (second, third, and fourth). Each register lists the names of headmasters, second masters, and assistant masters followed by lists of school captains. The lists of students will include the name of the student’s father, the student’s birth year, school achievements, and details about his profession after school.
‘The Westminster School Register, 1764-1883’
The publication was compiled and edited with biographical notes by G F Russell Barker and Alan H Stenning and produced in 1892. It is arranged in alphabetical order. The entries can vary, but most will include the names of the pupil’s parents, grandparents, and other family members who attended Westminster School. It also notes the pupil’s birth date, admission date, and leaving date followed by notes about the individual’s career and promotions.
‘Balliol College Oxford Register’
College register includes biographical details of pupils like birth date, father’s name, career details after leaving education, residence at time of publication and spouse name. The register also includes a Who’s Who of Balliol, 1914.
‘Admission register of Duke of Northumberland’s school, Alnwick’
Discover excellent biographical material of schools including professions and address. Also includes a full alphabetical index of scholars’ names.
‘Register of the rectors, fellows, scholars etc. of Exeter College Oxford’
The register, printed in 1879, contains lists of the rectors, fellows and scholars with fantastic biographical details, as well as exhibitioners and bible clerks of Exeter College, Oxford. You will find scholars’ fathers’ names, dates of admission and leaving and further notes of accomplishments. It features an extensive history of the college by Rev. Charles William Boase with illustrations.
‘The Harrow school register, 1801-1893’
Published in 1894, edited by R. Courtenay Welch, it records thousands of Harrovians. The register includes biographical details of former pupils, such as father’s name, career information and death date. The register is arranged alphabetically by entrance year.
‘Keble College register, 1870 to 1925’
Published in 1927 and compiled by Major O.C.C. Nicolls for the Keble Association. The document lists wardens, tutors, bursars, presidents of clubs and societies and sporting teams. The register is listed alphabetically by year in a table form. The table comprises name, birth date, education history, profession, marital status and address.
‘Merchant Taylors’ school register, 1871-1900’
The register lists prize winners, sporting teams and assistant masters, plus includes historical notes about the independent school for boys. Published in 1907, the register includes the pupil’s father’s name, school achievements, birth date and profession.
‘St. Peter’s college, Radley register, 1847-1904’
Published in 1905, this covers 1847 to 1904 and lists those who served in the Boer War, participated in sporting teams and prize winners. You can find abbreviations on page 14 to help with reading the register. The register includes leaving date, education details, profession and spouse’s name.
‘Shrewsbury school register’
This was compiled by J E Auden and published in 1898. The register lists school teams and head boys and includes two colour plans of the school. You will find biographical details of the former students, such as birth dates, leaving dates, medals received, accomplishments after leaving school, and death dates.
‘Shrewsbury School Registers and Lists 1562-1746, 1798-1908’
There are multiple school registers available for Shrewsbury from 1562-1908. They include lists of admittances and re-admittances. The earlier registers only list the pupil’s name and the date of admission. Other registers will list the pupils by class. You can also discover the school work your ancestor completed through the lists of tests used in courses, examinations taken, and the prizes awarded.
‘Bromsgrove School 1750-1910’
The publication comprises the Old Bromsgrovian register together with a brief history of the origin and growth of Bromsgrove School. With each entry, you will find the student’s admission date, the names of the student’s parents, the student’s school house, and further achievements or accomplishments during his school years and after leaving school.
‘Dulwich College Register, 1619-1926'
Compiled by Thomas Lane Ormiston, the register includes biographical information about the scholars including dates of entrance and leaving. Also, find lists of school staff, sporting teams, college governors, clerks and editors of the college magazine, ‘Alleynian,’ first published in 1873. Review a detailed history of the founding of Dulwich College and the founder, Edward Alleyn.
‘Epsom College Register from October 1855 to July 1905’
The register was printed in 1905 in London. It lists headmasters, assistant masters, houses and house masters plus includes photographs. The register includes a transcript of college admission registers with biographical notes, prize lists and scholarships. Abbreviations are explained on pages 55 and 56 to assist you with understanding the register notes.
‘The History of Kingswood School’
The document includes an extensive history of the school and a register of pupils of Kingswood. The details within the list are brief and include birth year, death year, residence and employment after school.
Two volumes
‘Rugby School Yearbooks 1901-1905’ include the names of all pupils from upper, middle and lower classes, members of cadet corps and general information about the school. The yearbooks list students by year and then in classes.
‘Companion to the Rugby School Register’ is register of one of the most famous schools in England, published in 1871. It includes a useful index of names and names of distinguished Rugbeians from 1675 to 1871. The register features detailed and extensive biographical information consisting of father’s name, residence, professional career and death date.
‘History of Ackworth School’ and associated publications
Read through the history of Ackworth School’s first one hundred years written by Henry Thompson, including illustrations by Mary Hudson. The publication includes photographs of staff and students and detailed biographies of notable Ackworth scholars. Also, a list of members of the Old Scholars' Association from 1901.
Two volumes
‘Bootham School Register, 1822-1935’
Bootham opened in 1828 as an independent Quaker boarding school. This register of Old Boothamites, a name given to former pupils, includes the pupil’s name, house, bedroom and class. You will also be able to read committee reports and updates from the Old York Scholars Association (OYSA).
‘Bootham School Register, 1823-2011’
This is the fourth edition of the register and it contains 7,349 entries. Within each entry you may discover your ancestor’s birth place, years at school, education after leaving school, occupation(s) and date of death, as well as information pertaining to whether your ancestor married and had children.
‘History of the Free Grammar School of Queen Elizabeth at Wakefield’
Compiled by Matthew Henry Peacock. The school was founded by charter of Queen Elizabeth in 1591. The history was written to commemorate the school’s 300th anniversary. It includes illustrations of the school and head masters. The register of the pupils includes some biographical notes.
‘The Giggleswick School register, 1499 to 1921’
Published in 1922, edited by H.B. Atkinson, the register includes biographical details of scholars from 1499-1921 for instance, career information, activities during the Great War and death date. It features lists of headmasters, staff and names of sports team members as well as a Roll of Honour for those who served and fell in World War One
‘Leeds Grammar School Admissions Book, 1820-1900
The introduction and register were created by William Sheaffelde. The introduction provides a short history of Leeds Grammar School from its foundation in 1552. Then you can explore the register of Old Leodienisns, a name given to former pupils of the school. The register, beginning in January 1820, will tell you, among other things, your ancestor’s name, education background, career details after leaving school, marital status, and death date.
‘Quaker schools in Yorkshire - Ackworth Scholars, The Mount School, York & Bootham School Magazine’
The registers in this collection will tell you the pupil’s name, residence, and dates of attendance at the school. The publication also documents the names of teachers and caretakers of the schools.
‘The Sedbergh School register, 1546 to 1909’
The register was published in 1909 and includes biographical details about scholars like employment after school. It features a Boer War Roll of Honour, illustrated plans of the school and photographs of headmasters. Additionally, read through the History of Sedbergh School, 1525 to 1925, by Henry Lowther Clarke, beginning on page 762.
‘History of St. Peter’s school: York, A.D. 627 to the present day’
Written by Angelo Raine and published in 1926 with a forward written by Rt. Rev. G. F. Browne, D. D. the late Bishop of Bristol, the register consists of a history of St. Peter’s School from 627 AD to twentieth century.
Four out of the thirteen Gunpowder Plotters were educated at St. Peter’s, including Guy Fawkes. Remarkably, Appendix C on page 228 includes a transcript of the indenture, a legal contract, written by Guy Fawkes to St. Peter’s School, for the sale of lands on which the school now stands.
Each record is available in a PDF format. Use the previous and next buttons at the top of the page to browse through the publication. The PDF search experience can be different from searching transcribed records. Use our search tips below to get the most out of this collection.
To the left of the PDF, you will find the Transcription Box, which includes:
Title – the title of the publication
Author
Country
Image number
Image Count
Image number and image count – this will tell you where you are in the publication and help you to explore the publication further.
How to search a PDF Searching through a PDF (Portable document format) is different from searching through fully transcribed record sets. Here are some tips to keep in mind while you search for your ancestors:
Direct Search
Name searches
A name search will return results which have the search terms on the same page within the document. This means that searching for John Smith will return pages where the names 'John' and 'Smith' occur. For this reason your search may return the name William Smith or John Brown. By inserting quotations around the full name the search function will locate the terms together; for example, “John Smith.”
To search for your ancestor by their name, write it as it would appear on the document. For example, if your relative was known as ‘Will’ it is likely that the name used for official records was ‘William.’
If you are unable to find your relative on your first search you can try different name variations. A number of register books only use abbreviations for first names. For example, if your search is unsuccessful for William Smith, try W Smith or Wm Smith.
Perusing the PDF
If you wish to read through the whole document you are searching, then order the results by page number. You can start from the beginning of the document and read through to the end using the next button above the image.
Page numbers often correlate with the individual images of the documents rather than the page numbers used within the publication. Therefore page 1 starts with the cover page.