Welcome to the National Group!

This Group has been created to cater for HGS members who live nationally within the UK. Our aim is to provide online talks and presentations to inspire and help you with your research.

Wherever you are in the UK, if you have Hampshire roots, this is your opportunity to join us for virtual meetings tailored for your needs. Our speakers will be able to provide details of places within Hampshire where your ancestors may have lived and worked. We will also be covering a wider range of topics which are relevant to any family historians researching their ancestors within the UK.

By joining this group, you will have an opportunity to meet other people who share the same enthusiasm for their Hampshire ancestry. All our skills and expertise can be shared with open discussions at the beginning of each session which will then be followed by our speaker’s presentation. You may help someone break down a ‘brick wall’ in their research, or perhaps one of yours may come tumbling down!

If you have ideas or requests for talks or discussion topics, please do get in touch to let us know.

Group Events & Meetings

A meeting will be held every two months, on a Wednesday evening at 7.30 pm. We will be online from 7.00pm to enable a general discussion with everyone.

If you are not already a member of this group but wish to attend a meeting, please contact the Group Organisers by completing the form on this page and specifying exactly which meeting you wish to attend. You will then be added to the invitation list. Remember to include your membership number or indicate if you are a guest.

• May 1, 2024, 7:30 pm: Pursuing Surnames - Julie Goucher

  Exploring the fascinating subject of surnames – types, geographical spread, why genealogists begin surname research & how to and why build a surname project. We explore what a surname study is and why pursuing one can be helpful in researching your own genealogy. We look at the history of surnames, the first steps in beginning such a study and considerations to bear in mind as you get underway. We look at the best way of proceeding and getting the most from the pursuance of a global study and why it is important to aim for a global study.

• July 3, 2024, 7:30 pm: Everything you wanted to know about heraldry – but were afraid to ask! - Chris Broom
• September 4, 2024, 7:30 pm: Annoying Ancestors - Gay Evans

  This is an anecdotal tale of what to look for, and the pitfalls to avoid, when researching your family. We consider how our ancestors can unknowingly be annoying as they put obstacles in our way.

• November 6, 2024, 7:30 pm: Writing Your Family's History - Jane Gulliford Lowes

  It's never been easier to research your family history. There's a wealth of genealogy websites out there, as well as online access to national archives and databases. Most towns and villages have local and family history groups where ideas can be shared and research skills honed. But what do you actually DO with all of the information when you've collated it? Is it all stuffed in a file or in notebooks, or perhaps locked into a private family tree account on an ancestry website? Jane will give you tips and advice on how to actually build the information into a readable and fascinating family narrative, packed with historical details, and set into its proper historical context. She'll also give you suggestions on how to present your family story on paper, online, and even in an e-book, so that it can be shared and treasured by other family members.

The Group Organiser is Kay Lovell. She can be contacted using the form below.