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Focus on Buckinghamshire genealogy
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Buckinghamshire lies to the north-west of London, stretching from Newport Pagnell in the north to High Wycombe and Beaconsfield in the south. Like many historic counties, its boundaries have changed over time. In the 1974 reorganisation, the southern area around Slough was transferred to neighbouring Berkshire, shaping the county as we know it today.
Today,
most of the historic county is administered by Buckinghamshire Council,
with Milton Keynes operating as a separate unitary authority.
Historically,
the county town was Buckingham, but in the sixteenth century Aylesbury
became the administrative centre—where the Buckinghamshire Archives are
still based today. These archives are an invaluable resource for
tracing local family histories, holding a wealth of parish records,
wills, maps, and other original documents. Buckinghamshire has long been a predominantly rural county, and many ancestors from the area were closely connected to the land. Agricultural work was central to daily life, whether as farmers, labourers, or estate workers. The county was also well known for traditional rural industries, particularly lace-making, which provided employment for many families. Understanding these
patterns of settlement, industry, and migration is key to tracing your
ancestors successfully. With specialist knowledge of local records and
history, it’s possible to uncover a rich and detailed picture of your
Buckinghamshire roots. The map below shows Buckinghamshire in about 1855. Click on the map for a larger version.
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