SOURCES FOR RESEARCH IN WELSH GENEALOGY
Compiled by Judith P. Roach
Local History and Genealogy Reading Room
INTRODUCTION
This guide has been prepared primarily as an aid to researching Welsh genealogy and local
history at the Library of Congress, but it will also be useful for those searching Welsh genealogy
in other large libraries. It is not comprehensive and should be supplemented by Judith P. Reid’s
Research Guide No. 30, Sources for Research in English Genealogy, and P. William Filby’s
American & British Genealogy & Heraldry: a Selected List of Books (Z5311.F55 1983). The
English bibliography contains many references pertaining to Welsh genealogy; the Filby book
offers a chapter on Welsh genealogy. For research purposes, it is not possible to completely
separate Wales from the rest of Britain. It is, therefore, wise to consult all of these reference
tools.
Welsh genealogy researchers are also referred to The National Library of Wales Website at
http://www.llgc.org.uk/ There one will find a section on Family History that includes the option
of searching the Welsh Biography Online. GENUKI for Wales, another Website at
http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/wal/, offers information about archives and libraries, bibliography,
biography, cemeteries, census, and many other topics of interest.
CONTENTS
Handbooks
Pedigrees and Family Histories
Bibliographies
Parish Registers
Local History
Biographical Information
Records
Maps, Atlases, Gazetteers
Geographical Names
Personal Names
Periodicals
Religions
Welsh in the United States HANDBOOKS
Second Stages in Researching Welsh Ancestry. Edited by John & Sheila Rowlands. Ramsbottom,
Bury, Lancs.: Federation of Family History Societies in conjunction with the Dept. of
Continuing Education, University of Wales, Aberystwyth, 1999. xiv, 348 p. Ill., maps, geneal.
tables, bibliographic references, index.
CS453.W4551999 LH&G
00302662
Welsh Family History: a Guide to Research. Edited by John and Sheila Rowlands. 2
nd
ed.
Birmingham [England]: Federation of Family History Societies; [Aberystwyth]: Association of
Family History Societies of Wales, 1998. xii, 325 p. Ill., facsims., geneal. tables, maps,
bibliographical references, index.
CS453.W45 1998 LH&G
00302653
PEDIGREES AND FAMILY HISTORIES
Bartrum, Peter C.
Early Welsh Genealogical Tracts. Edited with notes and indexes by P.C. Bartrum. Cardiff:
Wales U.P., 1966. x, 228 p. Three plates (facsims.), diagr., bibliographical references.
CS456.B37 LH&G
66066362
Bartrum, Peter C.
Welsh Genealogies, A.D. 300-1400. 8 vols. [Cardiff]: University of Wales Press [for] the Board
of Celtic Studies, 1974. Geneal. tables.
CS456.B38 1974 LH&G
Contents: vol. 1. Adam ab Ifor-Cydifor Fawr; vol. 2. Cydrych-Gosawl; vol. 3. Grant-Malpas;
vol. 4. Marchudd-Yswatan Wyddel; vols. 5-8. Index.
77353402
Bartrum, Peter C.
Welsh Genealogies, A.D. 1400-1500. 18 vols. Aberystwyth: National Library of Wales, 1983.
Geneal. tables, 1 map.
CS459.A2 B37 1983
85173904
Bradney, Joseph Alfred, Sir.
A History of Monmouthshire from the Coming of the Normans into Wales Down to the Present
Time. 4 vols. in 13. London: Mitchell, Hughes and Clarke, 1904-1933. Ill.
DA670.M7 B8
06040918
Clark, George Thomas.
Limbus Patrum Morganiæ et Glamorganiæ. Being the Genealogies of the Older Families of
the Lordships of Morgan and Glamorgan. London: Wyman & Sons, 1886. 2 p. leaves, 620 p.
Folded geneal. tables.
Microfilm 8718 C MicRR
16010156
2Glenn, Thomas Allen.
Merion in the Welsh Tract: with Sketches of the Townships of Haverford and Radnor,
Historical and Genealogical Collections Concerning the Welsh Barony in the Province of
Pennsylvania, Settled by the Cymric Quakers in 1682. Norristown [Penn.: Herald Press.],
1896. Reprint. Baltimore: Clearfield Pub. Co., 2001. ix, 394 p. One leaf, ill. (incl. coats of
arms), plates, facsims. (1 folded).
F159.M5 G5
01010705
Glenn, Thomas Allen.
Welsh Founders of Pennsylvania. 2 vols. Oxford: Fox, Jones and Co., 1911-1913. Reprint.
Baltimore: Genealogical Pub. Co., 1970. Ill. front. (v. 2), plates, ports., folded tables.
F160.W4 G5 LH&G
14020395
Griffith, John Edwards.
Pedigrees of Anglesey and Carnarvonshire Families, with Their Collateral Branches in
Denbighshire, Merionethshire and Other Parts. Horncastle, Eng.: printed for the author, by W.
K. Morton and Sons, Ltd., 1914. Reprint. Wrexham, Clwyd: Bridge Books, 1985. 3 p. leaves,
410 p.
CS458.A6 G7
15003755
Jones, Francis.
The Princes and Principality of Wales. Cardiff: University of Wales, 1969. xxv, 204 p. Ill.,
coat of arms, tables, maps, port., bibliography.
A714.J58
79461776
Lloyd, Jacob Youde William.
The History of the Princes, the Lords Marcher, and the Ancient Nobility of Powys Fadog, and
the Ancient Lords of Arwystli, Cedewen and Meirionydd. 6 vols. London: T. Richards,
1881-1887. Ill., plates, plans.
Microfilm 17654 CS
10007185
Nicholas, Thomas.
Annals and Antiquities of the Counties and County Families of Wales; Containing a Record of
all Ranks of the Gentry. 2 vols. London: Longmans, Green, Reader, & Co., 1872. Reprint.
Baltimore: Genealogical Pub. Co., 1991.
Microfilm 9132 (DA) MicRR
08022930
Siddons, Michael Powell.
Visitations by the Heralds in Wales. London: Harleian Society, 1996. xvi, 297 p. Ill.,
bibliographical references, indexes.
CS454.S56 1996
Publications of the Harleian Society, 1351-5438, New Ser., vol. 14.
96216248
3Williams, John.
Llyfr Baglan: or The Book of Baglan. Compiled Between the Years 1600 and 1607.
Transcribed from the Original Manuscripts Preserved in the Public Library of Cardiff, and
Edited with Explanatory Notes, by Joseph Alfred Bradney. London: Mitchell, Hughes and
Clarke, 1910. xii, 385 p.
CS458.B3 W5
23014537
Yorke, Philip.
The Royal Tribes of Wales. London: Sold by B. Crosby and Co., [1799]. 192 p. Twelve ports.
DA708.Y65 Rare Bk Coll : Pre-1801 Coll
Microfilm 86/7070 (DA) MicRR
03017057
BIBLIOGRAPHIES
Blackwell, Henry.
A Bibliography of Welsh Americana. 2nd ed. Aberystwyth: [National Library of Wales], 1977.
x, 126 p.
Z2071.B62 1977
78-306018
Holt, Constance Wall.
Welsh Women: an Annotated Bibliography of Women in Wales and Women of Welsh Descent in
America. Metuchuen, J.J.: Scarecrow Press, 1993. xxv, 834 p. Indexes.
Z7964.G72 W345 1993 MRR Alc
93022208
Huws, Gwilym, and D. Hywel E. Roberts, comp.
Wales. Oxford, England; Santa Barbara, Calif.: Clio Press, 1991. xv, 247 p. Map,
bibliographical references, indexes.
Z2071.H89 1991
World Bibliographical Series, vol. 122.
92122690
Jack, R.I.
Medieval Wales. Ithaca, N.Y.: Cornell University Press. [1972]. 255 p. Bibliographical
references.
Z2081.J3
The Sources of History: Studies in the Uses of Historical Evidence.
79037005
Jones, Philip Henry.
A Bibliography of the History of Wales. 3
rd
ed. Compiled for the History and Law Committee
of the University of Wales. Cardiff: University of Wales Press, 1989. 75 p.
Z2081.W229 1989
90187648
4PARISH REGISTERS
Cofrestri Anghydffurfiol Cymru=Nonconformist Registers of Wales. Dafydd Ifans, editor.
Aberystwyth: Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru a Grwp Archifyddion Sirol Cymru, 1994. xl, 195
p., [12] p. of plates, ill., facsims., map.
CD1068.A2 C64 1994 LH&G
Text in Welsh and English.
95207017
Rawlins, Bert J.
The Parish Churches and Nonconformist Chapels of Wales: Their Records and Where to Find
Them. Salt Lake City: Celtic Heritage Research, 1987-. <vol.1> Ill., maps.
CD1068.A2 R39 1987 LH&G
Contents: vol. 1. Carmarthenshire, Cardiganshire, and Pembrokeshire.
870178791
Williams, C.J. (Christopher John), and J. Watts-Williams, comp.
Cofrestri plwyf Cymru=Parish Registers of Wales. [Aberystwyth, Dyfed]: National Library of
Wales & Welsh County Archivists’ Group in association with the Society of Genealogists,
1986. xxx, 217 p. Ill. incl. [12] p. of plates.
CD1068.A2 W55 1986 LH&G
87131311
LOCAL HISTORY
Jenkins, J. Geraint (John Geraint).
Getting Yesterday Right: Interpreting the Heritage of Wales. Cardiff: University of Wales
Press, 1992. 179 p. Ill., maps.
DA737.J46 1992
95227689
Lhuyd, Edward.
Parochialia: Being a Summary of Answers to “Parochial Queries in Order to a Geographical
Dictionary, etc., of Wales.” Rupert H. Morris, editor. London: Cambrian Archæological
Association, 1909-1911. 3 vols. in 1. Ill.
DA734.L49 1909
Archæologia Cambrensis. Supplement; April 1909-July 1911.
86195010
Lloyd, John Edward, Sir.
A History of Wales from the Earliest Times to the Edwardian Conquest. 3rd ed. 2 vols.
London: New York [etc.] Longmans, Green, and Co., [1939]. Folded map, geneal. tables.
DA715.L8 1948
11009062
Welsh Society and Nationhood: Historical Essays Presented to Glanmor Williams. R.R. Davies,
editor. Cardiff: University of Wales Press, 1984. 274 p. Ill.
DA71.W44 1984
83231233
5BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
The Dictionary of Welsh Biography Down to 1940. Under the auspices of the Honourable Society
of Cymmrodorion. [John Edward Lloyd, and R. T. Jenkins, editors]. London, 1959. lvii,
1,157 p. Map, bibliography.
DA710.A1 B91
An online searchable version is on the National Library of Wales website:
http://yba.llgc.org.uk/
59004309
The Dictionary of Welsh Biography, 1941-1970: Together with a Supplement to The Dictionary
of Welsh Biography Down to 1940. London: Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion, 2001. xxi,
449 p. Index.
DA710.A B9213 2001
Translation of Y Bywgraffiadur Cymreig, 1951-1970.
2003467251
Fisher, Deborah C.
Who’s Who in Welsh History. Swansea: Christopher Davies, 1997. 187 p. Bibliographical
references.
CT833.F57 1997
99221582
Great Britain. Board of Education. Welsh Department.
Famous Welshmen. Cardiff: University of Wales Press Board, 1944. 141 p., 1 leaf.
DA710.A1 G7 1944
44045820
Pughe, William Owen.
The Cambrian Biography: or, Historical Notices of Celebrated Men Among the Ancient
Britons. London: E. Williams, 1803. Reprint. New York: Garland, 1979. 2 p. leaves, vii,
345 p.
DA716.A1 P9
04034326
Rees, Thomas Mardy.
Notable Welshmen (1700-1900) . . . with Brief Notes, in Chronological Order, and Authorities.
Carnarvon: The “Herald” Office, 1908. xlii p., 1 leaf, 474, [6] p.
DA710.A1 R5
09006020
Roberts, T.R.
Eminent Welshmen: a Short Biographical Dictionary of Welshmen Who Have Attained
Distinction from Earliest Times to the Present. 1 vol. Cardiff & Merthyr Tydfil: The
Educational Publishing Company, Ltd., 1908-. Front., ports.
DA710.A1 R8
“The Biographical Dictionary of Eminent Welshmen,” by the Rev. Robert Williams, M.A.,
published in 1852 has long been out of print. The present dictionary brings that work up to
date.” (Preface.)
13008572
6Rowland, E. H. (Helen Elwy).
A Biographical Dictionary of Eminent Welshmen Who Flourished from 1700 to 1900.
[Wrexham]: The Authoress, 1907. 2 p. leaves, 295, [1] p.
DA710.A1 R85
12013416
Salisbury, Enoch Robert Gibbon.
Border Counties Worthies. 2 parts in 1 vol. London [etc.]: Hodder and Stoughton [etc.],
1880.
DA740.B7 S2
02006143
Who’s Who in Wales. 1st ed. Cardiff: Western Mail Limited, 1921. xxiv, 555, [1] p.
CT833.W5 1921
22002328
RECORDS
Breese, Edward.
Kalendars of Gwynedd: or, Chronological Lists of Lords-Lieutenant, Custodes Rotulorum
Sheriffs and Knights of the Shire, for the Counties of Anglesey, Caernarvon, and Merioneth,
and of the Members for the Boroughs of Caernarvon and Beaumaris. Notes by William
Watkin Edward Wynne. London: J.C. Hotten, 1873. vii p., 161 p. Col. front (facsim.).
DA700.B6
unk82054429
Great Britain. Public Record Office.
Calendar of Ancient Petitions Relating to Wales: Thirteenth to Sixteenth Century [held in the]
Public Record Office. Edited with introduction by William Rees. Cardiff: University of Wales
Press, 1975. xxxviii, 559 p. Map, bibliography, pp. [xxxvii]-xxxviii.
KD9430.C3
Board of Celtic Studies, History and Law Series; no. 28
76377676
Henson, Nia.
Index of the Probate Records of the Bangor Consistory Court. <vol.1> Aberystwyth: National
Library of Wales, 1980-.
KD8688.B36 H46
An index to all the pre-1858 probate records housed in the National Library of Wales. This
volume contains pre-1700 probate indexes.
N. L. W. Probate Indexes, no. 1
81157580
Historical Society of Pennsylvania.
Welsh-Americans: the Manuscript Collection. vol. <1 > Marcella Biro Barton, editor.
Lanham, Md.: University Press of America, 2000-.
Z1329.W255 2000 LH&G
Welsh-American Reference Series
99052245
7Jones, Francis.
Report on the Welsh Manuscripts Contained in the Muniments of the College of Arms.
London: College of Arms, 1957. Fifty-four leaves, [5] leaves of plates, maps.
Z5313.G69 J66 1957
87460326
Jones, Nansi C.
Archdeaconry of Brecon Probate Records. <vol.1> Aberystwyth: National Library of Wales,
1989-. Bibliographical references and indexes.
S453.J66 1989
This volume contains pre-1660 probate indexes. National Library of Wales Probate Indexes;
no. 2
90115049
Watt, Helen.
Welsh Manors and Their Records; With an Introduction on the Origins and Development of the
Manorial System in Wales to the Sixteenth Century, by Michael Rogers. Aberystwyth: National
Library of Wales, 2000. 240 p. Ill., maps, bibliographical references, index.
DA737.W38 2000 LH&G
The National Archives of England, Wales, and the United Kingdom has a searchable database
of Welsh manorial records, the Manorial Documents Register (MDR) that identifies the
location of manorial records.
00456836
MAPS, ATLASES, GAZETTEERS
Lewis, Samuel.
A Topographical Dictionary of Wales, Comprising the Several Counties, Cities, Boroughs,
Corporate and Market Towns, Parishes, Chapelries, and Townships, with Historical and
Statistical Descriptions. 2 vols in 1. London: S. Lewis and Co., 1833. Ill. (coats of arms),
maps (1 folded).
DA734.L47 G&M
43047570
Rees, William.
An Historical Atlas of Wales from Early to Modern Times. New ed. London: Faber and Faber,
1972. vii, 71 p., [71] p. of plates. Ill., maps (some color).
G1821.S1 R4 1972 G&M
72650190
Richards, Melville.
Welsh Administrative and Territorial Units, Medieval and Modern. Cardiff: University of
Wales Press, 1969. xviii, 228 p.; 104 maps, pp. 229-324.
JS4012.L7 R5 LH&G
79430767
GEOGRAPHICALNAMES
Charles, B. G. (Bertie George).
Non-Celtic Place-Names in Wales. London: University College, 1938. xlvii, 326 p.
DA734.C4 LH&G
39010958
8Davies, B. (Brian).
Welsh Place-Names Unzipped. Ralybont, Ceredigion: Y Lolfa Cyf., 2001. 96 p.
DA734.D37 2001 LH&G
It’s Wales.
2002392945
Davies, Dewi.
Welsh Place-Names and Their Meanings. [Brecon: The author, 1977]. 60 p.
DA734.D38
78321731
Morgan, Thomas.
The Place-Names of Wales. 2d and rev. ed. Newport, Monmouthshire: J. E. Southall, 1912. 2
p. leaves, 262 p.
DA734.M7
12016818
Owen, Hywel Wyn.
The Place-Names of Wales. Cardiff: University of Wales Press: Western Mail, 1998. xxii, 103
p. Map, bibliographical references, index.
DA734.O94 1998 MRR Alc
Pocket Guide (Cardiff, Wales)
98217929
Wales. University. Board of Celtic Studies, Language and Literature Committee.
Rhestr o Enwau Lleoedd. 3. arg. Caerdydd: Gwasg Prifysgol Cymru, 1967. xxxvii, 119 p.
Two maps, diagram.
DA734.W3 1967
68071418
PERSONAL NAMES
Davies, Trefor Rendall.
A Book of Welsh Names. London: Sheppard Press, [1952]. 72 p.
PB2183.D3 LH&G
52068246
Lasker, Gabriel Ward.
Atlas of British Surnames: With 154 Maps of Selected Surnames. C.G.N. Mascie-Taylor.
Detroit: Published for the Guild of One-Name Studies by Wayne State University Press,
[1990]. x, 86 p. Maps, bibliographical references, index.
CS2507.L37 1990 LH&G
89070574
Morgan, T.J.
Welsh Surnames. Prys Morgan. Cardiff: University of Wales Press, 1985. 211 p. Ill.,
bibliography.
CS2445.M67 1985 LH&G
84244687
9Rowlands, John, and Sheila Rowlands.
The Surnames of Wales: for Family Historians and Others. Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Pub.
Co., 1996. xii, 217 p. Maps, indexes, bibliography.
CS2445.R69 1996 LH&G
96076077
PERIODICALS
Archaeologia Cambrensis, the Journal of the Cambrian Archaeological Association. [Vol. 1,
no. 1] (Jan. 1846-) [London: W. Pickering, 1846-.]
DA700 .A66
Irregular serial.
Title varies. Some indexes available, see National Union Catalog.
Vols. Published 1850-1854 are called new ser. Vols. 1-5 (1855-1869) are called 3rd ser.; vols.
1-14 (1870-1883) are called 4th ser.; vols. 1-17 (1884-1900) are called 5th ser.; vols. 1-20
(1921-1928) are called 7th ser.; vols. 1-8, and also called vols. 76-83. Vols. 84- began
publication in 1929.
09004049
Bye-Gones, Relating to Wales and the Border Counties. 2
nd
ser., vol. 1. Oswestry: Printed at
the Caxton Works, 1889-.
56DA700.B9
09000563
Y Cymmrodor, Embodying the Transactions of the Cymmrodorion Society of London. Vol. 1, pt.
1 (Jan. 1877)-[Vol. 50 (1951?)]. [London]: The Society, 1877-[1951].
DA700.C9
Title varies. In later years individual contributions comprise the entire volume.
Not published in 1879.
13011954
Old Wales: a Monthly Magazine of Antiquities for Wales and the Borders. 3 vols. Talybont,
Breconshire: “Old Wales” Office, 1905-1907.
DA700.O6
13003056
South Wales and Monmouth Record Society.
Publications. [Cardiff: W. Lewis (Printers), 1932-.]
DA700 .S62
51029907
Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion (London, England).
The Transactions of the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion. Session 1892/93- . London:
The Society, 1893- .
DA700.C94
Annual. Index to 1-23 (1877-1912) in its 1911/12 issue, includes the index to Y Cymmrodor,
Embodying the Transactions of the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion of London. Vols.
1-6, (1877-1883), and Y Cymmrodor, vols. 7-23 (1883-1912). Previous to 1892 the
Transactions were included in Y Cymmrodor.
13011943
10West Wales Historical Records. The Annual Magazine of the Historical Society of West Wales.
Vol. 1-14 (1910-1929). Carmarthen: Printed by W. Spurrell & Son, 1912-1929.
DA700.W5
Annual.
12018618
RELIGIONS
The American Baptist Heritage in Wales. Edited by Carroll C. and Willard A. Ramsey.
Lafayette, Tenn.: Church History Research and Archives Affiliation, 1976. xxii, 121, ix, 76 p.
Ill.
BX6291.A43
76369399
Great Britain. General Register Office.
The Religious Census of 1851, a Calendar of the Returns Relating to Wales. 2 vols. Cardiff:
University of Wales Press, 1976-1981. Facsims.
BR773.G7 1976
Contents: vol. 1. South Wales; vol. 2. North Wales. History and Law Series, no. 30-31
77367709
WELSH IN THE UNITED STATES
Ashton, E.T. (Elwyn Thomas).
The Welsh in the United States. Hove, Sussex: Caldra House, 1984. 182 p. Ill., bibliography.
E184.W4 A84 1984 LH&G
85125126
Browning, Charles Henry.
Welsh Settlement of Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: W.J. Campbell, 1912. Reprint. Baltimore:
Genealogical Pub. Co., 1967. 631, [1] p. Ill., maps, front., plates.
F160.W4 B8 LH&G
12031019
Dennis, Ronald D.
The Call of Zion: the Story of the First Welsh Mormon Emigration. Provo, Utah: Religious
Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1987. xii, 243 p. Ill., bibliography.
E184.M8 D46 1987
Religious Studies Center Specialized Monograph Series; vol. 2.
87070665
Hartmann, Edward George.
Americans from Wales. Boston: Christopher Pub. House, [1967]. 291 p. Bibliography.
E184.W4 H33 LH&G
67023750
Thomas, R.D. (Robert David).
Hanes Cymry America = A History of the Welsh in America. Translated by Phillips G. Davies.
Lanham, Md.: University Press of America, 1983. xxi, 517 p. Bibliographies.
E184.W4 T413 1983 LH&G
83014549
11 Washington, D.C., March 2006