European Migration

Introduction

For centuries, Britain has been the final destination of groups of migrants from Europe. Initially, the new arrivals were not welcomed with open arms - successive waves of invaders displaced local populations, from the Romans to the Angles and Saxons, with Vikings from Scandinavia gaining control in the 10th and 11th centuries before the Normans took the throne in 1066. After the Conquest, communities of foreign nationals - technically referred to as 'aliens' - have resided in Britain to work, ranging from are Italian bankers, German traders or merchants from the Low Countries.

Names of prominent individuals often appear in official records, though aside from some taxation records it is very difficult to trace back your family to specific individuals. Consequently, the first major group of European immigrants that can be traced with a degree of confidence arrived in the 16th century, namely the Huguenots who were fleeing religious persecution in France. A further wave arrived in the late 17th century, and predominantly settled just outside the walls of the City of London in the area that was to develop into the East End, around Bethnal Green and Spitalfields. Many people claim descent back to the early Huguenot arrivals, and if you have heard a similar story concerning your family, you can undertake research at the Huguenot Library, London, as well as the relevant local archives where residency records are likely to reside.

19th-century immigration

The next major wave of European immigration was sparked by persecution of Jews in lands controlled by Russia in the late 19th century (known as pogroms). Consequently, many thousands of people fled from Eastern Europe and sought a new life elsewhere, either making a conscious decision to live in England or ending up here whilst on a longer journey to America. Britain has had a Jewish community since the early Middle Ages, but Edward I expelled the Jews in 1290 and they were only allowed residential status in the 1650s under Cromwell's government.

Of course, other European groups were resident in Britain long before the influx from Eastern Europe. Before the 1880s, for example, people from parts of Germany constituted the largest ethnic group, according to census statistics, but themselves were subject to abuse and persecution around the time of World War One. Census records still remain the best way of picking up a family who came to Britain from parts of Europe, as a place of birth - however vague - clearly indicates a non-British origin. Where to go next largely depends on the steps taken by your ancestor.

Many thousands of immigrants applied for British citizenship, either through denization - which conferred limited rights and privileges - or by becoming naturalized. The latter process involved an application process which has left a paper trail in The National Archives. Successful applicants were awarded a certificate of naturalization, for which there is a name index available online via The National Archives, searchable on The Catalogue. Once you have found the certificate of naturalization, you can then apply for the accompanying paperwork, which often contains detailed biographical information such as full name, place of birth, names of parents and period of residency. This can then kick-start your research in archives in Europe - though you should be warned that many European archives have not placed as much material online as in Britain, which means you will have to either undertake a visit in person, or hire the services of an independent researcher. Furthermore, many people who claimed to have been naturalized on census records were not actually telling the truth, so don't be surprised if you can't find the relevant paperwork!

Other sources for immigration

Of course, aside from naturalization there are many other ways in which aliens were caught up in Britain's bureaucracy. During times of conflict with foreign powers, the authorities were particularly interested in people coming into the country, and many were subject to various restrictions on movements. Alien entry books remain the main source of information - also at The National Archives - though you can often find a wealth of information about an alien community amongst local papers, particularly those who were required to report to the local police. Internment was another method of keeping track of resident aliens from enemy territories during times of war, and records for internment camps survive regionally and nationally. Of course, the other side of the coin equally applied, and Britain has provided a refuge for groups fleeing hostile regimes around the world, most particularly during World War Two when a second wave of Jewish immigration occurred. Records of the Jewish Temporary Shelter are with the London Metropolitan Archives, though many records and connections with Poland and Germany were lost in the aftermath of the war and the huge loss of life during the Holocaust.

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About the author

Dr Nick Barratt worked at the Public Record Office (now The National Archives, or TNA) from 1996 to 2000, with the family history team. He has given many talks on family history, and has written frequently for the TNA's genealogy journal, Ancestors. He has worked for the BBC as a specialist researcher on programmes such as 'One Foot in the Past','The People Detective' and 'Who Do You Think you Are?'.