The information here dates from as far back as the 10th century, and although it is mostly about ordinary people, a few notable figures appear. Among my direct ancestors I can number King Edward I, and his royal antecedents back to William the Conqueror and El Cid. Others from whom I can trace my descent include Sir John Hawkwood, the leader of a particularly notorious company of English mercenaries in 14th century Italy, and John Worgan, organist and composer at the Vauxhall Gardens, the 18th century London pleasure grounds.

Elsewhere to be found are several important figures from the Middle Ages and Tudor period, including a couple of traitors. The medieval gentry of eastern England put in an appearance, among them the Pastons whose letters are amongst the earliest examples of family correspondence to have survived. There are some distinguished soldiers, including Robert E. Lee, the commander of the Confederate forces in the American Civil War, as well as the founders of well-known biscuit and shoe manufacturing businesses, at least one murderer and one suicide, the naval surgeon who took the first piano to Australia and a family lost at sea in the 1860s. Of more recent date are a victim of the Lockerbie air disaster, the 1950s movie star, Belinda Lee, and the distinguished composer, Sir John Tavener. All are related to me, albeit in most cases very distantly.

The website includes the names of nearly 8000 people in more than 2500 families. Much of it has been assembled by others, and I am indebted to them - known and unknown - for their labours. I cannot vouch for their accuracy, but I have not knowingly perpetuated errors.

The site is periodically updated, so please send me corrections, amendments and additions. I am particularly keen to add to the over 750 portraits of individuals portrayed herein. In an attempt at some sort of consistency I have tried to show people in their 20s or 30s, but have had to settle for older (and occasionally younger) portraits.

For the present, I am not making this site accessible to search engines, but please feel free to pass on its location to others. I hope you enjoy what you discover.