A family history society or genealogical society is a

society A society is a group of individuals involved in persistent social interaction, or a large social group sharing the same spatial or social territory, typically subject to the same political authority and dominant cultural expectations. Socie ...

, often

charitable The practice of charity is the voluntary giving of help to those in need, as a humanitarian act, unmotivated by self-interest. There are a number of philosophies about charity, often associated with religion. Etymology The word ''charity'' or ...

not-for-profit A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...

, that allows member

genealogist Genealogy () is the study of families, family history, and the tracing of their lineages. Genealogists use oral interviews, historical records, genetic analysis, and other records to obtain information about a family and to demonstrate kins ...

s and family historians to profit from shared knowledge. Large societies often own libraries, sponsor research seminars and foreign trips, and publish journals. Some societies concentrate on a specific niche, such as the family history of a particular geographical area,

ethnicity An ethnic group or an ethnicity is a grouping of people who identify with each other on the basis of shared attributes that distinguish them from other groups. Those attributes can include common sets of traditions, ancestry, language, history, ...

nationality Nationality is a legal identification of a person in international law, establishing the person as a subject, a ''national'', of a sovereign state. It affords the state jurisdiction over the person and affords the person the protection of the ...

, or

religion Religion is usually defined as a social- cultural system of designated behaviors and practices, morals, beliefs, worldviews, texts, sanctified places, prophecies, ethics, or organizations, that generally relates humanity to supernatural, ...

. Lineage societies are societies that limit their membership to descendants of a particular person or group of people of historical importance.

National and international societies

American Society of Genealogists The American Society of Genealogists is the scholarly honorary society of the genealogical field. Founded by John Insley Coddington, Arthur Adams, and Meredith B. Colket, Jr., in December 1940, its membership is limited to 50 living fellows. ASG pu ...

Federation of Family History Societies The Federation of Family History Societies ("The Federation") is a United Kingdom-based charitable organisation. In 2019 it rebranded to the Family History Federation Its stated principal aims are "to co-ordinate and assist the work of societies ...

(FFHS) (UK) *

Federation of Genealogical Societies The Federation of Genealogical Societies was a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation founded in January 1976 and headquartered in Austin, Texas. FGS links hundreds of U.S.-based genealogy Genealogy () is the study of families, family history, a ...

(FGS) (US) *

Genealogical and Heraldic Office of Belgium The Royal Belgian Genealogical and Heraldic Office (French language, French: Association Royale Office Généalogique et Héraldique de Belgique or OGHB) is a private Genealogical societies, genealogical and Heraldry societies, heraldic society in B ...

Guild of One-Name Studies The Guild of One-Name Studies is a UK-based charitable organisation founded in 1979 for one-name studies. History The Guild developed as an offshoot of the Federation of Family History Societies. The FFHS was founded on 8 June 1974. By 1977 on ...

(UK) *

National Genealogical Society The National Genealogical Society (NGS) is a genealogical interest group founded in 1903 in Washington, D.C. with over 10,000 members. Its headquarters are in Falls Church, Virginia. The goals of the organization are to promote genealogical skill ...

(NGS) (US) *

Society of Genealogists The Society of Genealogists (SoG) is a UK-based educational charity, founded in 1911Fowler, S School of Advanced Study, University of London. Date unknown. Retrieved 2011-10-30. to "promote, encourage and foster the study, science and knowledge ...

(UK) *

Genealogical Society of South Africa The Genealogical Society of South Africa is a family history society. The society consists of 11 regional branches as well as an electronic branch accessible online. The society maintains a large archive of Genealogical material related to South ...

Regional societies

Australia

Australian Jewish Genealogical Society The Australian Jewish Genealogical Society (AJGS) is an Australian non-profit organisation established to encourage and assist those with Jewish ancestry to research their family histories. It is dedicated to the collection, preservation and dissem ...

Queensland Family History Society The Queensland Family History Society (QFHS) is an incorporated association formed in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. History The society was established in 1979 as a non-profit, non-sectarian, non-political organisation. They aim to promot ...

Royal Historical Society of Queensland The Royal Historical Society of Queensland (RHSQ) is a historical society founded in Brisbane, Australia in 1913. It promotes the study of Australian history especially that of Queensland and adjacent Pacific islands. It maintains an important co ...

* Society of Australian Genealogists

Canada

New Brunswick Genealogical Society The New Brunswick Genealogical Society (NBGS) is a non-profit organization founded in 1978 and dedicated to historical genealogical research in New Brunswick, Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three terr ...

Ontario Genealogical Society The Ontario Genealogical Society, operating as Ontario Ancestors since early 2019, is the largest organization devoted to research into family history in Ontario, Canada. Founded in 1961Harry, George, "Thrill of Tracing Your Own History", ''The S ...

England

Buckinghamshire Family History Society The Buckinghamshire Family History Society (often shortened to Bucks FHS) is a charitable family history society that covers the ceremonial county of Buckinghamshire, England. The society was created in 1976. The objectives of the Society are: * ...

Cambridge University Heraldic and Genealogical Society The Cambridge University Heraldic and Genealogical Society was formed as the result of the merger in 1957 of a previous Heraldic Society (founded 1948) with the Cambridge University Society of Genealogists (founded 1954). Foundation of the soci ...

Cleveland Family History Society The Cleveland Family History Society, more formally The Cleveland, North Yorkshire and South Durham Family History Society, is a family history society that covers this named part of the North-East of England. It was created in 1979, and its aims ...

East Yorkshire Family History Society The East Yorkshire Family History Society (EYFHS) is an English family history society covering the East Riding of Yorkshire and parts of North Yorkshire. It was founded in 1977 and had 1,410 members in 2010. It is a member of the Federation of ...

East Surrey Family History Society The East Surrey Family History Society is a genealogical association in Surrey, England. It was founded in 1977 and, while it has an interest in all of the county of Surrey, it has particular interest in the parishes in the eastern part of the a ...

Essex Society for Family History {{unreferenced, date=May 2009 The Essex Society for Family History (abbreviated to ESFH) is a family history society, that covers the county of Essex, England. It includes the former parts of the county, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock, which are now ...

Northumberland and Durham Family History Society Northumberland and Durham Family History Society is a family history society that covers Northumberland, Durham, and Tyne and Wear in the North-East of England. It was created in 1975, and its aims are to "promote interest in family history amo ...

* Suffolk Family History Society * Sussex Family History Group (covering East and West Sussex) * Upper Dales Family History Group * Yorkshire Archaeological Society, Family History Section

Ireland

Genealogical Society of Ireland The Genealogical Society of Ireland ( ga, Cumann Geinealais na hÉireann) is a voluntary non-governmental organisation promoting the study of genealogy, heraldry, vexillology and social history in Ireland and amongst the Irish diaspora as open a ...

Clans of Ireland Clans of Ireland ( Irish: ''Finte na hÉireann'') is an independent organisation established in 1989 with the purpose of creating and maintaining a register of Irish clans. The patron of the organisation is Michael D. Higgins, President of Ire ...

Scotland

* Borders Family History Society

South Africa

United States

California Genealogical Society and Library The California Genealogical Society (CGS) is a genealogy, genealogical institution, the oldest and largest in California."Genealogical Society Marks 110 years of Researching Family", ''Oakland Tribune'', 24 February 2008. Founded in 1898, its mis ...

Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania The Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania (GSP) is a non-profit educational institution located at 2100 Byberry Road, Suite 111, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1892, GSP is one of the oldest genealogical societies in the United States. Its ...

Genealogical Society of Utah FamilySearch is a nonprofit organization and website offering genealogical records, education, and software. It is operated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), and is closely connected with the church's Family Histo ...

New England Historic Genealogical Society The New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS) is the oldest and largest genealogical society in the United States, founded in 1845. NEHGS provides family history services through its staff, original scholarship, website,New York Genealogical and Biographical Society The New York Genealogical and Biographical Society (NYG&B or NYGBS) is a non-profit institution located at 36 West 44th Street in New York City. Founded in 1869, it is the second-oldest genealogical society in the United States, and the only state ...

* Utah Genealogical Association (UGA)

Ethnic societies

American-French Genealogical Society The American-French Genealogical Society (AFGS) was established in 1978 as a genealogical and historical organization for French-Canadian research. It was founded by members of the Le Foyer Club in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, United States. Its head ...

International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies The International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies, Inc. (IAJGS) is an independent non-profit umbrella organization coordinating the activities and annual conference of 84 Jewish genealogical societies worldwide. History The IAJGS wa ...

Jewish Genealogical Society of Great Britain The Jewish Genealogical Society of Great Britain (JGSGB) is a society for the study and encouragement of Jewish genealogy in Great Britain. The society is a member society of the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies. Purpose ...

References

External links

List of UK and Ireland Family History & Genealogy Societies
(Genuki)
Federation of Family History Societies: List of Member Societies

List of UK Family History Societies
(My Family Ancestors) {{Authority control * *