History and aims of the Society

The Bristol & Avon Family History Society was formed in 1975 to encourage the study of family history and genealogy in Bristol and what was then the County of Avon. It aimed to provide contacts between members, both by regular meetings and through a quarterly Journal, and to assist one another with problems encountered during research work.

The Society now has over 1700 members. In addition to a Research Room and this website, we also publish indexes and other research aids, and sell books, magazines, microfiches and other items of interest to both members and non-members.

The area covered by the Society is the City of Bristol and the former County of Avon. This includes the southern parishes of Gloucestershire, the northern area of Somerset, and the City of Bath. We are in the south-west of England, about 100 miles west of London.

We have members living all over the world. Many members do not live locally, but have ancestors who came from the area. Other members are living locally, but their origins are in other parts of the country. We feel all can benefit from belonging to the Society, as it consists of a friendly mixture of complete beginners, very experienced family historians and professional genealogists.

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