Where did my ancestor come from?

Very often, when we talk about migration in the context of family history, we are talking about those who moved from one country to another. However, what of those ancestors who migrated within the British Isles? That classic case of the ancestor who apparently "appeared in a parish from nowhere" or, as one student put it recently, "may as well have arrived on a spaceship"? Quite often we call these our brick walls but are they really merely research hurdles, needing a little more scrutiny? Here are five factors to bear in mind when thinking about where your ancestor may have come from:

Five reasons for migration

(1) Agricultural Changes and Enclosures

Changes in agricultural practices and land enclosures drove significant internal migration within the British Isles. The enclosure movement, particularly during the 18th and 19th centuries, often prompted migration to urban centres in search of alternative livelihoods, as smaller farmers lost access to common lands.

(2) Industrial Revolution

The Industrial Revolution, which began in the late 18th century, triggered massive internal migration as people moved from rural areas to urban centres to seek employment in newly emerging industries. The expansion of factories, mills, and mines created a demand for labour, leading to the rapid growth of cities such as Manchester and Birmingham. 

(3) Natural Disasters

People also moved to escape such disasters as fire, famine, flood, earthquake or volcanic eruption, or are motivated by the fear of those disasters. The impact of the failure of the Irish potato crop in the 1840s is well known. 

(4) Enforced Moves

Moves were not always voluntary. For example, the Highland Clearances in Scotland during the 18th and 19th centuries saw many Scottish tenants forcibly removed from their lands by landlords, leading to migration to other parts of Scotland or emigration overseas. The settlement laws also resulted in enforced moves. 

(5) Urbanisation and Infrastructure Development

The growth of cities and infrastructure development projects have also driven  migration patterns. As cities expanded and new transportation networks were established, opportunities for employment, trade, and commerce attracted migrants from rural areas. The construction of canals, railways, and later, motorways facilitated internal migration by improving connectivity between regions and reducing travel times.

Find out more about migration within the British Isles in our course, Elusive Ancestors: Migration within the British Isles.