A UK people search generally has the goal of locating any and all information about an individual including address, phone number, etc. In the UK, there is a large amount of public records information available with a simple people search, and you just need to know where to look. The easiest way to run a UK people search is online through public and private database websites. There are a multitude of resources in the UK for running a people search so it’s important to know what information you’re after with your search. This may include genealogy records, criminal records, immigration records, parish records, etc.. The resources you find will reflect what website you are using to access the information you are interested in with a UK people search.
In the UK, people also search for public records with a first and last name. Most public records are those records that are first compiled by government agencies. In most cases, the records are initially recorded and stored by a local agency, and then the information moves up towards the UK central government records. If your person search of private databases is unsuccessful then the next best option is to search the local public records office. Depending on what you already know about the person you are searching for, this may be an easy task. If you know the local area, then go to our UK public records offices map on our home page, and choose an area. When you locate the contact information of the local public records office, simply follow the directions to enter your query. If you don’t know a local area, then you will want to make a more broad search through UK government websites.
England People Search
There are a wide variety of publicly accessible records available to anyone seeking to locate a living person in England. The England person search options available to you will also vary, depending on the circumstances of the search. For instance, an adopted person looking to track down blood relatives may have additional search tools at their disposal as there are several public and private agencies dedicated to reuniting siblings and other family members separated by adoption. Here are some of the tactics you can legally employ when searching for a person in England:
Electoral roll search – The British library keeps a record of the full electoral register for England. Access to records less than ten years old may be restricted. Searching the electoral register will let you find names and addresses of registered voters within a specific constituency.
Online phone directories – Phone directories such as BT, White Pages, and Infobel can be useful in finding a person’s phone number and address. You will need a full name at least. Town or county information may also be useful.
Births, deaths, and marriages – In England, these records are considered public. This means that any person can order a copy of a certificate providing they know the details of the certificate in question. This can be useful in finding the names of a parent or spouse of the person named on the certificate.
Wales People Search
The public and private search options that would allow you to locate a person in Wales are largely the same as they are in England. In some cases, you may find that newer records can only be accessed under specific circumstances. Fortunately, there are still a wealth of other options available to assist you in your Wales person search. Here are a few of the main avenues to consider:
Electoral roll search – As in England, the names and addresses of the person registered to vote in Wales can be found by searching the electoral roll for a specific constituency. The British Library holds the full electoral register and may be able to grant you access to records. Smaller, local libraries and council offices may also hold useful electorate information.
Online phone directories – You may be able to find the telephone number and address of a person currently living in Wales, by searching the BT online directory. Unfortunately, this will only work if the person in question has opted in to being included in the directory. Furthermore, searching Welsh phone records is usually only viable if you have a full name.
Births, deaths, and marriages – You can order a copy of a birth, death, or marriage certificate by contacting the General Register Office (this is the same for England). These records date back to 1837. This may help you with acquiring names of close family members of the person named on the certificate.
Scotland People Search
Despite being part of the United Kingdom, Scotland uses some record-keeping practices and entities that differ from England and Wales. However, some records (phone number records, for instance) are publically accessible via the same search facilities as England and Wales. Here are some options to help you get started on your Scotland person search:
Scottish post office directories – Searching the Scottish post office directories can help you find a person’s address and occupation, dating back as far as 1773. These records are only available up to 1911, but can be useful in tracking down distant relatives currently living in Scotland.
Electoral roll search – You may be able to find a person’s address by searching the Scottish electoral roll. Some records are held at the National Archives of Scotland and smaller, local libraries. A full electoral register can also be accessed at the British Library, providing the records are more than ten years old.
Online phone directories – As with England and Wales, you may be able to find the telephone number and postal address of a person currently living in Scotland, by searching the BT online directory.
Births, deaths, and marriages – Most birth, death, and marriage records are kept by the Registrar General at the New Register House in Edinburgh. Any person can request copies of these certificates, providing they have enough information to locate the certificate in question.
Northern Ireland People Search
Northern Irish laws regarding public records differ somewhat to those of Scotland, England, and Wales. Unfortunately, some of the traditional avenues used to track down a person in the rest of the United Kingdom may not be available to you if the person you are hoping to find lives in Northern Ireland. Though, there are a few different search routes you may wish to try. Here is the information you need to conduct a Northern Ireland person search:
Electoral roll search – Unfortunately, it is a criminal offence to disclose Northern Irish electoral roll records to members of the public. These records may be accessed by elected representatives, holders of elected offices, and law enforcement bodies.
Births, deaths, and marriages – As is the case with England, Wales, and Scotland, records of births, deaths, marriages, and adoptions are held by the General Register Office for Northern Ireland. Copies of all these certificates are publicly available and can be ordered online. You will have more success finding the information you need, if you know the name of the person on the certificate and an approximate date for the event in question.
Online phone directories – If you know the full name and approximate whereabouts of a person living in Northern Ireland, you may be able to find their current postal address by conducting an online search. BT and Whitepages are two of the best search facilities available.
Find A Person By Name In The UK
It is possible to find a person by their first and last name in the UK. Many people also ask if it’s possible to find a person’s address or phone number in the UK with a name search. The answer to all of these is yes, it is possible however, there are certain restrictions on what information is granted to the general public. A great place to start your search is with the multitude of phone and name directories and white pages that are available online in the UK, Many of these services will charge a nominal fee. If you are attempting to lookup an old friend or long lost relative, it’s also possible to use social media to locate this person by name. Facebook, of course, being the larges social media outlet is a good place to start your search. The great part about using Facebook to search for people is it’s free to use and you can instantly message the person on the other side to start a conversation.
Facebook People Search
Using Facebook to locate people is very common in the UK. Since everyone that has a Facebook profile, often times with a profile image, it can be relatively simple to run a people search via Facebook. That being said, there are many people in the UK that don’t have an account or keep their account private, so it’s not always the best option with trying to find a person in the United Kingdom. You will also need to have a Facebook account to search people on this platform. If you have an account then this is a good starting place as it’s free to find someone, all you need to do is type in a name into their search field and then when you find that person, you can message them. If their account is public then you can verify you’ve found the correct person with information listed in their public profile.
Free UK People Search
Is there such a thing anymore as a free UK people search? You can try finding someone via social media platforms which is free or try using a Whitepages directory but that does not always do the trick. If you do see that there is a free people UK search from a website, check the fine print. Sometimes a free person search might be just a free trial and you’re charged after a certain amount of time. A good way to make sure it’s a free service is if you don’t need to submit any credit card information. If you do find the person you’re looking for it’s a good idea to verify they are indeed the correct person. You can do this by verifying the date of birth, relatives or even their middle name. Many people in the UK have the same first and last name so this is an important step in your UK people search
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