Major update to FamilySearch England Jurisdictions 1851 Map

https://www.familysearch.org/en/labs/

 

The England Jurisdictions Map of 1851 has been a long-time FamilySearch.org feature. It has disappeared for times in the past and recently has had its own location. The URL for the map is unique: https://www.familysearch.org/en/mapp/  Yes, the URL has two "ps" in map. This FamilySearch.org website is relatively obscure and I find very few people who are otherwise involved in English genealogy know about the map or its features. Now, the map is even more detailed and useful likely using some AI features. One of most useful features is the beginning date of parish registers and bishop's transcripts. 

The best way to become familiar with the map and its features is through clicking around and seeing all the new features. Here is a brief description of the map from December 13, 2024 before the new AI additions. 

The England Jurisdictions, 1851 map is a powerful, internet-based geographic information system (GIS). It shows parish maps of the 40 counties in England. This mapping system simplifies English research. It consolidates data from many finding aids into a single searchable repository. Access the information with the click of a mouse in a parish boundary. See https://www.familysearch.org/en/help/helpcenter/article/does-familysearch-support-the-england-jurisdictions-1851-map

I need to say something about the state of current England jurisdictions. They are complicated, daunting, difficult to understand, only vaguely described and confusing to say the least. Now, back to the 1851 map. Why 1851?  The FamilySearch England Jurisdictions 1851 is based on the British Ordnance Survey map of 1851. See Ordnance Survey from the National Archives (UK). These maps show almost every building, farm, and everything else about England. The 1851 map is a good example. 

What about jurisdictions? As confusing as English jurisdictions are, anyone wanting to know how to do English genealogical research needs to know about, at least, the basics. The FamilySearch.org England Jurisdictions 1851 map now goes well beyond the basics For example, here is a list of layer of the upgraded map:

You can turn of and on the various subdivisions of the overall jurisdictions of counties. Finding genealogical records depends on knowing this jurisdictional approach to England (also Scotland, Northern Ireland, Ireland, Wales and all the other countries and subdivisions of the British Islands plus Ireland. 

The map has always been useful to see the parishes that existed in 1851, but now the list includes all the possible jurisdictions. 

Take some time. Learn about the map and ask a lot of questions. Remember one thing, boundaries and jurisdictions change over time. The current maps of England will be considerably different than those in 1851.