Naturalisation documents record the legal process where someone from abroad became a recognised citizen of the United Kingdom.[1] If your ancestor was born outside of the UK and later lived within the country, this does not mean they were naturalised. They may have chosen not to or they may not have been eligible. If your ancestor arrived in the UK from overseas and was awarded British citizenship you may be able to find their naturalisation records. Prior to 1844, naturalisation could be issued by Parliament as a private Act of naturalisation or granted by the Crown by letters of denizen. The Home Office granted naturalisation after 1844. Both denization and naturalisation required the applicant to take the sacrament and the oaths of allegiance and supremacy.
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Denization in the UKDenization in the UK
Denizens became a British subject without acquiring full citizenship rights. Letters of denization were official government grants allowing a person born outside of the UK to be treated as if they had been. This was an option from the late 14th century. Contraverisally, the cost of the process varied according to the social status of the person applying; the higher their social status, the higher the cost was. Denization remained a more affordable option for foreign born persons, as opposed to naturalisation. However, denizens paid alien tax rates, were not allowed to vote, could not hold civil or military office or inherit land like those who had naturalised. Denizations were registered on Patent Rolls and are searchable in the The Gazette prior to 1844.
Naturalisation in the UKNaturalisation in the UK
Before 1844, the process of naturalisation was expensive so very few could afford it. A majority of people therefore chose instead to go through the process of denization. However for those who could afford to be naturalised, once the process was completed, they were treated as though they had been born in the United Kingdom with full voting rights and the ability to inherit land. Certificates of naturalisation were announced and published in The Gazette. A majority of unsuccessful applications were destroyed. You are unlikely to find a Catholic or Jewish ancestor in naturalisation records as, due to their beliefs, they were unable to swear the oaths of allegiance and supremacy that were required as part of gaining naturalisation. They used the alternative method of denization.
Certificates of naturalisation usually provide the following information about the applicant:
- Full name
- Home address
- Occupation
- Date and place of birth
- Marital status
- Nationality
- Name of spouse
- Parent's names and nationalities
- Children's names and ages
Naturalisation case papers are the forms completed by the applicant prior to receiving the above certificate. The information within is therefore similar but should also include a character reference.
Where to find Naturalisation records in the UKWhere to find Naturalisation records in the UK
A majority of surviving records relating to denization are held at The National Archives, including grants of denization dating 1400-1844, petitions dating prior to 1800 and some original letters patent of denization. Most of the records that survive for naturalisation are also held at The National Archives. These records include copies of certificates of naturalisation, petitions and nominal lists of people granted British nationality. The transcriptions of over 400,000 naturalisation and denization papers dating from 1801 onwards can be viewed in the United Kingdom, Naturalisation Certificates and Declarations collection on MyHeritage.
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Explore more about Naturalisation records in the UKExplore more about Naturalisation records in the UK
- United Kingdom, Naturalisation Certificates and Declarations record collection at MyHeritage
- Finding Answers in Naturalization Records at Legacy Family Tree Webinars
- 46 Million Historical Records Added in May 2023 on the MyHeritage blog
References
- ↑ Naturalisation, registration and British citizenship. The National Archives