ONLINE SEARCHES

An online search will look at: 

1. Civil Birth, Marriage and Death registrations and also parish records.  In England and Wales Civil records began in 1837 and some parish records go back into the 1500s.  In Ireland civil registration for marriages began in 1845 and for births in 1864 and in Scotland registration did not begin until 1855.
2. Census Returns. A household census is taken every 10 year.  In England they are available online from 1841 until 1911.  Used in combination with parish records this helps build up a fuller picture of your family such as where they were living and their occupation.  The 1939 Register, taken at the start of the Second World War, is also helpful for finding relatives born after the 1911 census. 
3. Electoral Rolls.  These are voters lists and give the names of everyone at an address who are entitled to vote in elections.  They began in 1832 in England and Wales.
4. Military records. Ancestry.com and findmypast.co.uk  have military records available from World War I & II that are available to view. 

A search may also look at many other records such as passenger lists, prison records or records of wills. All of which combine to create your unique family history.