LibGuides: Family History: Additional Resources

Not all individuals who called themselves surgeons were Members and/or Fellows of RCS England. For individuals residing in Scotland, it is likely they would have been Members and/or Fellows of The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd) and/or The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow (RCPSG). Similarly, the Library and Archives of The Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland (RCSI) would likely have records on surgeons residing in Ireland.

Most surgeons would also have qualified as a physician (LRCP) and/or an apothecary (LSA), particularly in the 18th and 19th centuries. You may also wish to enquire with the Libraries and Archives of The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) and/or The Worshipful Society of Apothecaries for any records they might have on your ancestor. In addition, Inspiring Physicians, also known as Munk’s Roll, is availble online. This is a collection of biographies of deceased fellows of the RCP, starting from 1518 to the present day.

Until 1745, both surgeons and barbers belonged to the same company, the Barber-Surgeons. For tracing surgeons active before 1745, please enquire with the Library and Archives of The Worshipful Company of Barbers. Microfilm copies of membership and apprenticeship records of the Barbers’ Company dated between 1522 to the 19th century are available to view at London Metropolitan Archives (LMA). Only those practising within or around the City of London are likely to be traced as members.

Medical practitioners and their apprentices, 1710-1774, can sometimes be traced in The Apprentices of Great Britain. This is a typescript index commissioned by the Society of Genealogists. Copies are available at The Guildhall Library, the Society of Genealogists, and The National Archives in Kew.

Details of surgeons who were university graduates can be found in published university membership lists. Registers of members of Oxford University (c1200-1886) and Cambridge University (1261-1900) are available at The Guildhall Library, along with other registers from some English, Scottish and Irish universities.

Numerous medical journals contain obituaries of surgeons. The Library of the Wellcome Collection keeps copies of British Medical Journal (BMJ) and Lancet obituaries, and other biographical information.

For tracing medical officers serving in the Army from 1660 to 1960, A Peterkin, W Johnston and R Drew, Commissioned officers in the medical services of the British Army, 2 volumes (1968) lists the names of Army medical officers. This is available at The Guildhall Library, and most other reference libraries. The National Archives in Kew also hold records of army medical services dated between 1817 to 1954.

Before 1745, prospective naval surgeons were examined and received certificates from the Barber-Surgeons’ Company. For tracing naval surgeons before 1745, please enquire with the Library and Archives of The Worshipful Company of Barbers. The Guildhall Library also holds certificates issued between 1705 and 1744. From 1793, surgeons are listed in most of the annual volumes of the Navy List, available at The Guildhall Library.

Surgeons who were warrant officers in the Royal Navy. More detailed information about naval surgeons (pre-1843) and surgeons’ mates can be found in the Royal Navy officers’ service records, 1756-1931 and Royal Navy commissioned and warrant officers’ records at The National Archives in Kew.

The term general practitioner was not often used until the 1820s. These doctors may have belonged to a Physicians or Surgeons College, or held a joint qualification. They also may have held a licentiate from the Society of Apothecaries. The Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) was established in 1952, and Members started using the title Member of the Royal College of General Practitioner (MRCGP) from 1965. The College has an obituary roll of members up to 1979.

Some Members and Fellows of RCS England were also Members (MRCOG) and Fellows (FRCOG) of The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG). The College was founded in 1929 by Professor William Blair-Bell (FRCS) and Sir William Fletcher Shaw (FRCP).

Information on dentists and dental surgeons from 1866 can be traced in the UK & Ireland Medical Directories and the Dentist’s Register.

GENUKI - UK and Ireland Genealogy - GENUKI is a virtual reference library of genealogical information that is of particular relevance to the UK & Ireland.

Guildhall Library Manuscripts Section - The Manuscripts Section of Guildhall Library is the local record office for the City of London. Its holdings date from the 11th century.

Hospital Records Database - Information on the existence and location of the records of hospitals in the UK compiled as part of a joint project by the Wellcome Trust and the National Archives.

London Metropolitan Archives - A public research centre which specialises in the history of London, caring for and providing access to the historical archives of businesses, schools, hospitals, charities and all manner of other organisations from the London area.

National Archives - The Public Record Office is the national archive of the United Kingdom and contains the records from the 11th century of central government and the courts of law. The website has a catalogue of its collections.

Society of Genealogists - The Society of Genealogists Library contains a large collection of family histories, civil registration and census material, and over 9,000 Parish Register copies.

Wellcome Library - A search can give you references to BMJ and Lancet obituaries and other biographical information.

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