Sound familiar? Stories like these are common—and often tantalising. If you suspect a family connection to the Titanic, there are ways to investigate it properly. This blog will guide you through what to look for, where to search, and how to confirm (or debunk) those long-held family rumours.
How to Find Out If You Have Titanic Ancestors
“My great-grandfather was supposed to be on the Titanic.”
“We always heard someone in our family was a survivor.”
“There’s a story that someone from our family worked in the engine room.”
Sound familiar? Stories like these are common—and often tantalising. If you suspect a family connection to the Titanic, there are ways to investigate it properly. This blog will guide you through what to look for, where to search, and how to confirm (or debunk) those long-held family rumours.
1. Start With What You Know
Begin by working backwards from yourself. Gather details on your family tree: names, birth dates, occupations, and locations around 1912. Focus especially on relatives who lived in Southampton, Liverpool, Belfast, or surrounding maritime communities.
Don’t rely solely on oral history. A surname alone isn’t enough—there were nearly 900 crew members on the ship. Instead, try to pin down the likely generation and location of your possible Titanic ancestor.
2. Understand Who Was on Board
There were around 2,200 people on the Titanic: passengers (First, Second, and Third Class) and crew. Most crew members were male, working-class men from port cities; many were firemen, trimmers, stewards, or sailors. Third-class passengers were often emigrants from Britain, Ireland, and Scandinavia.
If your family has Irish, English, or Scandinavian roots, especially in coastal or working-class areas, it’s worth investigating further.
3. Key Records to Check
Here are some essential resources to explore:
Crew Lists and Agreements
- The Titanic’s crew agreement (BT 100 series) is held at The National Archives, Kew.
- Find out if your ancestor signed on at Southampton (almost all of them did).
- These records show name, age, job, place of birth and other useful genealogical details.
Passenger Lists
- Titanic passenger lists are available through Ancestry, Findmypast, and the Encyclopedia Titanica.
- Watch for name variations or Anglicised spellings if your ancestor was an immigrant.
Death Records and Memorials
- Many crew and passengers died and were listed in probate records, coroner reports, or local newspaper obituaries. Deaths at sea for crew members are on Ancestry.
- Check for memorials—Southampton has several dedicated to crew losses.
Titanic Relief Fund Records
- The Titanic Relief Fund supported widows and children of deceased crew.
- These records (at Southampton City Archives, in person only) offer rich detail about affected families, including children’s names, occupations, and outcomes.
4. Don’t Overlook Census and Civil Records
The 1911 Census (UK and Ireland) and civil registration records can help confirm your ancestor’s job and location the year before the voyage. If someone is recorded as a “trimmer” or “steward” in 1911 and disappears by 1912, that’s a strong lead.
Tip: Look at the 1921 Census or 1939 Register to track survivors after the sinking.
5. Cross-Check With Titanic Databases
… allow you to search by name, role, class, and even location. You can often find biographies submitted by descendants or researchers.
6. What If the Story Isn’t True?
That’s OK too. Many families have “Titanic legends” that turn out to be mistaken identity, confused dates, or just good stories. Even if your ancestor wasn’t on board, they may have worked in shipbuilding, served on sister ships like the Olympic, or been affected by the disaster in another way.
Genealogy is about truth, not just tales. And every story adds richness to your family’s history.
Want Help Digging Deeper?
As a professional genealogist specialising in British maritime families and Titanic crew research, I can help confirm or refute Titanic connections using original crew records, census data, and specialist archives.
Get in touch today for a free consultation or to commission a full family report.
Summary Checklist
- Gather family names and 1912 locations
- Check Titanic crew or passenger lists
- Look at 1911/1921 census records
- Search Titanic Relief Fund and memorials
- Use specialist databases like Encyclopedia Titanica
- Be ready to confirm or debunk family lore