Naturalisation Papers

Nature of Source

Introduction
Naturalisation records offer a rich source of information on non-British individuals who sought to acquire British nationality. They provide a detailed insight into an individual’s background and personal circumstances and the process by which they acquired British nationality. However, the process of becoming a British subject changed significantly over time.

Immigration and Nationality
In nineteenth century Britain, no formal immigration controls existed which allowed free movement without passports or visas. The absence of controls or registration meant many people such as Irish, German, Italian and Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe settled without detection or restriction. This open-door policy lasted until the Aliens Act of 1905, which marked the first major restriction on immigration. Before the British Nationality and Status of Aliens Act 1914, British nationality was based on common law and precedent. Under common law, nationality was primarily determined by jus soli (right of soil) which is citizenship based on birthplace rather than jus sanguinis (right of blood) which is citizenship based on parental descent and nationality.

Religious Barriers to Naturalisation
Some religious groups including Jews and Catholics were unable to swear the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy as part of the naturalisation process. The Oath of Supremacy was introduced during the reign of Henry VIII which proclaimed the monarch as the supreme head of the Church of England, requiring allegiance to the Crown and not the Pope. This presented a significant barrier for Catholics who remained loyal to the Papacy and Jews, who could not swear an oath acknowledging the supremacy of the Anglican Church. Therefore, many Jews and Catholics used the denization procedure as an alternative until the requirements for the oaths were repealed in the 19th century. Therefore, a Jewish or Catholic immigrant may not appear in the records regardless of their wealth or social status.

Naturalisation Before 1844

Private Acts of Parliament
Before the Naturalisation Act of 1844, British citizenship was granted to an alien (a foreign national) only through a specific private Act of Parliament. This was a time-consuming and complex process but resulted in records rich in detail. The efforts and costs involved meant this method was restricted to a wealthy few. These Acts can be searched online through the Parliamentary Archives Catalogue. However, not all names appear in the titles of these Acts, so researchers should also consult indexes compiled by the Huguenot Society in their Quarto Series.

Denization
Prior to 1844, those seeking naturalisation could pursue a process called denization which offered a limited but more accessible alternative to full citizenship. Denization allowed foreigners certain rights but could not hold land or vote or pass citizenship to their children automatically.

Naturalisation Act (1844)
The Act marked a significant change in the naturalisation process. It introduced a formal, structured and simplified process for acquiring British nationality, overseen by the Home Office. The law required that all aliens seeking naturalisation and wishing to reside in Britain provide certain personal information about their circumstances and swear an oath of allegiance and supremacy to the British Crown. A certificate would then be issued by the Home Office, granting the right to stay in the country. Certificates of naturalisation were publicly announced and published in either the London, Edinburgh or Belfast Gazette.

Although the Act meant anyone could apply for British citizenship, it remained a costly process which benefited wealthier foreigners such as merchants and professionals and largely excluded the general public. Therefore only a minority of immigrants to Britain applied for citizenship. Many simply remained in Britain unregistered without applying for any legal status.

The papers consist of memorials and other supporting documents as well as departmental papers, petitions and police reports. Between 1844 and 1873 naturalisations were also enrolled on the Close Rolls in series C 54 which contain additional information. About 60 per cent of applications in series HO 405 covering 1934 to 1948 were destroyed and most unsuccessful applications were also destroyed.

The key points of the Act included:

• A newly naturalised person was treated as British subject by birth from the date of naturalisation.
• New British subjects were given rights and privileges such as the ability to own property and conduct business but were excluded from voting in elections for members of Parliament.
• A newly naturalised person could hold any office but were barred from serving as Privy Councillor or Member of Parliament,
• The Act provided that a foreign women who married a British subject automatically acquired British subject status upon marriage, thereby gaining full legal rights of a British subject.
• In the event of a British woman marrying an alien, she retained her British status.
• The Act did not include provisions for the naturalisation of children.

Naturalisation Act (1870)

The Naturalisation Act of 1870 further reformed the process. The key provisions included:

• Any alien living in Britain for more than five years who demonstrated good character gained the right to apply for naturalisation.
• Aliens were granted the ability to own, inherit, and transfer property.
• Established a legal framework for British subjects to voluntarily renounce their British nationality.
• A British subject who voluntarily acquired the nationality of another country automatically lost their British nationality.
• Those who had been naturalised under the 1844 Act laws could apply for an updated certificate. The result of this provision could account for the existence of two naturalisation certificates issued to the same person.
• Children under 21 years old of a naturalized father (or widowed mother) were deemed naturalised if they resided in Britain with their parent(s).
• A British woman who married a foreigner automatically lost her British nationality and adopted her husband’s nationality instead.

The Naturalisation Act of 1870 remained in effect until it was largely superseded by the British Nationality and Status of Aliens Act 1914 and the British Nationality Act 1948.

See also
Denizations
Huguenot Records and Registers
Jewish Records
Jewish Registers
Lists & Certificates of Aliens/Arrivals
Passenger Lists
Registers of Aliens
Returns of Aliens
Sacrament Certificates

Where Found

The National Archives

• Series HO 334, Duplicate Certificates of Naturalisation, Declarations of British Nationality, and Declarations of Alienage, 1870-1987.
• Series HO 409. Indexes to Naturalisation and Denization, 1908-1980. The lists provide basic information of name, original nationality, certificate number and number of the related Home Office file. The index to series HO 334 and HO 409 is available at the TNA Discovery First select advanced search and enter the name being searched. In the ‘Search for or within references’ box type ‘HO 334’ or ‘HO 409’and click the search button.
• Series HO 1. Denization and Naturalisation Papers and Correspondence, 1789-1872. General correspondence, denization papers, 1801 to 1840, and naturalization papers, 1802 to March 1871, including memorials, petitions, etc.
• Series HO 45. Home Office: Registered Papers, 1839-1979. Naturalization papers.
• Series HO 144. Home Office: Registered Papers, Supplementary, 1868-1959. Files and case files relating to a particular individuals, including nationality and naturalisation.
• Series HO 405. Applications for Naturalisation, 1934-1996. The series includes background case papers including general correspondence, petitions and memorials. The index to series HO 1, HO 45, HO 144 and HO 405 is available at the TNA Discovery First select advanced search and enter the name being searched. In the ‘Search for or within references’ box type the relevant series reference and click the search button.
• Series C 54, Close Rolls. The series contains copies of naturalisation certificates, 1844-1870. Original calendars and indexes are in C 275.

The Parliamentary Archives
The Parliamentary Archives houses a collection of Private Acts of Parliament which were used to grant powers or benefits to specific individuals or organisations, including Naturalisation Acts prior to 1844. Up until 1844 foreigners wishing to become British subjects had to do so by private Act of Parliament.

Huguenot Society of Great Britain & Ireland
Naturalization transcriptions. The society, established in 1885, is dedicated to preserving the history of the Huguenots (French Protestants) in Great Britain and the publication of Huguenot records. The society is especially noted for their Quarto series of publications available on CD ROM which includes parish registers from French protestant churches, registers of poor relief institutions, transcriptions from denization and naturalization records and lists of aliens resident in London extracted from tax returns. Please note that the transcribed records deal with all foreigners entering Britain and not just French protestants fleeing persecution.

Period Covered

1335 – 1987

Genealogical Value

• Full name, age, date and place of birth, occupation, country of origin, occupation and address of applicant.
• Addresses and places where the individuals lived before and after acquiring nationality.
• From 1870 names of applicant’s spouse and children and date and place of wedding.
• Parent’s name and nationality.
• Date of naturalisation.
• Names of referees.
• Background papers including letters of reference and affidavits.

Further References

• Kershaw, Roger & Pearsall, Mark. Immigrants And Aliens: A Guide to Sources On UK Immigration and Citizenship: PRO Publications, 2000
• Kershaw, Roger. Migration Records: A Guide for Family Historians: The National Archives, 2009
• Shaw, William (ed). Letters of Denization and Acts of Naturalization for Aliens in England and Ireland, 1603-1700: Huguenot Society of London, 1911 (Many of the names listed are extracted from TNA series SP 44/67, returns of foreign residents in London, 1678)
• Shaw, William (ed). A Supplement to Dr. W. A. Shaw’s Letters Of Denization and Acts of Naturalization: Huguenot Society of London, 1932 (The contents is included in the Quarto Series published by the Huguenot Society)

Websites

The National Archives Research Guide
How to look for records of Immigration and immigrants. This guide provides advice on how to locate records of immigrants to England and Britain from the 13th century onwards.
The National Archives Research Guide
How to look for records of Naturalisation, registration and British citizenship. Use this guide if you are looking for records of how, when or if a person obtained British citizenship up to October 1986.
The National Archives Research Guide
How to look for records of Naturalisation case papers 1801-1871. These are naturalisation petitions completed by individuals applying to become British citizens between 1801 and 1871.
Parliamentary Archives Research Guide
Naturalisation Records. Use this guide if you are looking for the records of when a foreign national became a British subject before 1844 or between 1854-1961.
GOV.UK
Historical background information on nationality. The guide provides background information about the history and evolution of nationality laws in the UK.
Lloyd’s Register Foundation
Useful sources for information on immigration and emigration. This information sheet offers a list of contact addresses for relevant institutions and suggested reading for genealogists and those interested in immigration and emigration.
GENUKI
UK and Ireland: Emigration and Immigration.
BBC History
19th Century Immigration, By Else Churchill.
FamilySearch Research Wiki
Aliens and Immigrants in England and Wales.
Moving Here Web Archive
The site offers histories of immigrant communities including Jewish, Caribbean, Irish and South Asian. Collections include digitised documents and photos. Sections include Acts of Parliament relating to migration and naturalization and records of naturalization.
Migration Museum
The Museum explores how the movement of people to and from the UK across the ages has shaped the nation and its people. The collections showcase the stories of migrants who have contributed to British life.
Our Migration Story
The Making of Britain. The website presents the often untold stories of the generations of migrants who came to and shaped the British Isles. The site offers personal stories, historical accounts and educational resources related to migration in the UK from Early and Medieval Migrations to 20th and 21st Century Migrations.
Discover Your Ancestors
Alien ancestors. Denization and naturalisation records feature foreign artisans and aristocrats seeking a better life in Britain, says Laura Berry.
Norfolk Record Office
Researching immigrant ancestry.
Anglo-German Family History Society
The Society welcomes all those who are interested in researching the genealogy or family history of people from the German-speaking parts of Europe who have emigrated over the centuries and settled in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland.
Anglo Italian Family History Society
The Society helps people research their Italian ancestors who lived in or passed through England, Scotland, Wales, or Ireland. The website offers guidance on understanding the social and cultural heritage of Italian migrants, covering their journeys, places of origin and settlement, and significant life events.

Online Databases

Ancestry
UK, Naturalisation Certificates and Declarations, 1870-1916. This collection includes naturalisation certificates, declarations of British nationality, and re-admissions to British nationality, as well as related correspondence. The original data is from series HO 334 held at The National Archives.
Ancestry
England, Alien Arrivals, 1810-1811, 1826-1869. This data collection contains lists of aliens (non-British citizens) arriving in England between 1810 and 1869. The records come from the following National Archives collection series FO 83/21-22, HO 2, HO 3 and CUST 102/393-396. These records were primarily created as a result of various acts passed by parliament to regulate immigrants and other incoming individuals.
Ancestry
UK, Aliens Entry Books, 1794-1921. This data collection consists of correspondence and other documents of the Home Office and the Aliens Office from 1794 to 1921. The majority of the collection consists of out-letters relating to aliens and naturalisations from Series HO 5.
MyHeritage
United Kingdom, Naturalisation Certificates and Declarations. This collection contains various documents relating to naturalisations in the United Kingdom from the year 1801 onwards. The documents that comprise this collection are denization and naturalisation papers, declarations of British Nationality, and declarations of alienage.
Findmypast
Britain & Ireland, Naturalisations 1603-1700. The collection contains records of seventeenth-century immigration and naturalisation. These records are drawn from the volume “Letters of Denization and Acts of Naturalization for Aliens in England and Ireland, 1603-1700,” edited by William A. Shaw and published by The Huguenot Society of London in 1911. Shaw’s records come from Patent Rolls and State Papers.
Findmypast
Britain, Naturalisations 1844-1990. Search a selection of naturalisation certificate, consisting of nearly 100,000 records for those who became naturalised British subjects. These records are abstracted from archive record series HO 334 and HO 409 held at The National Archives.
Findmypast
Manchester Naturalisation Society 1896-1909. Records of 542 individuals included in a cash book for the Manchester Naturalisation Society 1896-1909.
The National Archives
Aliens Registration Cards. Search aliens registration cards of those living in the London area from 1914 taken from series MEPO 35 covering some 1,000 foreign nationals.
The Genealogist
Naturalisation and Denization Records, 1609-1960. The collection from the Home Office also includes over 5,000 Huguenot records.
SoG Data Online
Polish Immigrants to England. Polish refugees accepting subsistence 1837-1842.
British Jewry
Jewish Chronicle Naturalisations 1902-1906. This resource comprises of a list of over 3500 naturalisations. These (mostly) Jewish naturalisations were published in the Jewish Chronicle between 1902 and 1906. Submitted by Beverly Bergman and Ian Melville.

CD Roms

Huguenot Society
Quarto Series: Records of naturalization and denization in Great Britain and Ireland. The transcriptions include the names of the individuals and also details about their origins and dates of naturalization.
Internet Archive
Letters of Denization and Acts of Naturalization for Aliens in England and Ireland, 1701-1800, edited by William A. Shaw and originally published by Huguenot Society of London in 1911.