Nature of Source
Introduction
Tithe records are a valuable resource for researching landownership, occupation and local history in 19th-century England and Wales. The majority of tithe records were created after the Tithe Commutation Act of 1836, which replaced tithes in kind with monetary payments. The resulting records provide detailed insights into the landholding patterns of our ancestors, listing both landowners and occupiers.
What Were Tithes?
Tithes, meaning ‘tenths’, were levies dating back to Anglo-Saxon times which entitled the church to one-tenth of the annual produce from the land, such as grain or livestock. By the early 19th century the system had become increasingly complex and unpopular, leading to the introduction of the Tithe Commutation Act of 1836. The reforms overhauled the system, replacing the traditional payment of tithes in kind with monetary payments known as tithe rent charges, based on land values and the average price of corn.
The Tithe Award and Apportionment
The Tithe Commissioners were responsible for overseeing and administering the commutation of tithes and for preparing the resulting Tithe Awards, also known as apportionments or schedules. These documents recorded the names of landowners and occupiers within a tithe district—usually corresponding to parish boundaries—as well as the payments due from each landowner. The collection of these payments was carried out by the tithe owners or their agents, not by the Commissioners themselves. In the majority of cases three copies of the award were made:
- Parish copy: Often deposited in County Record Offices.
- Diocesan copy: Usually found in diocesan archives or also deposited in County Record Offices.
- Tithe Commission copy: Held by The National Archives in Kew.
Tithe Maps
Each tithe award (apportionment) includes a reference number to an accompanying large-scale, detailed tithe survey map which typically shows:
- Individual land plots , each with a parcel number matching the apportionment schedule.
- Individual field or plot names.
- Features such as buildings, houses, roads, rivers. However, not all maps include every feature.
- Parish boundaries.
The level of detail and the features depicted can vary between maps. Maps that met the rigorous standards set by the Tithe Commissioners were classified as ‘first class’ whilst those classified as ‘second class’ varied in quality and scope.
Tithe Files
In addition to tithe awards and maps, a further set of records is available known as Tithe Files. These files contain administrative records, including correspondence and supporting documentation produced by Tithe Commission officials during the tithe survey. The records deal with a number of issues such as disputes over tithes, appeals and valuations and correspondence between landowners and Tithe Commissioners. Tithe Files are held at The National Archives and catalogued under series IR 18.
Pre-1836 Tithe Records
Tithe commutation records are rare from before the Tithe Commutation Act of 1836, earlier commutations generally required private Acts of Parliament or local agreements. Nevertheless, some tithe books and local commutation agreements from the 17th and 18th centuries survive and are now held in County Record Offices. Additionally, tithes were sometimes commuted to land or cash as part of Enclosure Awards during the 18th and early 19th centuries, which means that some areas some areas have enclosure records instead of tithe map or apportionments.
Scotland
The Tithe Commutation Act of 1836 did not apply in Scotland. The Scottish equivalent of the English tithes were known as teinds with payments made to the Church of Scotland. The Teind Court decided over matters relating to disputes and payments. Teinds were finally abolished by the Abolition of Feudal Tenure etc. (Scotland) Act 2000 along with other aspects of feudal land tenure. The records from the court are held at the National Records of Scotland and can be searched for at the online catalogue.
Additional Resources
The following GenGuide sources could assist in researching tithe records:
Where Found
The National Archives
The archives holds the original and most complete national set of apportionments, maps and administrative files.
- Series IR 29, 1836-1936. Tithe Commission and successors: Tithe Apportionments. The tithe apportionments are arranged by counties, firstly for England and then for Wales, named as they were at the beginning of Queen Victoria’s reign.
- Series IR 30, 1775-1936. Tithe Commission and Successors: Tithe Maps. These tithe maps were drawn to act as a graphic index to the tithe apportionments in IR 29, and together form what was termed the Tithe Survey.
- Series IR 18, 1836-200. Tithe Commission and Successors: Tithe Files. Correspondence of the Tithe Commission concerned with proceedings for the commutation of tithes.
The document reference is available at the TNA Discovery catalogue. First click on ‘Advanced search’ and then type in the place or name being searched. Then under ‘Search within’ select ‘Enter a reference’ and type ‘IR 29’.
County Record Offices
Local archives usually hold the parish and diocesan copies of tithe maps and apportionments, but coverage varies. Many have digitised their holdings.
National Library of Wales
The library holds a substantial collection of tithe maps and apportionment records for Wales. Over 1,200 tithe maps for the whole of Wales are available, each accompanied by apportionment schedules. All tithe maps and apportionments held by the library can be searched and viewed for free on the library’s Places of Wales website.
List and Index Society
The society has published printed indexes and guides to these records but does not hold the original documents themselves.
Period Covered
1836 – 1936
Genealogical Value
- The name of the Landowner and address.
- Name of the occupier (tenant).
- Description of land held and the amount measured in acres, roods and perches.
- Name of the field or piece of land.
- Plot number showing where the plot is on the tithe map.
- Amount of tithe rent charge due.
Further References
- Dale, T Cyril. The Inhabitants of London in 1638: Society of Genealogists, 1931 (Householders listed by parish showing rents and tithes. Transcribed and available online at British History Online)
- Davies, Robert. The Tithe Maps of Wales: National Library of Wales, 2000
- Evans, Eric & Crosby, Alan. Tithes: Maps, Apportionments and the 1836 Act: A Guide for Local Historians: British Association for Local History, 1997
- Foot, William. Maps for Family History: The National Archives, 2004
- Jones, Brian. Bradford Tithe Returns 1638: 1995
- Kain, Roger & Prince, Hugh. Tithe Surveys for Historians: Phillimore, 2000
- Kain, Roger & Prince, Hugh. The Tithe Surveys of England and Wales: Cambridge University Press, 2006
- Kain, Roger & Oliver, Richard. The Tithe Maps of England and Wales: A Cartographic Analysis and County-by-County Catalogue: Cambridge University Press, 2011
- Masters, Charles. Essential Maps For Family Historians: Countryside Books, 2009
- Munby, Lionel M. & Thompson, Kathryn (eds) Short Guides to Records: First Series-Guides 1-24: The Historical Association, 1994
- Osborn, Helen. Our Village Ancestors: A Genealogist’s Guide to Understanding the English Rural Past: The Crowood Press, 2021
Websites
The National Archives Research Guide
The National Archives Research Guide: How to look for records of Tithes: This guide explains what types of records were created as part of the Tithe Survey and how to search for them. It also refers to other records related to tithes.
Cheshire Archives and Local Studies
Help with Tithe Maps. What are Tithe Maps and Apportionments?
Surrey History Centre
Tithe maps and Apportionments.
West Yorkshire Archive Service
Tithe Maps Online. The guide offers a useful glossary of terms used in tithe records.
Family History UK
What is a TITHE?
Family Tree
How to use the tithe survey for family history.
Your Family Genealogist
Tithe Records online for England and Wales.
Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine
What are tithe maps? Tithe maps are an invaluable family history resource if your ancestors owned land – here’s how to find the old maps online.
Family Wise
The Joy of Tithe Records: Finding an Ancestor’s Home & More.
Kent Archives
Tithes research guide. A guide to tithe records for more information about tithes and how to use them.
North Yorkshire Archives
About Tithe Maps.
Derbyshire Record Office
A Guide to Finding and Using Derbyshire Tithe Maps and Awards.
National Library of Wales
History of the tithes.
Online Databases
The Genealogist
The Tithe Records for England and Wales. The collection provides access to tithe maps and apportionment schedules for England and Wales, covering the period from 1837 to the early 1850s. The collection covers over 11,800 tithe districts (10,871 in England and 959 in Wales), with over 14 million records and maps for 40 counties. Each tithe record is connected to a detailed map showing the exact plot of land, with the ability to view transcripts, original apportionment images and the map itself. The Map Explorer feature allows users to overlay historical tithe maps with modern maps with both black and white and colour tithe maps available. These records have been reproduced from series IR 29 and IR 30 in conjunction with The National Archives.
National Library of Wales
Welsh Tithes Maps. The site provides free online access to over 300,000 entries including 1,200 tithe maps and their accompanying apportionment documents covering more than 95% of Wales, dating from around 1838 to 1850. The apportionments accompanying each map list the payable tithes, the names of the landowners and land occupiers, the land use, and in most cases the field names.
Gloucestershire Archives
Tithe Apportionments Database. The database provides searchable transcripts of tithe apportionments for all parishes in the Diocese of Gloucester, compiled by the Gloucester and District Archaeological Research Group. The accompanying tithe maps are online via the Know Your Place website. Users can search by name (landowner or occupier), parish, hamlet, description/fieldname, or plot number.
Cheshire Archives and Local Studies
Cheshire Tithe Maps Online. The site allows users to view and search almost 500 tithe maps and compare alongside other historic mapping. Users can also view the owners and occupiers of property recorded in the tithe apportionments.
Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology
Worcestershire Tithe Mapping. Explore digitised 18th and 19th century Tithe, Inclosure and Estate Maps searchable by name with transcribed entries from the original documentation.
South West Heritage Trust
Tithe Maps and Apportionments. The site provides online access to Devon’s historic tithe maps and apportionments. Select a parish from a drop-down menu to view its tithe map and download the original apportionment or a transcription.
North Yorkshire Archives
North Yorkshire Tithe Maps. A snapshot of 19th century North Yorkshire. View tithe maps and transcribed apportionments from the collections held by North Yorkshire Archives.
West Yorkshire Archive Service
The platform provides online access to historic tithe maps created between the 1830s and the 1860s for the Bradford and Leeds areas.
Durham University Library
Tithe Plans and Apportionments. The site provides access to the complete series of tithe plans and apportionments for County Durham, covering the period from 1836 to 1936. These records are part of Durham University Library’s Special Collections. The collection also includes earlier enclosure and estate maps, especially those relating to Bishopric and Cathedral estates.
Findmypast
Wiltshire Tithe Award Register, 1813-1882. Search over 250,000 tithe award records to find out details of land ownership and occupation across the county of Wiltshire.
Ancestry
Dorset, England, Tithe Apportion and Maps, 1835-1850. This database contains tithe apportion maps listing land owners and occupiers in Dorset, England indexed by name showing detailed plans of their neighbourhood and the exact area they owned or rented.
Header Controller
Norfolk Record Office
Norfolk Historic Map Explorer. The site includes nearly 700 tithe maps, which cover about 85% of Norfolk. They were created between 1836 and about 1850. The original maps and apportionments are held at the Norfolk Record Office.
Devon County Council
Devon Heritage Centre. Tithe Maps and Apportionments. The site gives access to the county’s tithe maps and apportionments. Users can explore digitised tithe maps for each parish in Devon as well as original tithe apportionment documents.
The Keep
East Sussex Record Office. Search and view tithe maps in East Sussex and Brighton & Hove. The accompanying apportionments can be searched by landowner or occupier name. The maps and apportionments are available for purchase by contacting The Keep.
Warwickshire County Record Office
Tithe Apportionments Database, 1838-1853. The site provides access to the information contained in the Warwickshire tithe apportionments, produced after the Tithe Commutation Act of 1836. The maps themselves are not available online but can be purchased in various formats.
Staffordshire Archives & Heritage Service
Staffordshire Past Track. The resource provides access to a large collection of historical images, documents, maps and other materials related to the history of Staffordshire including tithe maps available for viewing and purchase. These maps date mainly from the late 1830s and 1840s. Also available is the Tithe Awards Index, 1836-1845 which has detailed apportionment information.
Kent Archaeological Society
The site offers parish-by-parish transcriptions of the Tithe Commutation Surveys. The surveys provide detailed information about land parcels, including the names of owners and occupiers, field names, acreages, land use, and the tithe rent charges assessed. Over 400 Kent Tithe Maps have been digitised by the Kent Archives and Local History Service.
Cornwall Council
Historic Environment Interactive Map. Explore tithe maps, which cover most of Cornwall and date from the early 1840s. The map is accompanied by an apportionment which is not available to view online.
CD Roms
Kresen Kernow
Order copies of tithe maps and apportionments which cover most of Cornwall and date from the early 1840s. The map is accompanied by an apportionment. Full packages are supplied either on USB (UK customers only) or by file transfer.
The Keep
The Keep: East Sussex Record Office. All available tithe maps covering East Sussex and Brighton & Hove are available to purchase.
Surrey History Centre
Surrey Tithe Records CDs and DVDs. The tithe records of various Surrey tithe districts contain high resolution coloured digital images of the tithe map and a transcript of the award or agreement and of the apportionment. A Surrey-wide database of tithe records is available in the search room at Surrey History Centre.
