Pre-1878 

Unfortunately, it is difficult to trace both outward and inward passengers on board ships prior to 1878 since the survival of those records is sparse.  Copies of passenger lists were customarily submitted at their final destination, and as a result, it may be worth contacting the local record office near the port of arrival (if known) to see if they can provide assistance. 

1878 - 1960 

Passenger lists for ships arriving in the UK from 1878 and 1888 survive, although their coverage is patchy.  Between 1890 until 1960, a complete record of ships arriving and departing the UK were kept by the Board of Trade.  These lists have recently been digitized and present the most straightforward and uncomplicated way of searching for passengers.

If you are searching for outward-bound passengers from UK ports, then visit the website www.ancestorsonboard.com where you can enter as much information as you are familiar with on their search screen:

If you are only aware of the passenger’s surname and are vague on the remaining details, the website will provide you with a list of potential passengers, including their first name or initial, port of departure, destination and date:

For inward-bound passengers into UK ports, you can consult www.ancestry.co.uk.  Passengers are searchable initially by surname, but you can enter as much information as is known to limit the results. 

On both websites, digital images of the passenger lists are available to view for a nominal fee.  Once payment has been made, you will be able to view, download and print out the particular page featuring your ancestor.

There is no single, standard format for passenger lists.  They have changed over time and vary in size and in length and detail.  Some are typed, others are handwritten; some record only a minimum of detail about the passengers, others include a wealth of information down to exact address and ultimate destination overseas.  An example is provided here:

If you do not have access to a computer or wish to carry out your research in person, passenger lists are held at The National Archives, Kew, in series BT 26 (arrivals) and BT 27 (departures).  Both series are arranged by port and date and have no index of passengers’ names.  In order to consult them, it is essential to know either the name of the ship and approximate date when the passenger travelled, or the port and date of departure or arrival.

If you do not know port of departure/arrival or the name of the ship, it may be very difficult and time consuming to find any records in person at The National Archives.  It is recommended, therefore, that you utilise both indexed resources online, at least in the first instance, as the probability of locating a passenger is significantly higher.