Commercial directories first started to be published for cities and large towns in the UK in the early 1800's, although London directories started in 1734. They were originally aimed at commercial travellers, and contained general information about each town, and lists of churches, schools, inns, prominent residents such as JP's, farmers, shopkeepers and other local traders.
Some private residents were also included, in the earlier directories they tended to be just the wealthy, but they later became more comprehensive in their coverage and included the names and addresses of more and more private residents.
By the mid 1800's a city directory would be quite a substantial volume including thousands of names and would usually be divided into four sections covering:
1: Commercial - A general alphabetical list of all traders
2: Trades - Alphabetical lists for particular trades and businesses.
3: Streets - A list of tradesmen and residents arranged by street.
4: Court - Lists of wealthier residents, local officials, etc.
Directories are an important source to use to track down your ancestors, particularly when they have moved, or sold a business. For example if an ancestor has been a trader for 5 years you should be able to find them listed each year, and if they do then not appear in the next years directory you can look in the street section to see who is living at that address, is it someone else carrying on the same trade who has perhaps bought your ancestors business, or has your relative died or moved house. If they are still living in the same town then you should be able to find them listed in the commercial section if they are still carrying out the same trade.
Copies of directories are held in local archives, libraries, and many have been reprinted in book form or have been scanned onto a CD, and can be purchased over the internet.
I have a collection of around 275 directories and other source books that I have personally scanned to CD over the past ten years that are available to purchase at just £5.00 each plus postage. Enquiries to stevejgarton@lineone.net
PIGOTS 1834 DIRECTORY – YORKSHIRE (Transcript)
PIGOTS 1834 DIRECTORY – DURHAM & NORTHUMBERLAND
1829 DIRECTORY – DURHAM & NORTHUMBERLAND
SCARBOROUGH & DISTRICT 1920 DIRECTORY
KELLYS 1936 DIRECTORY – HULL & NEIGHBOURHOOD
HULL & DISTRICT 1951 TRADES DIRECTORY
YORK & DISTRICT 1951 TRADES DIRECTORY
BAINES YORKSHIRE PAST & PRESENT
THE MIDDLE VALLEY OF THE WHARFE
PICTURESQUE HISTORY OF YORKSHIRE – BEVERLEY & WOLDS
YORKSHIRE THOROUGH GUIDE
YORKSHIRE HILL FOLK
YORKSHIRE RECIPES
NOTES ON SOUTH CAVE CHURCH 1882
1873 RETURN OF LAND OWNERS – DURHAM
1873 RETURN OF LAND OWNERS – NORTHUMBERLAND
EAST RIDING OF YORKSHIRE BRITISH LEGION HANDBOOK 1937
PIGOTS 1828-9 DIRECTORY – CHESHIRE
PIGOTS 1828-9 DIRECTORY – DERBYSHIRE
PIGOTS 1828-9 DIRECTORY – NOTTINGHAMSHIRE
PIGOTS 1828-9 DIRECTORY – SHROPSHIRE
LIVERPOOL DIRECTORY 1766
BAINES 1824 DIRECTORY – LANCASHIRE (Volume 1)
BURNLEY & DISTRICT 1953 TRADES DIRECTORY
PLYMOUTH & DISTRICT 1943 TRADES DIRECTORY
KELLYS 1883 DIRECTORY – CAMBRIDGESHIRE
KELLYS 1883 DIRECTORY – NORFOLK
KELLYS 1914 DIRECTORY – BEDFORDSHIRE
KELLYS 1914 DIRECTORY – HUNTINGDONSHIRE
KELLYS 1914 DIRECTORY – NORTHAMPTONSHIRE
KELLYS 1931 DIRECTORY – GLOUCESTERSHIRE
KELLYS 1941 DIRECTORY – OXFORD
KELLYS 1946 DIRECTORY – BIRMINGHAM
KELLYS 1950 DIRECTORY – BATH
NORTHANTS PARISH REGISTERS
CRANFORD ST ANDREW & CRANFORD ST JOHN PARISH REGISTERS
THE ROMANCE OF PARISH REGISTERS
HISTORY OF THE WEST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
KELLYS 1883 DIRECTORY – SUFFOLK
WHITES 1850 DIRECTORY – DEVON
KELLYS 1936 DIRECTORY – ESHER & COBHAM
SOMERSET HOUSE CHAPEL MIDDLESEX
HISTORY OF NEWCASTLE ON TYNE
MANNIX & WHELLAN 1847 DIRECTORY – CUMBERLAND
RUSHDEN PARK ROAD BAPTIST SUNDAY SCHOOL 1810 – 1910
YORKSHIRE COUNTY MAGAZINE
BULMERS 1890 DIRECTORY – NORTH YORKSHIRE
EAST RIDING OF YORKSHIRE PLACE NAMES
BENNETTS 1901 BUSINESS DIRECTORY 7 COUNTIES
BENNETTS 1901 BUSINESS DIRECTORY BUCKINGHAMSHIRE
BENNETTS 1901 BUSINESS DIRECTORY CAMBRIDGESHIRE
BENNETTS 1901 BUSINESS DIRECTORY LEICESTERSHIRE
BENNETTS 1901 BUSINESS DIRECTORY LINCOLNSHIRE
BENNETTS 1901 BUSINESS DIRECTORY NORTHAMPTONSHIRE
BENNETTS 1901 BUSINESS DIRECTORY OXFORDSHIRE
BENNETTS 1901 BUSINESS DIRECTORY WARWICKSHIRE
NEWCASTLE & GATESHEAD YEAR BOOK 1914
WEST YORKSHIRE 1900 COUNTY BLUE BOOK & COURT GUIDE
LEEDS GRAMMAR SCHOOL ADMISSION BOOKS 1820 – 1900
KELLYS 1931 DIRECTORY – WIMBLEDON & MERTON
SOUTH CAVE PARISH REGISTERS
KELLYS 1935 DIRECTORY – READING
NORTON PARISH REGISTER 1559 – 1812
HISTORICAL GLEANINGS OF BOLTON
KELLYS 1933 DIRECTORY – CAMBRIDGESHIRE
KELLYS 1935 DIRECTORY – DORSET
KELLYS 1936 DIRECTORY – CHESTER
MONK FRYSTON PARISH REGISTER 1538 – 1678
DOMESTIC ANNALS OF SCOTLAND
KELLYS 1888 DIRECTORY – CAMBRIDGESHIRE
KELLYS 1888 DIRECTORY – NORFOLK
KELLYS 1888 DIRECTORY – SUFFOLK
KELLYS 1926 DIRECTORY – HEREFORDSHIRE
KELLYS 1926 DIRECTORY – SHROPSHIRE
KELLYS 1935 DIRECTORY – BUCKINGHAMSHIRE
NORTHAMPTONSHIRE – ITS LAND & PEOPLE
WHITES 1872 DIRECTORY – LINCOLNSHIRE
KELLYS 1929 DIRECTORY – NORTH & EAST RIDINGS OF YORKSHIRE
BULMERS 1905 DIRECTORY – WESTMORELAND
KELLYS 1937 DIRECTORY – HERTFORDSHIRE
KELLYS 1940 DIRECTORY – STAFFORDSHIRE
KELLYS 1940 DIRECTORY – WARWICKSHIRE
KELLYS 1940 DIRECTORY – WORCESTERSHIRE
KELLYS 1923 DIRECTORY – WILTSHIRE
NORTHUMBERLAND PEOPLE & PLACES
BULMERS 1886 DIRECTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND (HEXHAM DIVISION)
WARDS 1930 DIRECTORY – REDCAR, MIDDLESBOROUGH, STOCKTON
THE NAVY LIST 1855
NATIONAL ROLL OF THE GREAT WAR – SECTION 1
WARDS 1930 DIRECTORY – NEWCASTLE, NORTH & SOUTH SHIELDS, JARROW
KELLYS 1895 DIRECTORY OXFORDSHIRE
BAINES 1823 DIRECTORY – EAST & NORTH RIDINGS OF YORKSHIRE
KELLYS 1939 DIRECTORY – SOMERSET
THE ROYAL KALENDAR 1827
A SCHOOL HISTORY OF THE EAST RIDING OF YORKSHIRE
OLD YORKSHIRE (NEW SERIES 1890)
HISTORY OF SOUTH CAVE & OTHER PARISHES
KELLYS 1928 DIRECTORY – IPSWICH
WHITES 1853 DIRECTORY – LEEDS, BRADFORD, HALIFAX, HUDDERSFIELD CD
THE ROMANCE OF THE YORKSHIRE COAST
KELLYS 1880 DIRECTORY – HAMPSHIRE & THE ISLE OF WIGHT
THE SNAPPER – 1929 JOURNAL OF THE EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
1933 TRADES DIRECTORY – MANCHESTER
1933 TRADES DIRECTORY – MANCHESTER DISTRICT
1933 TRADES DIRECTORY – BOLTON, OLDHAM, ROCHDALE, STOCKPORT
1933 TRADES DIRECTORY – CHESHIRE
ARMY LIST 1865
YORK CITY GUIDE
KELLYS 1880 DORSET DIRECTORY
WARDS 1921 DIRECTORY SUNDERLAND, WALLSEND, NEWCASTLE GATESHEAD
REMINISCENCES OF OLD SHEFFIELD
KELLYS 1936 LEICS & RUTLAND DIRECTORY
KELLYS 1880 WILTSHIRE DIRECTORY
BIRMINGHAM 1818 DIRECTORY
NORTHOWRAM REGISTER
BRADFORD FIFTY YEARS AGO
HISTORY OF BRIGHOUSE, RASTRICK & HIPPERHOLME
GIGGLESWICK SCHOOL REGISTER
GAZETTEER OF SCOTLAND
1936 REGISTER OF ELECTORS - TONBRIDGE
HISTORY OF THE SUFFOLK REGIMENT 1914 - 1927
HIGHWAYS & BYWAYS IN HAMPSHIRE
HIGHWAYS & BYWAYS IN YORKSHIRE
HIGHWAYS & BYWAYS IN KENT
BRITISH FAMILY NAMES
STORY OF THE NORTH COUNTRY
ST GEORGE'S GAZETTE - 1896 JOURNAL OF THE NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIERS
THE ROMANCE OF NORTHUMBERLAND
OXFORD AS IT WAS
HISTORY OF THE ROYAL SUSSEX REGIMENT
TOPOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF WORCESTERSHIRE & YORKSHIRE
BYGONE YORKSHIRE
THE CENTURYS PROGRESS - YORKSHIRE
THE COUNTY OF THE WHITE ROSE
TOPCLIFFE & MORLEY REGISTERS
BYGONE BURY
KELLYS 1912 ESSEX DIRECTORY
SLATERS 1855 DURHAM & NORTHUMBERLAND DIRECTORY
SLATERS 1855 YORKSHIRE DIRECTORY
1871 CENSUS STRAYS V1
HISTORY OF GIRLINGTON WESLEYAN CHURCH & SUNDAY SCHOOL
THE ANNALS OF MANCHESTER
1915 LIVERPOOL DIRECTORY
OLD & NEW NOTTINGHAM
KELLYS 1912 MIDDLESEX DIRECTORY
HAMPSTEAD 1939 DIRECTORY
EDINBURGH PAST & PRESENT
ANNALS OF LEEDS
GORES 1814 LIVERPOOL DIRECTORY
BAINES 1825 DIRECTORY – LANCASHIRE (Volume 2)
BAINES 1824/5 LANCASHIRE DIRECTORY (2 Vols)
MANNEX 1851 WESTMORLAND DIRECTORY
KELLYS 1896 WARWICKSHIRE DIRECTORY
KELLYS 1912 HERTFORDSHIRE DIRECTORY
PIGOTS 1839 KENT DIRECTORY
LEWIS TOPOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY OF ENGLAND
KELLYS 1903 SUSSEX DIRECTORY
PIGOTS 1839 SURREY DIRECTORY
LUTON BURGESS ROLLS
KELLYS 1922 SHROPSHIRE DIRECTORY
WILLIAMSONS 1773 EDINBURGH DIRECTORY
PIGOTS 1830 BERKSHIRE DIRECTORY
CHELTENHAM REGISTER
PIGOTS 1830 BUCKS DIRECTORY
KELLYS 1890 NORTHANTS DIRECTORY
PIGOTS 1839 SUSSEX DIRECTORY
KELLYS 1890 BEDFORDSHIRE DIRECTORY
PIGOTS 1830 BEDFORDSHIRE DIRECTORY
PIGOTS 1830 CAMBRIDGESHIRE DIRECTORY
LANCASHIRE MILITIA
KELLYS 1890 HUNTINGDONSHIRE DIRECTORY
KELLYS 1935 PORTSMOUTH DIRECTORY
SIDCUP 1938 DIRECTORY
HARROW REGISTER
WHITES 1882 LINCOLNSHIRE DIRECTORY
KELLYS 1929 ESSEX DIRECTORY
PIGOTS 1830 CORNWALL DIRECTORY
PIGOTS 1830 GLOUCS DIRECTORY
PIGOTS 1830 HANTS DIRECTORY
PIGOTS 1830 DEVON DIRECTORY
PIGOTS 1830 NORFOLK DIRECTORY
PIGOTS 1830 SUFFOLK DIRECTORY
PIGOTS 1830 NORTHANTS DIRECTORY
WARDS 1897 SHIELDS DIRECTORY
PIGOTS 1830 DORSET DIRECTORY
WARDS 1897 SUNDERLAND DIRECTORY
WARDS 1897 NEWCASTLE DIRECTORY
WARDS 1897 GATESHEAD DIRECTORY
GLASGOW 1943/4 POST OFFICE DIRECTORY
PIGOTS 1830 HEREFORDSHIRE DIRECTORY
KELLYS 1939 BERKSHIRE DIRECTORY
PIGOTS 1830 HUNTS DIRECTORY
KELLYS 1947 NEWCASTLE DIRECTORY
KELLYS 1939 OXFORDSHIRE DIRECTORY
HALDENS 1893 STAFFORD DIRECTORY
PIGOTS 1830 OXON DIRECTORY
KELLYS 1902 DURHAM DIRECTORY
PIGOTS 1830 WALES DIRECTORY
KELLYS 1902 NORTHUMBERLAND DIRECTORY
PIGOTS 1830 SOMERSET DIRECTORY
KELLYS 1939 DEVON DIRECTORY
NATIONAL ROLL OF THE GREAT WAR - SECTION 7
KELLYS 1939 CORNWALL DIRECTORY
PIGOTS 1830 WILTSHIRE DIRECTORY
WHITES 1846 LEICESTERSHIRE DIRECTORY
BULMERS 1887 NORTHUMBERLAND DIRECTORY
LONDON MARRIAGES
KELLYS 1890 HERTFORDSHIRE DIRECTORY
MELVILLES 1861 NORTHANTS DIRECTORY
PIGOTS 1839 ESSEX DIRECTORY
KELLYS 1931 BERKSHIRE DIRECTORY
KELLYS 1918 LINCS DIRECTORY
KELLYS 1938 SURREY DIRECTORY
FYNES HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND & DURHAM MINERS
HUNTS 1851 DORSET DIRECTORY
WHITES 1863 ESSEX DIRECTORY
PIGOTS 1839 HERTFORDSHIRE DIRECTORY
HISTORIC & PICTURESQUE INNS OF OLD ENGLAND
PIGOTS 1839 MIDDLESEX DIRECTORY
KELLYS 1918 HULL DIRECTORY
KELLYS 1854 BUCKINGHAMSHIRE POST OFFICE DIRECTORY
KELLYS 1931 BUCKINGHAMSHIRE DIRECTORY
KELLYS 1894 NORTHAMPTONSHIRE DIRECTORY
KELLYS 1854 HUNTINGDONSHIRE POST OFFICE DIRECTORY
FETTES COLLEGE REGISTER 1870 - 1909
KELLYS 1854 CAMBRIDGESHIRE POST OFFICE DIRECTORY
THE ROSSALL REGISTER 1844 - 1913
KELLYS 1854 NORFOLK POST OFFICE DIRECTORY
KELLYS 1928 DERBYSHIRE DIRECTORY
KELLYS 1931 OXFORDSHIRE DIRECTORY
KELLYS 1854 SUFFOLK POST OFFICE DIRECTORY
WRIGHTS 1879 NOTTINGHAMSHIRE DIRECTORY
KELLYS 1928 NOTTINGHAMSHIRE DIRECTORY
KELLYS 1928 LEICESTERSHIRE & RUTLAND DIRECTORY
BENNETTS 1910 YORKSHIRE BUSINESS DIRECTORY
SLATERS 1846 LEINSTER DIRECTORY
KELLYS 1893 CORNWALL DIRECTORY
SLATERS 1846 CONNAUGHT & MUNSTER DIRECTORY
KELLYS 1936 WEST RIDING OF YORKSHIRE DIRECTORY
SLATERS 1846 ULSTER DIRECTORY
SLATERS 1846 LEEDS & SHEFFIELD DIRECTORY
SLATERS 1846 MANCHESTER & SALFORD DIRECTORY
SLATERS 1846 LIVERPOOL DIRECTORY
SLATERS 1846 GLASGOW DIRECTORY
SLATERS 1846 BIRMINGHAM DIRECTORY
SLATERS 1846 BRISTOL DIRECTORY
KELLYS 1886 DERBY DIRECTORY
COPES 1924 CHESHIRE DIRECTORY
1911 MANCHESTER ROYAL EXCHANGE DIRECTORY
BAINES 1822 WEST RIDING OF YORKSHIRE DIRECTORY
WHITES 1885 NOTTINGHAMSHIRE DIRECTORY
KELLYS 1925 CUMBERLAND DIRECTORY
BAINES 1822 LONDON DIRECTORY
DURHAM SCHOOL REGISTER
KELLYS 1925 WESTMORLAND DIRECTORY
NATIONAL ROLL OF THE GREAT WAR - SECTION 13
NATIONAL ROLL OF THE GREAT WAR - SECTION 12
KELLYS 1893 DEVON DIRECTORY
WARDS 1939 SUNDERLAND & WALLSEND DIRECTORY
KELLYS 1874 BIRMINGHAM DIRECTORY
WARDS 1939 NEWCASTLE DIRECTORY
WHITES 1851 STAFFORDSHIRE DIRECTORY
WARDS 1939 GATESHEAD DIRECTORY
BULMERS 1895 DERBYSHIRE DIRECTORY
PIGOTS 1828 LANCASHIRE DIRECTORY
EDINBURGH ACADEMY REGISTER
WHITES 1850 WARWICKSHIRE DIRECTORY
KELLYS 1922 CAMBRIDGESHIRE DIRECTORY
PIGOTS 1828 YORKSHIRE DIRECTORY
KELLYS 1947 LEEDS DIRECTORY
SLATERS 1863 BIRMINGHAM DIRECTORY
KELLYS 1891 SUSSEX DIRECTORY
PIGOTS 1835 STAFFORDSHIRE DIRECTORY
PIGOTS 1835 WARWICKSHIRE DIRECTORY
PIGOTS 1835 WORCESTERSHIRE DIRECTORY
LONDON 1896 DIRECTORY
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