Find your ancestors in Guernsey, Relief For Stranger Poor Register

Was your ancestor a traveller, a merchant, or someone seeking a new beginning on Guernsey’s shores? Between 1892 and 1914, the Strangers Register holds the names of those who arrived as outsiders including visitors, workers, and wanderers who left traces of their presence on the island. More than just a list, it captures fleeting moments of lives in motion: where they came from, why they stayed, and sometimes, where they went next.

With every result, you will find a transcript and an original image of the register. The transcripts will include a combination of the following facts:

  • Name
  • Occupation
  • Birthplace
  • Year
  • Residence
  • Archive and reference

Viewing the original register will reveal more details about your ancestor:

  • Birth date
  • Arrival date
  • Names of wife and children
  • Birth places of wife and children

Discover more about these records

The Strangers Register in Guernsey was a historical record used to document non-resident individuals, or "strangers," who arrived on the island. The register was maintained by local authorities and served as a means of monitoring the movements of people who were not originally from Guernsey. This was particularly important in a time when controlling immigration and ensuring that visitors were properly accounted for was necessary for security, legal, and economic reasons.

The register typically recorded key details such as the name of the individual, their place of origin, their occupation, the reason for their stay, and the length of their visit. Strangers were often required to sign the register upon their arrival, and in some cases, they might also need to provide personal references or show that they had the means to support themselves during their stay.