Dr Nicholas Dixon

05/08/2026

On Tuesday 22nd September at 6pm BST, I will be giving a Spotlight Talk for the University of Strathclyde Institute for Genealogical Studies on the subject of 'Two Disciplines Divided by a Common Language: Towards a Synthesis of Genealogy and History', drawing upon my experiences as both an historian and a genealogist. You can register for this event using the link below. The talk will be streamed via Zoom. My description is as follows:

It has often been said in a whimsical fashion that Britain and America are two nations divided by a common language. In academia, the same observation can be made about the disciplines of genealogy and history. Genealogists and historians use the same sources and many of the same methods and terminologies, and yet there remains a vast, implicit gulf separating their respective practitioners. This was not always so. Before the professionalisation of history in the twentieth century, many scholars happily integrated historical and genealogical studies, especially in topographical research. In this paper, Dr Nicholas Dixon will argue that a new synthesis of history and genealogy is both practicable and desirable. He will draw upon his own experiences of the world of academic history, and the transition which he has made from completing a PhD in History at Cambridge to studying genealogy at Strathclyde and working for clients as a genealogist and historical researcher. This journey gives him a unique vantage point, having crossed a rigid disciplinary boundary and then used his historical skills within the context of commercial genealogy. From these experiences, it is apparent to him that the demarcation between history and genealogy is becoming more and more difficult to define. Historians are increasingly being compelled to acknowledge the usefulness of genealogical resources and approaches. Meanwhile, genealogists are increasingly having to reckon with the complexities of historical interpretation, rather than relying on familiar tropes about the past. If directed in a productive fashion, this synthesis could bring forth novel and exciting insights into the way that we view the past, as well as the emergence of a new sub-discipline.

Join us online (via Zoom) for the next Strathclyde Institute for Genealogical Studies’ Spotlight Talk featuring Dr Nicholas Dixon, a professional genealogist and historical researcher based in London. 

29/07/2026

It is fascinating to see Archbishop Manners-Sutton's changes for the coronation service of George IV again, in one of the very first manuscripts which I examined at Lambeth Palace Library when I began conducting archival research as a history student in 2013.

My analysis of changes to the coronation rite during this period can be read in two publications from 2021 that are linked below.

https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/church-history/article/church-of-england-and-the-coronation-rite-17611838/F0DF7E606EBC614B426B5E7D9CA41704/share/e85d9a184eda1714efa93301c10145e197e45a46

https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/power-and-ceremony-in-european-history-9781350152182/

Here is a page from the coronation service of George IV, complete with annotations.

The coronation took place at Westminster Abbey, London, on 19 July 1821.

[MS 1312, ff. 36–37]

24/07/2026

The Register of Qualified Genealogists is inviting applications for a senior co-editor of The Journal of Genealogy and Family History, the journal which I have been co-editing since 2024. Please share this advertisement with anyone who may be interested in joining our journal team and maintaining high standards in genealogical scholarship. Follow the link below for further details, including the essential qualifications which we have specified for this position.

See link to the full advertisement in comments below:

23/07/2026

I would encourage anybody with an interest in the intersection of genealogy and heraldry as well as gentry families and East Anglia to read this fascinating article by Jonathan Lodge on the three surviving hatchments at Eye church in Suffolk.

We are delighted to announce the publication of a new journal article in the Journal of Genealogy and Family History https://doi.org/10.24240/23992964.2025.1234550

20/07/2026

It was a great pleasure to attend the Awards Day of IHGS: The School of Family History in Canterbury and represent the Register of Qualified Genealogists with my fellow director Lisa Constanti (Chronicology). Many congratulations to everyone who received their awards!

RQG directors Lisa Constanti and Dr Nicholas Dixon, seen here with IHGS Principal Dr Paul Fox, Jayne Smith (CEO) and Elizabeth Yule (Director of Research), attended the IHGS Academic Awards ceremony last week where eight full and student RQG members received awards from the Institute of Heraldic and Genealogical Studies. Our congratulations to:
Kathie Ross Sarah Cook
Mandy Geary Kirsty Hooper
Monica Milton Jananne Rahman
Deborah Brambill Angela Smith

20/07/2026

I am delighted to announce that the The New York Genealogical & Biographical Society - NYG&B has made available a recording of an online talk which I presented to them in May, 'Preserving Your New York Story: Getting Started with English Genealogy'.

In the 1850 census, around 86,000 inhabitants of the state of New York gave their birthplace as England. Tracing the origins of such emigrants in England is sometimes a daunting task, but there is a wealth of resources that can assist researchers in pinpointing ancestors. In this talk, I offer some practical advice about the first steps that are necessary to find out about English families. The usefulness of census records and church registers as a starting point for genealogical enquiry are discussed, as are methods of researching vital records.

You can watch this talk recording by following the link below.

https://www.newyorkfamilyhistory.org/video/preserving-your-new-york-story-getting-started-english-genealogy/watch

The photochrom print shows the Church of the Transfiguration, Manhattan, where my great-great-great-uncle Thomas Joseph Dixon was married to Christiana Dickinson Cox in 1892.

16/07/2026

This week, I was very pleased to participate in the summer conference of the Ecclesiastical History Society (of which I was an executive committee member from 2018 to 2021) for the first time in five years. This conference, held at Royal Holloway, University of London, addressed the topic of 'The Church and Race'. In my paper, I used a genealogical case study to shed light on the debate in the early nineteenth-century Church of England concerning the missionary activities of the London Society for Promoting Christianity amongst the Jews, which was founded in 1809. My paper drew upon the voluminous papers of the society held at the Bodleian Libraries and parish registers in The London Archives. I had presented five papers at previous Ecclesiastical History Society summer conferences (three of which have been published by the society in 'Studies in Church History'), but this year's paper represented a new departure for me in its synthesis of genealogical analysis and historical methods of interpretation. Aside from this, it was pleasure to chair a session and to connect with many fellow scholars. I learned a great deal from the other papers and plenaries, which gave varied and subtle insights into a complex and challenging dimension of the past. Many thanks indeed to the organisers and the other attendees for making the conference such an intellectually stimulating and convivial event.

06/07/2026

It was a great pleasure to attend the 'Beyond the Family Tree' conference at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow last month. This event was preceded by an excellent symposium for genealogists that was convened by the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG). Both of the events included a number of thought-provoking presentations, especially about AI, from which I learned a lot. As a genealogist with a background in academic history, it was also interesting to hear various perspectives on the intersection of genealogy and history. The events demonstrated that genealogy has come of age as a scholarly discipline, despite dismissive attitudes which persist in some quarters. I am confident that we can build upon this success and continue to raise standards, both in client work and in academic study. Aside from this, it was wonderful to connect with so many genealogists in person and share ideas. Many thanks to the organisers for your efforts in bringing us together and facilitating such fascinating papers.

12/05/2026

In the latest issue of The London Library magazine, there is an interview with me by Katie Armstrong. In this article, I explain how exploring my own family history inspired me to pursue a career as a professional genealogist and how the library's rich collections help me to conduct research for clients. Although most genealogical research is now carried out online or using original documents, there is still an enormous amount that can be gained (and time that can be saved) by locating relevant literature that preserves the knowledge of past generations.

05/05/2026

On Tuesday 12th May at 12pm EDT (5pm UK time), I will be presenting a virtual talk to the The New York Genealogical & Biographical Society - NYG&B about 'Getting Started with English Genealogy' in their series 'Preserving your New York Story'. Please follow the link below for further details. The event is free for anyone to attend but registration is required. You can join online through Zoom or (if in New York City) listen to my presentation in the society's headquarters at 36 West 44th Street, Suite 711. I am greatly looking forward to this event.

In the 1850 census, around 86,000 inhabitants of the state of New York gave their birthplace as England. Tracing the origins of such emigrants in England is sometimes a daunting task, but there is a wealth of resources that can assist researchers in pinpointing ancestors. In this talk, I will offer some practical advice about the first steps that are necessary to find out about English families. The usefulness of census records and church registers as a starting point for genealogical enquiry will be discussed, as will methods of researching the vital records.

https://www.newyorkfamilyhistory.org/events/preserving-your-new-york-story-getting-started-english-genealogy