Questions about your ancestry? Start here with Paul Crooks.

When your ancestry research reaches a dead end, Paul Crooks helps you find the next path forward.

Drawing on more than 20 years of research, Paul Crooks was the first family historian to demonstrate how archival records could be used to trace African-Caribbean ancestry from Britain and the Caribbean towards specific West African origins. His work began with his own family journey, tracing his ancestry from London to Jamaica and further back to Krobo Mountain, Ghana West Africa

Ask a question below and I'll point you to talks, books and resources that may help.

Paul Crooks, genealogist and author specialising in Jamaican and African-Caribbean ancestry

Paul Crooks, Author, Genealogist & Speaker

Stuck with your ancestry or family history research?

Choose the research problem that sounds closest to yours.

Your question not listed above?

Type it below and I'll suggest resources that may help you move forward.

What's the one ancestry question you'd most like answered?

Ask your question below and I'll match it to the talks, books and guides most likely to help.

Try questions about DNA results, surnames, slave registers, Windrush, mixed ancestry, Jamaican records or reconnecting to Africa.

"When records seem to disappear before the 1840s, I provide one-to-one consultations—reviewing every piece of evidence you have—to uncover overlooked archival clues and reconstruct your lineage.”

Popular resources

Ancestry Talks

Structured sessions addressing where and why family histories break down in the records.
→ Explore the Talks

Books & Publications

Published work examining how African-Caribbean ancestry can be reconstructed through historical records.
→ Browse Books

One-to-One Ancestry Guidance

For researchers who want expert guidance when records become difficult to interpret or connect.
→ Discuss a Research Problem

"Through my talk on surname origins, I’ve helped participants decode how names shifted during and after enslavement. By understanding these patterns, they’ve traced family lines that once seemed lost."

Institutional Use & Recognition

Work referenced and used by archives, libraries, and academic-led initiatives.
→ View Institutional Use & Citations

"When passenger lists fail, I guide attendees through real-world examples—like how I reconstructed my father’s journey. I help build narratives beyond the records, connecting the dots to uncover lost stories"