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Actress Julia Sawalha decided to investigate her maternal links, which she suspected were French due to her great-grandmother’s name, Gladys Dubock. She began with census returns at the Family Records Centre.
After finding entries for William Dubock, variously a grocer, cheesemaker and silk-weaver, further research provided a link to Peter Dubock in the early 18th century. Four generations of her family had been silk-weavers until the French invented a superior loom in the 19th century and were able to mass-produce goods much more cheaply than the English. At this point William became a grocer, while many others found manual work on the railways or docks. The less fortunate starved or ended up in the workhouse.
Julia was able to confirm her Huguenot roots when she discovered Peter Dubock’s grandfather, Daniel Dubock, who was persecuted in the 17th century. He was one of nearly 200,000 who fled overseas after the French King Louis XIV passed a decree in 1685 banning Protestant worship in France and stripping Huguenots of their Civil Rights.
Julia also investigated her paternal lineage, discovering her Jordanian heritage. Her grandfather’s family were Bedouins, tribal people who lived a nomadic existence in the desert. Julia’s grandmother was a successful businesswoman, winning recognition from the King of Jordan.
The Huguenot Society
holds many records on Huguenot families. It has also published records of naturalisations.
London Metropolitan Archives holds material on Huguenot businesses as well as those of individuals
The French Protestant Church of London holds its own records:
French Protestant Church
8/9 Soho Square
London W1V 5DD
Some records held at The National Archives contain references to Huguenots. State Paper Entry Books (series SP44) contain applications for denization, including French Protestants. You will need to visit The National Archives to look at these.
Immigrants and Aliens 2nd edition A guide to sources on UK immigration and citizenship 
