Emma Jolly is a professional genealogist, writer and historical researcher.

She studied at Sussex University - BA (Hons) in Intellectual History (2000) - and Sheffield Hallam University - MA with Merit in History: Imperialism and Culture (2014). In November 2014, Emma was awarded the Russell Finch prize for best History MA dissertation. She has also attained (2006) the IHGS Higher Certificate in Genealogy.

Emma writes regularly for family history publications, and is the author of five books: A Guide to Tracing Your Family History using the Census (2020), My Ancestor was a Woman at War (2014), Tracing Your Ancestors Using the Census (2013), Tracing Your British Indian Ancestors (2012) and Family History for Kids (2007).

Emma has also contributed a biography of Mary Trevelyan (1897–1983), warden of Student Movement House, to the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, and a chapter on to Simon Fowler’s Family History: Digging Deeper (The History Press, 2012). For full details of Emma's writing, see the Books page.

Besides writing, Emma's media work includes research for IWC Media, the Daily Mirror, Michael Palin, Dragonfly Productions, and the BBC.

Emma is an active member of the Society of Genealogists, Families In British India Society (FIBIS) and the Scottish Genealogy Network. Emma is also a member of the Association of Genealogists and Researchers in Archives (AGRA) and is on the recommended researchers list for the India Office Records at the British Library.

Based in St Andrews, Emma specializes in genealogy problem-solving, London history, social history, women's history, the British in India, memoir writing, the production of bespoke history books, and private work.

Emma is a professional genealogist with years of experience in traditional and genetic genealogy. As a member of ISOGG, she stays up to date with the latest developments in DNA research and has completed the full year of the Your DNA Guide Study Group course. Emma combines her expertise in historical records with modern DNA techniques to help clients solve long-standing family mysteries. Whether you're trying to confirm an ancestral line or find unknown relatives, she offers a structured, research-driven approach.

When she is not researching for clients, Emma enjoys exploring her own family's history. Currently she is looking further into the life of her great-great grandfather, William Mitchell Jolly (1842-1889), and following up on the results of her autosomal DNA tests with Family Tree DNA, Ancestry, MyHeritage, Living DNA, and 23andMe.