Britain's oldest public record, the census known as the Domesday Book, available online

The Domesday Book, an early census record which lists the people and lands ruled by William the Conqueror, is now available online through the National Archives of the UK. William commissioned the survey in 1085 to determine the taxable value of his kingdom. The result is a detailed list of more than 13,000 places, depicting a structured feudal society of late 11th century England. The online book can be searched by place or personal name. Record summaries are free but the pages themselves, along with a translation of the original Latin, cost $6.60 each.