Where to Start With Your Genealogy Research: 4 Simple Steps to Trace Your Family Tree

Are you curious about your family's past? You are not alone. Tracing your family tree is a fun and rewarding adventure. It is like putting together a giant puzzle. But, facing a giant pile of puzzle pieces can feel scary. Where do you start? Follow these four easy steps.

Step 1: Start With Yourself

The best place to start is at home. You are the very first piece of your own family tree.

• Write down your full name, your birthday, and where you were born.
• Do the same for your parents.
• Add the names of your grandparents if you know them.
• Write down any important dates like weddings or moving days.

Step 2: Search Your Home

You likely have hidden treasures inside your own house. Look around for clues about your ancestors. An ancestor is a family member who lived a long time ago.

• Ask your family members for old photo albums. Look for names written on the backs of pictures.
• Search for old diaries, letters, or scrapbooks.
• Look for official papers like birth certificates or marriage licenses.

Step 3: Talk to Your Relatives

Older family members are great sources of history. They hold memories that you will not find in any book.

• Sit down and chat with your parents, aunts, uncles, and grandparents.
• Ask them to tell you stories about their parents and childhood.
• Take notes or record the conversation so you do not forget the details!

Step 4: Use Online Family History Tools

Once you have collected information at home, it is time to search the internet. There are amazing websites made just for this.

• FamilySearch: This is a completely free website to help you build your tree and search billions of old records.
• National Archives: The official U.S. government site has great guides on how to Start Your Genealogy Research.
• Ancestry.com: This is a very popular site for exploring family trees and connecting with other researchers.

Keep Your Research Neat

You will gather a lot of names and dates very fast. It is easy to get confused! To stay organized, use blank charts to map out your family. You can download free forms like a Pedigree Chart from the National Genealogical Society.