Learning about your ancestry can help you learn a lot about yourself. Public record searches into your genealogy can reveal your family members’ personal histories, the historical foundations of your family, and your ancestors’ cultures and traditions. Building a family tree is an important project for you and the next generation. Here’s a few easy ways to get started.
Use Family Tree Software or a Website
The best way to ensure the accuracy of your recordkeeping is to use family tree software and genealogy programs to keep your information organized and up to date. Keeping your family tree online enables real-time updates, photo downloads, and quick and easy additions. Once you complete your online family tree, you can share it with relatives with a click of a button or print it for your records. Be as specific as possible when entering data into your family tree, including any important information you uncover about a person. This helps future generations glean the most from your hard work.
Familiarize Yourself With Online Genealogy Tools
In the 21st century, we no longer have to perform the ancestry hunt on foot. We can locate vital information about our genealogies from the comfort of our homes with easy and efficient online public records tools. The United States Census records are available to the public through a number of different websites, allowing you to track your family into the past. This online census is an invaluable tool for researchers who know which sites to use.
One popular tool for in-depth information about your ancestors’ marriages, divorces, owned property, bankruptcies, deaths, and more is CourthouseDirect.com. Our website offers instant access to thousands of documents in the U.S. Census that you can download straight to your desktop. Online resources like this one enable you to transfer documents and information you find about your ancestors directly into your online family tree software.
Start With a Known Ancestor
Once you decide on a genealogy search tool, the fun part begins. The easiest way to start your search is with a deceased relative. This can be a great-grandmother or someone farther back in your ancestry. Start with a basic search that includes his or her first name, last name, birthplace, and birth year. Only add the death information if you’re searching for a death record. Using the public records, you can uncover information about this ancestor, including his or her relatives, immigration details, and occupations.
Learn the Best Search Tips
If you can’t find information about your ancestor, change search parameters and try again. Use the fields in the search to try different combinations, such as first name + birthplace or last name + place of residence. Use filters to narrow down your search according to dates, collections, or place of residence. Instead of using exact age, try using a year range to pick up records with incorrect ages.
Search for name variations and different spellings or use an asterisk or exclamation point to see results for many spellings. For example, if you’re unsure if your great-grandfather’s name was Jon, Jonathon, or John, you can try searches for “Jo!” to see all endings. If you know the name was Jonathon but aren’t sure of the spelling, search “Jonath*n” to see results for Jonathon and Jonathan. Keep trying different variations until you see the records of the person you’re trying to find.
Cast a Wide Net
After recording important information about a known family member, begin unraveling more details of your past by researching the spouse, siblings, children, and other relatives of your known ancestor. Use the online records database as a jumping-off point, but also consider investigating documents of people associated with your ancestors. If you have trouble finding any information, get creative. Try genealogy crowdsourcing or posting known information on a genealogy social media group. People in the group can help you find more details about your ancestors.
Creating a detailed family tree can be an exciting adventure that’s beneficial to you and future generations. Take advantage of the online public records database to make your search fun and efficient.
