How to Start Researching Your Family Tree: A Beginner\'s Guide
New to genealogy? This beginner-friendly guide walks you through starting your family tree research, from interviewing relatives to using online databases and free analysis tools.
Start with what you know
Every family tree begins with you. Write down everything you already know: your parents' full names and dates, grandparents, great-grandparents, and any family stories about origins or migrations.
Don't worry about being complete - you'll fill in gaps as you research. The goal is to create a foundation to build on.
Interview your relatives
Living relatives are your most valuable primary source. Ask about:
- Full names including maiden names and middle names
- Dates and places of births, marriages, and deaths
- Occupations and addresses - these help locate people in records
- Family stories - even "legends" often have a kernel of truth
- Old documents and photos - birth certificates, marriage records, letters, and diaries
Record or write down conversations. Details that seem unimportant now may unlock a record later.
Choose genealogy software
Pick a program to organise your findings. Options range from free collaborative online platforms, to subscription-based online tree builders, to free or paid desktop software.
Whichever you choose, make sure it supports GEDCOM export. That way you can always move your data between programs or analyse it with tools like GEDminer.
Search online record databases
Once you have names and approximate dates, search for records in:
- National archive websites for each country your family lived in
- Online genealogy databases that aggregate civil registration, censuses, and parish records
- Free regional record sites maintained by libraries, archives, and genealogical societies
- Historical newspaper archives for obituaries, marriage notices, and community news
Start with civil registration records (births, marriages, deaths), then expand to censuses, church records, and immigration documents.
Use census records
Census records are genealogy gold. They place an entire household at a specific address on a specific date, usually recording:
- Names and ages of everyone in the household
- Relationships to the head of household
- Birthplaces, occupations, and literacy
- Whether they owned or rented their home
Most Western countries conducted censuses every 10 years. Working through each available census builds a timeline of your family's life.
Organise and verify as you go
Good genealogy requires careful record-keeping:
- Cite your sources: Record where you found each fact
- Enter data consistently: Use standard date formats and full place names
- Verify before adding: Cross-reference facts across multiple records
- Back up regularly: Export your GEDCOM file as a backup
Upload your GEDCOM to GEDminer periodically to check for errors, find research gaps, and get suggestions for what to investigate next.
Next steps
Once you have a basic tree of 3-4 generations:
- Analyse your tree: Upload to GEDminer for quality checks and research suggestions
- Take a DNA test: Autosomal DNA testing can reveal ethnic origins and connect you with genetic cousins
- Join genealogy societies: Local and national groups offer expertise and access to records
- Visit archives: Some records are only available in physical repositories
- Connect with cousins: Share your tree to collaborate with distant relatives researching the same lines