Genealogy Basics

Getting started with genealogy

Define your research goals

Begin with clear aims to guide your investigation. Decide whether you want a simple ancestor line, a detailed family narrative, or a comprehensive tree that connects distant relatives. Set a time frame, a geographic focus, and a level of documentation you’re comfortable producing. Defining goals helps you prioritize sources, manage expectations, and measure progress as you uncover new information.

Gather what you already know

Collect what is known from family members, old letters, photographs, or heirlooms. Create a quick inventory of names, dates, places, and relationships. Even imperfect scraps can anchor your research, especially when you combine them with a plan to verify details later. A starter list provides a practical foothold for deeper exploration.

Choose a starting point (your earliest known ancestor)

Identify the earliest relative you can document with reasonable confidence. Starting there helps you work backward in time and build a solid chronology. If no ancestor is firmly known from earlier generations, begin with a surname tied to a region or a community and expand outward as records surface.

Core research steps

Organize your family information

Establish a consistent framework for names, dates, places, and relationships. Use a simple database, spreadsheet, or a family history program to store profiles for each person. Include fields for sources and notes about the reliability of each entry. Regularly back up and periodically review your organization to keep your data usable.

Search primary sources

Primary sources are original records created at the time of events (birth, marriage, migration). Look for vital records, church registers, land deeds, and community documents. Digital archives, libraries, and national or regional repositories often host scanned copies or indexes. Approach each search with variability in spelling, language, and jurisdiction, which can affect results.

Verify and document findings

Evidence should be cross-checked across multiple independent sources when possible. Document the source for every conclusion, noting the location, date accessed, and any translation issues. If a finding cannot be confirmed, mark it as a probable or uncertain link and seek additional corroboration before incorporating it into your tree.

Build your family tree with software or online tools

Choose a method that fits your workflow, whether offline software or online platforms. Build a tree by creating individuals, linking relationships, and attaching sources to each fact. Regularly review the tree for inconsistencies, duplicate records, or gaps, and use the tools to generate charts, timelines, and shareable reports for family members.

Vital records and key sources

Birth, marriage, and death certificates

These certificates provide essential facts such as names, dates, places, and parentage. They are valuable anchors for constructing family lines. When possible, obtain certified copies from the relevant government office or archives. If copies aren’t accessible, rely on abstracts, registrations, or indexed extracts from reputable repositories.

Census records

Census data reveals household composition, ages, birthplaces, occupations, and migration trends. Enumerations can help you connect individuals across generations and identify family units that might not appear in vital records. Be mindful of name spellings, transcription errors, and the specific census year’s coverage in a given region.

Immigration and naturalization records

Passenger lists, ship manifests, and naturalization papers provide insights into migration paths, origins, and timelines. These records often include ages, birthplaces, and family members who accompanied the emigrant. Immigration records can be especially helpful when local vital records are scarce.

Church and civil registrations

Parish registers and civil registries commonly record baptisms, marriages, and burials. In some areas, church records are the most complete source for earlier generations. Civil registrations may begin later but offer standardized formats and official copies that can be more accessible for verification.

Military records

Enlistment dates, ranks, units, and service locations appear in military files, muster rolls, pension applications, and draft registrations. These records can illuminate timelines and provide clues for locating other records tied to a service member, such as pension files or discharge papers.

Records and repositories

Online databases and portals

Digital databases and portals aggregate vast collections of records from local, regional, and national sources. Use search features, filters, and citations to locate specific individuals. Cross-check online results with original or offline copies when possible to confirm accuracy and avoid misattributions.

Archives and libraries

National archives, state or regional archives, and major libraries house primary sources, manuscripts, and periodicals not always available online. Visiting in person can yield unindexed collections, local newspapers, and rare items. Librarians and archivists can guide you to relevant holdings and finding aids.

Local government offices

Register offices, civil registries, and local archives preserve vital records and land documents. Access policies vary by jurisdiction; some records require formal requests, while others may be open for public inspection. When contacting offices, provide clear details about names, dates, and approximate locations to streamline the search.

Genealogy tools and techniques

DNA testing basics

DNA analysis can complement paper records by identifying genetic relationships and confirming or challenging traditional hypotheses. Autosomal DNA helps with recent ancestors, while mtDNA and Y-DNA can trace maternal or paternal lines further back. Treat results as one part of a bigger evidentiary puzzle and be mindful of privacy and consent issues when sharing data.

Pedigree charts and timelines

Pedigree charts visualize direct ancestors, while timelines place events in context. These tools help identify gaps, validate chronologies, and reveal patterns such as migrations or generational gaps. Use consistent date formats and source attribution within charts.

Citation and source notes

Develop a consistent citation standard for every fact. Include the source title, repository, date of access, and page or image numbers when applicable. Clear source notes enable others to verify or build on your work and protect you from propagating errors.

Ethical and privacy considerations

Living persons and sensitive information

Respect privacy when handling information about living relatives. Avoid sharing sensitive details, addresses, or contact information without consent. Consider withholding certain data from public forums or online trees, especially when individuals are recently living or have requested limited exposure.

Sharing vs. privacy

Balance the benefits of collaboration with respect for personal boundaries. Share family histories to preserve memory while safeguarding private details. When posting online, provide context, acknowledge sources, and encourage others to contribute while maintaining controls over who can view sensitive information.

Tips and best practices

Regular backups

Back up digital records frequently and securely. Maintain multiple copies in different locations, including offline backups, to guard against data loss from hardware failure or cyber threats. Periodic backups help preserve your research over the long term.

Collaboration with relatives

Engage relatives to share memories, photos, and stories. Dividing tasks—one person focusing on records, another on photos, and a third on citations—can improve efficiency. Regular communication helps keep everyone aligned and avoids duplicating effort.

Keeping a research log

Maintain a running log of what you searched, where you looked, and what you found or rejected. A research log clarifies reasoning, tracks decisions, and makes it easier to revisit and revise hypotheses as new information emerges.

Common challenges and solutions

Records gaps

Gaps are a natural part of genealogy. Work around them by expanding to nearby locations, checking alternative document types (probate records, school rolls, land deeds), and exploring nontraditional sources such as local histories or church archives. Incremental discoveries often fill big holes.

Record localization

Finding records in a specific place requires understanding local record-keeping practices and language or script variations. Use place-name variants, historical boundaries, and alphabetical spellings common to the era. Contact local societies or archives for guidance on where to search and how records were filed.

Mistranscriptions and name changes

Name spellings evolve over time or are recorded phonetically. Be systematic in testing variants and consider patronymics, nicknames, and anglicized forms. Soundex, metrical indexing, and historical name lists can help you locate records that might otherwise be missed.

Glossary of genealogy terms

Common terms and abbreviations

Familiarize yourself with terms such as birth (b.), death (d.), marriage (m.), ca. (circa), b. (born), d. (died), and other shorthand commonly used in records. A basic glossary helps you interpret documents quickly and reduces misinterpretation during research.

How to use a glossary in research

Keep a digital or physical glossary handy as you search. When you encounter unfamiliar terms, note them and verify definitions in context. A glossary supports consistent interpretation across different record types and languages.

Source: https://www.unesco.org

UNESCO emphasizes lifelong learning as a fundamental right and outlines the five pillars of education for the 21st century: learning to know, to do, to be, to live together, and to change. This underscores that building knowledge—like genealogy—benefits from inclusive access to information and digital literacy to evaluate sources effectively.