If you’re just starting your genealogy research, the best approach is to begin with yourself and work backwards.

Step 1 – Gather what you already know

Get a large notebook and write everything down –

• Your full name, birth date, and place of birth
• Your parent’s name, birth dates, marriage details and places they lived
• Your grandparent’s information, if known
• Gather family stories, photographs, letters, certificates and family Bibles

Step 2 – Interview Relatives

Chat with older relatives as they can be an invaluable source of information. Ask them about –

• Names and nicknames
• Dates and places of births, marriages and deaths
• Family migrations
• Military service
• Occupations and family stories

By now you may have a substantial amount of information, lots of names, dates, places and even photographs. The next stage is to start building your family tree, but how are you going to do that?

Step 3 – Organize Your Research

Use a family tree chart or genealogy software. Popular option include –

• Ancestry
• FamilySearch
• My Heritage
• Family Tree Maker

Step 4 – Search Historical Records

Look for –

• Birth, marriage and death records
• Census records
• Church register
• Probate and Wills
• Military records
• Immigration and passenger lists

Step 5 – Verify Everything

Avoid copying other people’s family trees without checking the original records. Genealogy errors can spread very quickly.

Step 6 – Consider DNA Testing

DNA tests can help identify relatives and confirm family connections. The main providers include –

• Ancestry DNA
• 23andMe
• MyHeritage DNA