Beginner's Genealogy Guide
Genealogy is the study of family history and lineage, tracing the roots and branches of our ancestors. It is a fascinating and rewarding pursuit, as it allows us to connect with our past, understand our heritage, and gain a deeper appreciation for our family’s story. Whether you are just starting your journey into genealogy or have been researching your family tree for years, there is always more to discover.In this beginner’s guide, we will explore the basics of genealogy research, including how to get started, the key records and resources to use, and tips for organizing and analyzing the information you uncover. We will also discuss the importance of preserving your family’s history and the various tools and technologies available to assist you in your research.As you embark on your genealogy journey, remember that it is a process that requires patience, perseverance, and a willingness to learn. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can begin to uncover the rich history of your family and gain a deeper understanding of your roots.
Establishing a Goal
One of the most important things to decide when you begin your genealogy journey is to decide on a goal. Many genealogists want to go as far back as possible on their family tree. Others want to find the most interesting stories about their ancestors. Some might be looking for evidence to support a family story that has been passed down for generations.Having a goal set early on can help you decide how you are going to approach your research. A genealogist interested in their recent ancestors’ immigration stories would have a different set of expectations, resources, and dedicated times than a genealogist interested in tracking their family to Charlemagne. What is your goal, and what will you do after you achieve it?In addition, many genealogists may discover family secrets that could be seen as shameful or embarrassing. Are you prepared to deal with these discoveries?If you have a goal picked out and are sure about taking the deep dive into your family history, let’s begin!
Gathering Information
Before beginning your genealogy research, it's important to gather as much information as possible about your family and ancestors. This will help you avoid duplicating research that has already been done and will provide a solid foundation for further research. Here are some steps you can take to gather information:Start with what you know: Begin by writing down everything you already know about your family and ancestors. This includes names, birth dates, marriage dates, death dates, and any other information you have.Build your family tree: Utilize an online genealogy website equipped with a tree builder or opt for using paper. This foundational step will help your research efforts. Platforms tailored to your ancestral origins can be beneficial for locating sources and connecting with relatives.Talk to relatives: Reach out to family members, especially older ones, and ask them about their memories and what they know about their family history. Take notes on what they say, and record any stories or anecdotes they share.Look for documents: Search for any documents you have that may contain information about your family, such as birth certificates, marriage licenses, death certificates, and obituaries. Check with relatives to see if they have any documents they can share with you.Search online: There are many online resources available that can help you research your family history, such as Ancestry.com, FamilySearch.org, and MyHeritage.com. These websites have vast databases of historical records and can be a great starting point for your research. Certain regions may have more records and information online than others.Search in person: Not all genealogical records are available online so travel might be needed to visit the archives within the regions where your ancestors lived. These places could be ancestral villages, towns, and cities.Join a genealogy community: Consider joining a genealogy society, historical society, or an online genealogy community. These groups can be a great source of information and can provide valuable guidance and support as you research your family history.
Identifying Sources
When conducting genealogy research, it's important to keep track of your sources and cite them properly. This helps you and others who view your research to verify your findings and trace your research back to the original source. It also helps you avoid repeating research that has already been done.There are many types of genealogy records that can be used to trace your family history. Some of the most common types of genealogy records include:Vital Records: These are government records that document important life events such as births, marriages, and deaths. These records often contain information about the person's name, date of birth, location, and parents' names.Census Records: Census records are taken about every 10 years and can provide a wealth of information about your ancestors. They include information such as names, ages, occupations, and places of birth.Immigration Records: These records can help you trace your ancestors' journeys to your country. They often include information about the ship they arrived on, their port of departure, and their country of origin.Military Records: These records can provide information about your ancestors' military service. They may include enlistment dates, ranks, units, and discharge dates.Church Records: Church records can provide information about your ancestors' religious affiliations, marriages, baptisms, and burials.Cemetery Records: Cemetery records can provide information about your ancestors' dates of birth and death, as well as their burial location and any inscriptions on their gravestones.Probate Records: These documents detail the distribution of an deceased person's estate after their death, shedding light on their assets, debts, and beneficiaries. They can provide insights into family relationships, and property ownership.Remember, it's important to use a variety of sources in your genealogy research to ensure that you're getting accurate and complete information about your ancestors.
Taking a DNA Test
DNA testing can be an incredibly useful tool for genealogists looking to uncover information about their family history. It allows you to confirm relationships between people and can reveal previously unknown family members. There are several types of DNA tests that can be used in genealogy, including autosomal DNA, mitochondrial DNA, and Y-chromosome DNA.Autosomal DNA testing is the most popular type of DNA test for genealogy. It tests your DNA from both parents and can reveal information about your ancestry going back several generations. This type of test is particularly useful for identifying genetic matches with other individuals and finding new relatives.Mitochondrial DNA testing is another type of DNA test that can be used in genealogy. This type of DNA is passed down from mothers to their children and can be used to trace maternal ancestry. In most people, there are two sex chromosomes, either XX (AFAB) or XY (AMAB).Y-chromosome DNA testing is a DNA test that is used to trace paternal ancestry. It is only available to who are biologically male and have XY chromosomes (AMAB), as it relies on the Y chromosome that is passed down exclusively from fathers to their sons.In addition to providing information about your family tree and finding new relatives, DNA testing can also provide ethnicity estimates. These estimates can give you a general idea of your ancestry based on your DNA.However, it's important to note that DNA tests provide ethnicity estimates are just that – estimates. They are based on statistical analysis of DNA from different populations and may not accurately reflect your actual ancestry. Additionally, ethnicity estimates can be affected by how the company doing the testing defines different ethnic groups and the specific reference populations used in the analysis.
Which DNA test do I take?
There are dozens of other companies that offer genetic testing, but these Top 4 are the most common and generally most trusted for accuracy, privacy, and quality. All tests provide ethnicity estimates and DNA relatives included in the cost of their test.
The costs below are in USD. We never recommend buying a DNA test when it is at full cost--try to wait until the kit is on sale. This typically happens around holidays but also throughout the year--watch their social media and official sales website.
| Name | 23&Me | AncestryDNA | FamilyTreeDNA | MyHeritage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base cost | $99 | $99 | $79 | $79 |
| # of users as of 2021 | 12+ million | 20+ million | 1.7+ million | 6.1+ million |
| Accepts uploads?* | No | No | Yes, free | Yes (paid) |
| Tree builder? | Limited, private | Yes, free | Yes, free | Yes (limited unless paid) |
| In-house records? | No | Yes (paid) | No | Yes (paid) |
| Health/traits info? | Yes (+$100) | Limited basic traits** | Yes (+$50) | No |
| yDNA? | No, haplogroup only | No | Yes (+$50) | No |
| mtDNA? | No, haplogroup only | No | Yes (+$80) | No |
| Law enforcement usage? | No | No | Yes | No |
*Sites that accept uploads often still make you pay for extra features. For more advanced ethnicity, wellbeing, and yDNA/mtDNA results, you must upgrade or purchase a kit.
**AncestryDNA used to sell a health kit but discontinued it and deleted all results in 2021. Now, only basic traits are provided to all users. Any AncestryHealth kit can no longer be activated.
What can DNA testing reveal?
DNA testing can reveal sensitive and emotional information about your family history. For example, it may uncover previously unknown relatives or reveal information about adoption, infidelity, or other family secrets. Consider the potential impact of this information before pursuing DNA testing.Be mindful of the privacy concerns involved in DNA testing, as your genetic information can be shared with others who have also taken the test or stored in databases that can be accessed by law enforcement or other third parties.Below are a list of resources that may help:
Glossary
This is a glossary of words you will encounter when doing genealogy.
Basic ConceptsAncestor: A person from whom one is descended, such as a grandparent or great-grandparent.Culture: The arts, beliefs, habits, institutions and other human endeavors considered together as being characteristic of a particular community, people or nation.Descendant: A person who is a direct offspring or descendant of a particular ancestor.Pedigree Chart (or Ancestral Chart): A visual representation of a person's ancestry, typically displayed in a tree-like structure, showing parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, and so on.Family Tree: A graphical representation of a family's ancestral relationships.Immigration: A person's entry into a new country to settle there.Generation: People born about the same time and related to a person at the same level (parents, grandparents, great-grandparents). A period of approximately 30 years separates each generation.Records and DocumentsCensus Records: Official government records that document the population, often including information about individuals and their families.Vital Records: Official records of life events, such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, and death certificates.DNA Testing: The analysis of DNA to discover genetic relationships and ancestry.GEDCOM (Genealogical Data Communication): A standard file format used to exchange genealogical data between different genealogy software programs.Primary Source: Original records or documents that provide firsthand information, such as birth certificates or letters.Secondary Source: Information that is derived from primary sources, like a family history book or a compiled genealogy.Research and MethodologyResearch Plan: A structured approach to genealogical research, outlining objectives, sources, and methods.Brickwall: A point in genealogical research where further progress is impeded due to a lack of information or conflicting evidence.Relationships and RelativesAncestor: Any person from whom another person is directly descended, for example, parents, grandparents, great-grandparents and so on.Cousin: A relative who shares a common ancestor. First cousins share grandparents, second cousins share great-grandparents, and so on.Removed Cousin: to indicate the number of generations back the common ancestor is from each cousin. For example, a "first cousin once removed" has a common grandparent with you, but their parent is your aunt or uncle.Collateral Relative: A relative who is not a direct ancestor or descendant but shares a common ancestor.Generation: People born about the same time and related to a person at the same level (parents, grandparents, great-grandparents). A period of approximately 30 years separates each generation.Tools and PlatformsGEDMatch: An online service that allows users to compare autosomal DNA data files from different testing companies.DNA Painter: A website for anyone who would like visual tools to interpret results from an autosomal DNA test for family history research.Organizations and RecognitionLineage Society: An organization for individuals who can prove their direct descent from a specific ancestor or group of ancestors.Resources and RepositoriesArchive: A repository or collection of historical records and documents.