Starting Your Family Tree: A Beginner's Guide

Step 1: Gather What You Already Know

Before diving into records and websites, start by collecting what you already know about your family. Begin with yourself and work backwards, noting down the names, birthdates and places of birth of your immediate family: parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, and any other relatives you can gather information on.

Tip: Write down any stories, oral histories or family heirlooms that might give you clues about your ancestors. Photos, letters and even old family Bibles can hold hidden gems!

Step 2: Ask Family Members for Help

Genealogy isn’t just about searching databases - it’s about piecing together stories passed down through generations. Your family members, especially older relatives, are invaluable sources of information. Ask them about names, dates, places and anything else they know about your ancestors. Even seemingly small details can make a big difference in your research.

Tip: Record your interviews with family members. Their memories might lead you to new research paths or help clarify information that might be difficult to track down online.

Step 3: Start with the Basics: Birth, Marriage and Death Records

Once you’ve gathered everything you know, it’s time to dive into the records. In the UK and Ireland, the key to unlocking your family history often begins with civil registration records. These include:

• Birth Records (from 1837 in England and Wales, 1865 in Ireland and Scotland 1855)

• Marriage Records (from 1837 in England and Wales, 1855 Scotland and 1845 for Ireland)

• Death Records (from 1837 in England and Wales, 1855 Scotland and 1865 Ireland)

These records are essential because they provide concrete details about your ancestors, such as dates, locations and family members. The best part? Many of these records are freely available online!

Where to Start:

• FreeBMD (www.freebmd.org.uk): A free resource for searching the indexes of England and Wales civil registration records.

• General Register Office (www.gro.gov.uk) Order birth, marriage and death certificates for England and Wales, searching is free, but there is a charge for certificates.

• General Register Office Northern Ireland (Groni) (www.nidirect.gov.uk) Free name search, but more detailed results or certificates require payment.

• FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org): Offers free access to UK and Irish records, including birth, marriage and deaths.

• Ireland’s National Archives (www.irishgenealogy.ie): For Irish civil records, including births, marriages and deaths, available free online, also some church records.

• Scotland's People (www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk): Free to search but with a charge for more detailed results.

Step 4: Dive into the Census Records

Census records are some of the most valuable tools in genealogy. In the UK and Ireland, censuses were taken every ten years starting in 1801 (with full records available from 1841 onwards). These documents provide a snapshot of your ancestors’ lives, including their names, ages, occupations, relationships and where they lived at the time.

Where to Start:

• UK Census Records: You can access the UK censuses from 1841-1911 for free on Ancestry (via your local library) or Findmypast (also available through libraries).

• Ireland’s 1901 & 1911 Censuses: Available for free on the National Archives of Ireland website, this covers Northern Ireland as well www.nationalarchives.ie.

• Scotland's People for all things Scotland

Tip: Pay attention to spelling variations in surnames, as names were often recorded phonetically or inaccurately.

Step 5: Explore Parish Records and Church Documents

Before civil registration started in the UK and Ireland, many birth, marriage, and death events were recorded by the church in parish registers. These records are especially helpful for researching ancestors who lived before the 1830s.

In the UK: Parish records vary by county, but many have been transcribed and made available online. Check sites like FamilySearch and FreeReg for free access to church records.

In Ireland: Church records (both Catholic and Protestant) are crucial, especially for those with roots going back before civil registration. The National Library of Ireland offers free access to Roman Catholic parish registers, covering baptisms and marriages.

In Scotland: www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk

Tip: For Irish ancestors, check the Irish Genealogical Research Society for links to specific parish records and other resources.

Step 6: Use Free Online Tools for Extra Help

Once you’ve gathered the basic records, it’s time to start expanding your search. There are several free tools and websites that can help you dig deeper into your family’s history:

• FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org): A free resource with a vast collection of records from both the UK and Ireland, along with helpful family tree-building tools.

• FindMyPast (www.findmypast.co.uk): Although primarily a paid resource, FindMyPast offers free access to certain UK records (such as some parish records) and provides a free trial.

• Ancestrywww.ancestry.co.uk is my personal favourite, it's very similar to Findmypast in terms of cost and records available, but it has the largest database if you're thinking about testing your DNA. On both of these sites you can also build an online family tree without a paid subscription

• The National Archives (www.nationalarchives.gov.uk): A treasure trove of UK records, including wills, military service records, and much more.

Step 7: Keep Track of Your Findings

As you begin collecting records, it’s important to stay organised. Use genealogy software or online tools like Ancestry, MyHeritage, or FamilySearch to build your family tree and track your progress. You can also create a simple spreadsheet to keep a list of sources and the information you’ve found.

Tip: Make sure to note down where each piece of information came from (e.g., a website or a record) so you can refer back to it later if needed.

Step 8: Keep Searching, Keep Learning

Genealogy is a lifelong adventure! Once you’ve traced your immediate family back a few generations, don’t stop there. There’s always more to discover - whether it’s uncovering old family stories, tracing even further back into the past, or expanding into new branches of your family tree.

Tip: Join online genealogy forums or groups (like Genealogy UK or Ireland on Facebook or something relevant to your location) to exchange tips, share your findings and get advice from fellow family history enthusiasts.

Wrapping Up

Starting your family tree can feel like a daunting task, but with these tips, you’re well on your way to discovering the stories of your ancestors. Remember, genealogy is a journey, not a race. Each new record you find is a piece of a fascinating puzzle and with each discovery, you’re building a connection to your family’s past that could last generations.

Have you started your family tree yet? What tips or challenges have you encountered along the way? Share your thoughts in the comments below!