Researching your family tree

I love history, I often wished I had pursued this avenue as a youngster. I adore watching period dramas with all the fabulous costume designs and the rather grand stately homes. I can get lost in a good history book and wonder what it would have been like to live back then.Who were my ancestors? Where did we come from? How did we become who we are today?

Have you ever wondered how far back you could trace your ancestry? Researching your family tree has become a popular hobby over the years. It can be quite complicated, as you can imagine. Therefore, it takes time and dedication but as the puzzle pieces start to connect, it can be really quite exciting.

But, where do you start? Well, that’s the easy bit…start with yourself and work backward! Begin with the info you already know and continue to develop on that.

There are quite a few online tools designed to help with your search. Many dedicated websites allow you to create an account and build your tree electronically which will help keep everything together in one place. Some are free and others you need to pay a fee, so I guess it depends on how dedicated you are. It might be an idea to start by accessing all the free tools to hand and seeing how far you get, before committing to any hardcore evidence!

A popular free site is Family Search. Not only can you build your tree but you can also search hundreds of historical records. It will auto-fill some of the data by connecting your search to its database. If it finds a match it will auto-populate that information for you.

Once you have a good solid trunk of the tree figured out, you can then start to branch out. Many genealogy websites will alert you to anyone else researching the same people. It can be fun to connect with others, share your results and help each other fill in any missing blanks.

Become a detective by searching through public records such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, wills etc. Archives and census records have become more accessible online but it may still be worth a trip to your local library or local registry office. TV shows like ‘Who Do You Think You Are’ are worth a watch and can reveal some handy tips. They also have a dedicated website and magazine.

Why not visit the places your ancestors lived, it can give you a real sense of connection envisioning what life was like for them. You will be able to search any local records, visit graveyards and meet up with any relatives that may still live in the area. You never know, your search may even take you abroad. What a fabulous way to spend a little bit of holiday time.

Some days may be more successful than others but the beauty of this hobby is that you can pick it back up at any time. So whether you’ve got loads of spare time on your hands or you’re only just semi-retired, it’s a fun way to either spend a little downtime or if you’re feeling more adventurous, go out exploring and meeting new people.

And, if you get hooked but feel like your search is coming to an end, choose an ancestor to research that interests you. You’ll be surprised at how much of another world you unveil…history is endless.