How To Make A Family Tree – Getting Started On Your Family Tree

How To Make A Family Tree
The first step is to write down what you know. Start with yourself, your parents, your grandparents, etc.

Then talk to your living family members. Many people wait until it is too late to ask family members questions.

You need to ask about themselves, their siblings, their parents, aunts and uncles, grandparents, great grandparents, great aunts and uncles, etc. as far back as they can remember. You want to know birth, marriage, death dates and places about these people.

Any information they can give, can help you start building your family tree. When someone knows that you are interested in them and really care, they are more willing to share information with you. You can learn many interesting stories and clues to help you this way.

If you have inherited a box of genealogy treasures when someone has passed away, look in it and see what treasures you can find...birth announcements, newspaper clippings, letters, pictures, etc. These could contain some of the data and clues you need for your family tree.

Ancestry.com is an excellent site to search for your ancestors. It is a paid membership but is well worth it. This site has new records to search put on it continuously.

The Free Genealogy page on our site lists other sources that you could search to help you find more information to build your family tree.

You are welcome to use our free printable blank family tree template to help you collect and organize your family tree information as you discover it.