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    2 min read 7 stepsApril 2, 2026Verified April 2026

    How to Research Your Family History Online

    Discover your ancestors and build a family tree using digital genealogy tools.

    At a Glance

    Category
    How-To Guides
    Difficulty
    Beginner
    Read Time
    2 min read
    Steps
    7
    Topics covered
    genealogy
    family-history
    research
    ancestry
    heritage

    In this guide (7 steps):

    1. 1.Start with what you know
    2. 2.Choose a platform
    3. 3.Build your family tree
    4. 4.Search census records
    5. 5.DNA testing
    6. 6.Organize your findings
    7. 7.Connect with relatives
    1

    Start with what you know

    ~15s
    Write down everything you know: full names, dates, and places for parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents. Ask older family members for details — they're your best primary source.
    2

    Choose a platform

    ~15s
    Ancestry.com ($25-50/month): largest database, DNA testing. FamilySearch.org (free): run by LDS Church, massive free records. MyHeritage: good for European ancestry. FindAGrave.com (free): cemetery records.
    3

    Build your family tree

    ~15s
    Start with yourself and work backward. Enter names, dates, and locations for each person. The platform suggests records that might match your ancestors. Verify each suggestion before adding.
    4

    Search census records

    ~15s
    US Census records (every 10 years from 1790) list household members, ages, occupations, and birthplaces. Available free on FamilySearch. These are goldmines for tracing family movement and composition.
    5

    DNA testing

    ~15s
    AncestryDNA, 23andMe, and MyHeritage DNA ($60-100) analyze your ethnicity and find genetic relatives. DNA results can break through brick walls in traditional research. Consider testing older family members first.
    6

    Organize your findings

    ~15s
    Save copies of every document you find. Note the source for each fact. Take photos of physical documents and tombstones. Back up your research to the cloud.
    7

    Connect with relatives

    ~15s
    DNA matches and shared family trees connect you with distant cousins researching the same lines. Message them — collaborative research breaks through walls that solo research can't.

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    genealogy
    family-history
    research
    ancestry
    heritage

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