2006-09-20 14:16:19 · 8 answers · asked by canada_phoenix 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Genealogy
The best and free Genealogy sites out there are Family Search from the Church of Latter Day Saints and Rootsweb. There are a few more out there, but these two are more popular. I've tried this Genes Reunited, but it is very very limited and it is not free, you have to buy credits to get the information from your search or to leave messages to someone who is also researching the same person.
http://www.familysearch.org
http://www.rootsweb.com
2006-09-21 20:10:17 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you want to type in your name somewhere and get a 12-generation tree, skip the rest of this. I can show you where to dig, but you'll have to buy your own shovel and do the work yourself.
As a side note, before I start, since you are in favor of free sites, contact the US Gen Web administrator for your county (Link below) and offer to help transcribe records. They are in favor of free data too. The more people they have to help, the more data they can put on-line for free.
Buying a shovel: If you get serious you'll need a genealogy program. Trying to do family research without a genealogy program is like trying to write a novel with a pencil and yellow pad, instead of a word processor. I like Roots Magic. Family Tree Maker is the market leader. Both cost around $29. The Mormons will let you download PAF for free. It is clunky, but it is free. You can sometimes find old versions of FTM or Family Origins (FO is the predecessor of RM) in bargin bins at CostCo.
These may help get you started.
http://www.cyndislist.com/
(240,000+ links, all cross-indexed.)
http://www.familysearch.com
(Mormon's mega-site)
http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi
(450,000,000+ entries, of varying quality)
http://www.ancestry.com/learn/facts/default.aspx?ln=
Surname meanings and origins
United States only:
http://www.usgenweb.net/
(Subdivided into state sites, which all have county sites.)
(The Canadians have Canadian Gen Web, by province)
http://ssdi.genealogy.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/ssdi.cgi
(Social Security Death index - click on "Advanced".)
http://find.person.superpages.com/
(US Phone book, for looking up distant cousins)
Note:
You won't find living people on any of the sites except the phone book one. You will have to find your grandparents' or great grandparents' birth dates and maiden names somewhere besides the Internet.
The free sites are supported by advertising, just like TV. You can't watch the Super Bowl without seeing a beer commercial, and you can't surf for dead relatives without seeing an Ancestry advertisement. Don't complain about advertisements. They bring you the "free" sites. There's no such thing as a free lunch.
2006-09-20 15:05:05 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you have a few names of your ancestors, you can enter a surname/given name on this web page. With a little bit of luck, you'll find that somebody else has already done the work for you. It's free. Good luck.
2006-09-20 14:24:03 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Many have said www.familysearch.org Let me just emphasize this. If you are serious about genealogy use this site and ask your mormon neighbors. This church has the largest genealogy library in the world and they are willing to share for free! Trust me you'll get somewhere here!
2006-09-21 19:40:33 · answer #4 · answered by Brig 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Here's one site, which offers
"365 Ways to Find Your Ancestors"
Many good, free resources here.
Happy hunting!
2006-09-21 09:27:28 · answer #5 · answered by OShenandoah 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ancestry.com is available free in most public libraries. Heritagequest.com is also free in most libraries and can be accessed online via some library webpages, if you have a card for that library.
2006-09-21 11:05:26 · answer #6 · answered by pag2809 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
genes reunited
2006-09-20 14:19:10 · answer #7 · answered by ''H'' 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
familysearch.org is the best and it is FREE!
2006-09-20 16:40:52 · answer #8 · answered by newyorkgal71 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋