I've subscribed to acestors.co.uk to start a family tree and seek out my ancestors, but the site isn't all that helpful and can be very hard to navigate at times. Anyone offer any tips or suggest another site to use?
2006-09-22 05:35:57 · 6 answers · asked by Andy L 1 in Family & Relationships ➔ Family
Someone asks a question like yours 1 - 4 times a day here or in the "Family" category. I paste this answer in.
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.
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. They are large and free.
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
(460,000,000+ entries, of varying quality)
http://www.ancestry.com/learn/facts/default.aspx?ln=
Surname meanings and origins
http://www.tedpack.org/begingen.html
My own site: "How to Begin"
(Aimed at Yanks, but you might find somethin helpful anyway)
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.
2006-09-23 02:20:55 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i use genesreunited.co.uk .you enter all the names etc that you know and every fortnight they srnd you a list of people who have put the same details in to see if you can match any..the info is free but to contact anyone you must be a member (about £10 p.a) .its not worth doing if you dont become a member as you will come to a standstill. also the mormons do family tree stuff, just google those words to find a link.. good luck, but be warned...it takes over your life!
2006-09-22 07:17:13 · answer #2 · answered by ginger 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually, I think the best way to find out about your ancestors is to ask your relatives. They probably have a wealth of information to share with you. Also, I would suggest looking for church records of marriages, births, and deaths as well as hospitals for birth cerificates and town or city records of residency to find out where they lived.
2006-09-22 05:40:16 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Gene's Reunited i think it's called.
2006-09-22 06:10:29 · answer #4 · answered by chickadee 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
go to www.familytree.com good luck
2006-09-22 05:39:42 · answer #5 · answered by Patrick P 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ancestory.com
2006-09-22 06:21:24 · answer #6 · answered by faith 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋