How do you find your ancestors on the internet?

Question

i want to find out more about where i came from

Answer 1

Hey Poohbear,

You can find your ancestors on the internet in hundreds of ways. There are web sites dedicated to locations for Vital Records at cities throughout the world. There are specialty sites for every aspect of genealogy, including some Family Trees already put together (would be a branch on your tree possibly), and by Surname.

First you start with vital records of those closest to you, then branch out and back. One person at a time. Here are some great places to start with.

LDS Family Search, search for birth and death records, free. Ellis Island, immigration to the USA. GENFORUM, talk to people with an interest in a specific surname. Cindi's list, a list of lists for places, special interests, countries, records, just about anything to do with Genealogy.

When you get setteled into looking, get some software to get organized too.

Answer 2

I save this and paste it because the same questions come up a lot:

What are good free sites for genealogy?
Does anyone know about the {surname} family?
How can I trace my family tree, for free?

Sometimes in the genealogy category,
Arts & Humanities -> Genealogy.
Sometimes elsewhere. The fourth time I typed in three of my favorite links I realized it would be better to make a good list and save it. Since this is a general answer, some of the paragraphs may not apply to you. If you search or browse the resolved questions in the Genealogy category, you can find more links from other people.

Two warnings:
1) It takes time. Compiling a good family tree is like writing a term paper for a high school history class. You have to do research.
2) Most of the genealogy data on the web is about people born before 1900, to protect living people's privacy. You'll have to find your grandparents (or great grandparents) off the web.

Here are some large free sites.

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, some excellent, some bad, most in between)
http://www.ancestry.com/learn/facts/default.aspx?ln=
Surname meanings and origins; no specific individuals, but fun.

These are for the USA only.

http://www.usgenweb.net/
(Subdivided into state sites, which all have county sites.)
(Canada has a Canadian Gen Web, with sites for each 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)

These two are for the UK & Ireland only:
http://www.genuki.org.uk
http://www.freebmd.org.uk/


If you get serious, you should probably buy a genealogy program. I like Roots Magic. Family Tree Maker is very popular. Both are $29 in the USA, but you can sometimes find old versions in discount bins at software stores.

http://www.tedpack.org/begingen.html
has some tips for beginners.

Answer 3

Try the website Ancestry.com
That is the one that I use. I am also trying to do a family tree.

Answer 4

ANCESTORS.COM but ask your parents for some names and info about the most recent people. You can also look on ancestors.ca

Answer 5

Ted Pack has the answer

Answer 6

they're the ones still on dial-up, waiting for this page to load.