Yes, you can find your family tree by combining what your relatives already know with online genealogy databases, DNA testing, and organized record research. Start by writing down names, dates, and places from family members, then use free and paid websites to build and verify each generation.
What a Family Tree Actually Is
A family tree is a visual chart of your direct ancestors and their relatives. Most trees show parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents in a branching format, with siblings and cousins on the same horizontal lines. Genealogists use standard symbols: a square for male, a circle for female, a horizontal line for marriage, and a vertical line for descent. Trees can be as small as three generations or extend back hundreds of years, depending on how far records survive.
It helps to understand that a family tree is not a single official document. It is a reconstruction built from many sources—birth certificates, census returns, marriage licenses, obituaries, military records, and oral history. Different relatives may remember the same event differently, so every fact should be checked against a primary record whenever possible.
How to Begin Genealogy Research
The best starting point is always your own family. Ask parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles for names, dates, and places. Old letters, Bibles, photo albums, and funeral cards often contain clues. Write down everything, even if it seems trivial—a middle name, a street address, or a nickname can unlock a census record.
Next, organize what you have. A simple spreadsheet with columns for name, birth date, birth place, marriage date, death date, and notes works well. Free pedigree charts are available from many genealogy sites and can be printed or filled in digitally. Once your immediate family is documented, you can begin searching for records.
Using Online Genealogy Databases
Several websites host billions of digitized records. The largest are Ancestry.com and MyHeritage, both subscription-based, and FamilySearch.org, which is free and run by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. FamilySearch has indexed birth, marriage, death, and census records from many countries, and its user-contributed family trees can be searched without charge.
When you search, start with one ancestor and one event. For example, if you know your grandfather’s full name and approximate birth year, search for his birth record or a census entry. Try variations in spelling—names were often recorded phonetically. Use wildcards (like * for any letters) when a site supports them. After you find a record, save a copy and note the source citation. This habit prevents later confusion.
Many databases also have user-created family trees. These can be useful leads, but they are not reliable sources. A tree may contain errors copied from another tree. Use them to suggest records, then verify each fact against an original document.
DNA Testing and What It Adds
Autosomal DNA tests from companies like AncestryDNA, 23andMe, MyHeritage, and FamilyTreeDNA compare your DNA with other customers. The results give you a list of genetic relatives—people who share segments of DNA with you. By contacting these matches and comparing family trees, you can confirm relationships that paper records may not show.
DNA tests also provide ethnicity estimates, which are broad percentages of your genetic origins. These estimates are based on reference populations and can change as companies update their algorithms. They are not precise enough to tell you exactly which ancestor was from a certain region, but they can confirm or challenge your paper trail. For example, if your tree says all ancestors were from Ireland but your ethnicity estimate is 40% Scandinavian, you may have a hidden line to investigate.
Keep in mind that DNA testing has privacy implications. Read the company’s policy on data sharing and law enforcement access before you buy. You can usually choose to opt out of matching or delete your sample later.
How to Choose a Genealogy Website
Your choice depends on your budget, your geographic focus, and whether you want DNA testing. Here is a quick comparison:
- FamilySearch.org – Free, with a large collection of international records and a user-contributed tree. Best for beginners and for those with ancestors from the United States, the United Kingdom, Scandinavia, and Latin America.
- Ancestry.com – Subscription-based, with the largest collection of U.S. records and a powerful search engine. Its DNA test is popular, and the site integrates records and trees seamlessly.
- MyHeritage – Subscription-based, with strong European records and a user base in Europe and Israel. Offers DNA testing and photo colorization tools.
- Findmypast – Subscription-based, with excellent British and Irish records, including parish registers and census.
- FamilyTreeDNA – Offers Y-DNA and mitochondrial DNA tests for deep paternal and maternal lines, in addition to autosomal tests. Useful for surname studies.
If you are just starting, try FamilySearch first. It is free and has enough records for many lines. If you hit a wall, consider a paid subscription for a month and cancel if you do not find value.
Common Problems and How to Solve Them
Most beginners run into the same obstacles. Here are the most frequent issues and practical fixes:
- Common surnames – Add a spouse’s name, a location, or an occupation to your search. A census record often lists the whole household, so you can identify your ancestor by the children’s names.
- Name changes – Immigrants often changed their names on arrival. Look for the original spelling in passenger lists or naturalization papers. Soundex and other phonetic search tools can help.
- Missing records – Some records were destroyed by fire, flood, or war. Search for alternate record types: church registers, probate files, land deeds, or newspaper announcements.
- Brick walls – When you cannot find a parent’s name, broaden your search to siblings. A sibling’s marriage or death record may name the parents.
- Wrong tree entries – Never copy a fact from another user’s tree without checking the source. Many online trees contain errors that have been repeated for years.
One common misconception is that a DNA test will give you a complete family tree. It will not. DNA can confirm relationships and suggest new lines, but you still need paper records to identify specific ancestors.
Costs and Free Resources
You can do a surprising amount of genealogy for free. FamilySearch, Find A Grave, and many state and national archives offer free indexes and images. Local libraries often provide access to Ancestry Library Edition, which is the same as the paid Ancestry.com but free inside the library. The U.S. National Archives has free census records up to 1950, and the Social Security Death Index is freely searchable on several sites.
Paid subscriptions range from about $20 to $50 per month, depending on the site and the plan. Annual subscriptions are cheaper per month. DNA tests range from $59 to $199, with sales common around holidays. Some sites offer free trials, so you can test a service before paying.
Do not buy every subscription at once. Focus on the region where your ancestors lived. If your family is from the British Isles, Findmypast may be more useful than Ancestry. If you have German or Eastern European roots, MyHeritage often has better coverage.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find my family tree for free?
Start with FamilySearch.org and your local library’s access to Ancestry. Also search free sites like Find A Grave, the Internet Archive, and state or national archives. Many records are available for free if you know where to look.
Is Ancestry.com worth the money?
Ancestry has the largest collection of U.S. records and a user-friendly interface. If you have American ancestors, it is often worth a short subscription. For other regions, you may get better value from MyHeritage or Findmypast.
Can I find my family tree without DNA testing?
Yes. DNA testing is a tool, not a requirement. Most family trees are built entirely from paper records and oral history. DNA can help break brick walls, but it is not necessary to start.
How far back can I trace my family tree?
Most people can trace back to the early 1800s with civil and church records. Some lines go back to the 1500s or 1600s if noble or land-owning ancestors left records. Before that, records are scarce and often unreadable.
Why do I have different ethnicity results from different companies?
Each DNA company uses its own reference populations and statistical algorithms. Your results are estimates, not exact measurements. Differences of a few percentage points are normal.
What if I find an error in my tree?
Correct it and note the source that proves the change. Genealogy is a process of constant revision. Keep a research log so you can trace why you made each change.
Preserving and Sharing Your Family Tree
Once you have built a tree, share it with relatives. Older family members may be able to correct mistakes or add details. Print a copy or create a digital file that can be passed down. Many genealogy sites let you export your tree as a GEDCOM file, which is a standard format that can be imported into other software.
Consider writing short biographies for each ancestor. A tree with only names and dates is dry; a story about an immigrant’s voyage or a farmer’s land purchase brings the past to life. Include photos when you have them, and always note the source of each fact. Future generations will thank you.
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