How to Find Out Where My Ancestors Came From?
Finding where your ancestors came from has become a hobby for thousands of people. This interest has been fueled by the want to know more about the origins of modern families as well as a preservation of history. Looking for your ancestors is not a quick one day effort; but can take you to various locations as well as reveal facts about your family history. Here are a few steps to help you find out how to find where your ancestors came from.
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Instructions
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Set up a database or method of recordkeeping for your research and files. These files can get extensive and include addresses, phone numbers, and other records and research. A simple spreadsheet listing names and important dates will be good to start with. If you are using a computer, create a file folder to keep the information in one place. Talk to your immediate family and any living relatives such as grandparents, aunts or uncles.
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Gather all of the information about your immediate family. This includes your brothers, sisters, father, mother, and birth parents if you are a step-child. The information you will need includes birthdates, birth places, Social Security numbers, and death records if anyone above is deceased. If you cannot get the information directly, check online at the CDC website (Centers for Disease Control). This site has links to every state or territory. From there you look up the information you need according to the page. The link for the CDC is listed in the "References" below.
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Write or call for the needed information. The birth records will give you who the parents of the person were. You can find your grandparents this way. Once you have the names of your grandparents, repeat the step above. You will need to find information on at least three generations of your family before any other methods will work.
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Visit one or more of the genealogy websites for further help. Sites such as Rootsweb.com, Ancestry.com and Cyndi's List are the most well known. You can also check out Tedpack.org which provides links to many more genealogy sites.
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Sign up for membership at two or more sites, then start posting information and searching through the database. You also want to post comments or information in the forums as people often find others using this method. Keep records of everything and everyone for future reference and contact. Be active in genealogy communities and forums to help generate leads and further information.
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