How to Search Family Roots
Searching for your family's roots is also known as tracing your genealogy. It is an exciting hobby and a way to discover interesting facts about your ancestry. The process will require time, research and the ability to problem solve. Throughout your journey you will gather vital information. By putting this information together in chronological order, you will reveal your family roots.
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Instructions
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Purchase a notebook. Searching for your family roots will require research. Make sure you keep a book to gather information. As you discover new facts, the pieces to the puzzle will slowly come together.
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Gather family information. Create a family tree starting with yourself and your parents. If you can, add information about your grandparents. If you are having trouble filling in the blanks, ask questions. Try to get as much information as you can from your living relatives. Information like last names, locations and dates are essential. If you cannot obtain specific locations and dates, obtain general areas with birth and death date ranges.
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Contact the National Archives and Records Administration. (Find a link in Resources.) NARA is the nation's record keeper and a great source for searching your roots. The best way to find information on deceased family members is to locate their specific place of birth and death. If you do not have a specific state, start your search with NARA. The agency will have older birth records, death records, and marriage certificates.
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Locate historical and genealogical societies within your ancestors' state. Many states will have organizations that are dedicated to helping you trace your family roots. Contact the state's department of vital records to inquire about these organizations.
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Visit the state library. Public libraries offer great tools for researching family history. One of their biggest sources is the U.S Census records. The Census records will give you information on family members, spouses, children and any other people living within their house at the time. Theses records can date back to the late 1700s.
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Search NARA's list of passengers on ships to the US. Your family roots may extend far beyond the state in which most of your ancestors were born in. Start by gathering information on your ancestors born within the states, then use that information to trace back to the country from which they originally came.
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Fill in the gaps. Use the gathered information to fill in the gaps on your family tree or notebook of family history.
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Tips & Warnings
Today, website can help you research your family roots. If you want to save time, start your research online. Gather as much information as you can. Then use the steps above to fill in the gaps.
