Knowing where you come from is a very rewarding and interesting compilation of information. Some people may find famous ancestors as well as nobility or even royalty. Unfortunately, not everyone has this knowledge passed down to them, and that is when research can come in handy. Putting together your family tree is a time consuming, tedious process, but the benefit of the finished product will be there for future generations. A family tree is wonderful to have for many reasons such as health history, proof of lineage for certain benefits, and an heirloom to pass down to your children.
Step 1
Talk with older adults in your family about your ancestors and family history. This is a great way to find out more names that you didn't know about. Stories told by grandparents and parents also tell a lot about your lineage and can help you in your research. Being well informed when you start your search for your roots is extremely beneficial.
Step 2
Go to your local library. Most libraries have genealogy departments that contain census records, deeds, and titles for that county. This can help you trace back to the beginning when your family settled in that area. Search through any microfilm and newspaper clippings you can find that may have to do with anyone with one of your family surnames.
Step 3
Use the Internet to look for surnames. Surname searches can be done on genealogy sites such as genealogy.com, and ancestry.com, and can produce many results. The best names to start with are ones that you already know are connected to your ancestry, such as a parent or grandparent's name. Many names will produce several results including birthdates and death dates, so be careful to read these dates to ensure you have the right person.
Step 4
Visit local graveyards to find ancestors birth and death dates. Finding an ancestor's hometown and visiting the graveyard they are buried in will also give you a sense of closeness to your deceased family member. Take a pen and paper to write down the dates you come across or place a piece of paper on the tombstone and rub across the paper with a black crayon or black chalk. Not only will you have the information, but a copy of the actual writing on the stone itself.
Step 5
Ask for assistance from a genealogical expert. There are men and women out there who find family heritage for a living and can help you or give you expert advice when hitting a brick wall, which does happen more often than not. These experts have a variety of resources that may not be readily available to you.
Step 6
Request information on a surname from that country's embassy. Most families came to America as immigrants and their records may still be in their country of origin. Finding birthdates and parental names is difficult, but writing to the embassy of your ancestral home, may turn up several results, giving you more information than you would have gotten otherwise. Obtain immigration records, birth records, death records, next of kin names and information in this manner.
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