Humans are a unique species, as they are interested at some level or another in their family roots. And while the process of building your family tree is much easier with today’s technology, it can still be an intricate process. If you’re looking to build your family tree online, keep reading to discover some great resources and advice to help you get started.
What is a Family Tree?
Also called a genealogy or pedigree chart, a family tree is a visual representation of family relationships. Typically drawn in a tree-like fashion, with each family member grouping creating new branches, a family tree can stretch far back into history, especially if it has Western European roots. It’s a great way to see how families relate to each other and learn about your familial history.
How to Find Your Family Tree
First, see if anyone already has one.
- In many older Christian families, you can find the family tree in the front of their large family bible.
- Check to see if anyone in your family has an online family tree service membership.
If not, you can build your own in places like Canva.com. All you need is information from your family!
What if I Don’t Know Much About My Family?
Many people experience this issue. Whether they were adopted or displaced, estranged or abandoned, the ability to discover your family tree is accessible to just about everyone.
Ancestry.com
One of the most robust family tree-building resources, Ancestry will give you hints when new information about your family members appears in their records.
- Has its own DNA test that can link you to other members of your family (if they have taken the test) (Cost: $99)
- Start your search with your 14-day free trial. If you decide to keep the service, you can pay:
– US Only: $99/6 months, or $189/year
– US & International: $149/6 months or $299/year
– All Access (includes Fold3 for military records and Newspapers.com Basic): $199/6 months or $389/year this fee will automatically renew, and they will not refund after the renewal charge.
MyHeritage.com
This resource lets you build your family tree on its site, but it does not give many hints or directions to find a family without the premium upgrade.
- Has its own DNA test that can uncover your ethnic origins and find new relatives (if they’ve taken the test) (Cost: $59)
- You can use the site for free, but if you want more information, you’ll have to upgrade:
– Premium for a family tree size of 2,500: $89/year or $18/month – this gives you priority customer support.
– PremiumPlus for unlimited family tree size: $149/year or $29/monthly – this option gives you priority customer support and the ability to search existing trees for more information.
– Complete for unlimited family tree size: $199/year or $39/monthly – this option gives you priority customer support, instant discoveries, search existing trees, record matches, and access to 16.4 billion historical records. This fee will automatically renew, and they will not refund after the renewal charge.
FindMyPast.com
In association with the National Archives, FindMyPast is best for the US, UK, and Ireland information.
- Has its own DNA test that includes a 14-day subscription to the service (Cost: $89)
- You can use the site for free, but if you want access to more information, you’ll have to subscribe:
– Essential British & Irish – $14.95/month or $129/year
– Ultimate British & Irish – $19.95/month or$179/yearThis fee will automatically renew, and they will not refund after the renewal charge.
Can’t Afford These Services?
There are free services out there:
FamilySearch.org – Sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, it is free and available to the public.
FamilyTreeNow.com – Free to the public with 100% free access to their databases.
Just remember that their reach is not typically as extensive and they rely more on outside input from other people to connect the dots.
USA.gov – These free resources are provided by the US government and include websites like the National Archives & Records Administration, State archives, and more.
Let Us Help!
At PeopleFinder.com, we search all active records for people in the US, and our hassle-free search engine gives you information like age, places they’ve lived, and, most importantly, for building a family tree, relatives, and associates, to help you with your search. Contact us today for help!
