UK & Ireland - Genealogy Research: How
to start your research
1. Early Research recomendations:
Start by setting out a very structured approach using a family
tree template -
such as is available here.
Set out all the information about each family member member
in your family that will identify that person. Each person
can be identified by personal information, such as the following:
- Name
- Other members of the family
- Dates and places of important events such as birth, marriage,
and death
- Ancestral village
- Occupation
List and refer to useful resources [as are listed within
Census-Archives] and stay aware of new genealogy databases
and releases as well as other researchers who may be able
to help you and contribute towards your own research: You
will find full resources available within the relavant sections
of the site allowing you to complete your research.
3. Download Aids and Forms to Structure your Research
Get forms or computer programs to record your family information.
They make the task of recording and organizing easier. You
can download census forms here.
If you prefer writing information on paper, download or print
these two forms:
Family tree Chart —This
lets you list your pedigree (your parents, grandparents, great
grandparents, and so on).
Family Group Record—A
family group record lets you list an entire family and their
information. You will need several copies.
If you prefer using a computer, download the free
programs to map your personal Ancestry.
Record the information you remember about your family on the
forms or in a family history program.
First fill out a form for your own family, and then work back
to your parents and grandparents. You can quickly see what
you know and what information is missing or incomplete.
4 Sources of information
Look for information in your home that might contain the
missing or incomplete family information. Useful sources include
- birth, marriage, and death certificates;
- family bibles;
- funeral programs;
- obituaries;
- wedding announcements;
- family registers;
- ancestral tablets.
Add this information to your Family tree chart and family
group records.
Record the sources of the information (use the Notes or Sources
section on the forms or in your family history program). This
helps you and others know where the information came from.
5 Ask Relatives for Information.
Make a list of other relatives and the family information
they may have.
Contact the relatives—visit, call, write, or e-mail
them.
Ask specifically for the information you would like.
Add the information to your pedigree charts and family group
records.
Record the names of the relatives who gave you the information
in Notes or Sources.
6 Find Family Members or Ancestors You Want to Learn More
About.
Look for missing or incomplete information on your pedigree
chart and family records.
Select a family or ancestor with missing or incomplete information.
Start with the generations closest to you, and work your way
back. Usually, it is easier to find information for a family
member or ancestor born in a recent period.
7. See if Someone Else Has Already Found the
Information.
Warning: A common mistake is to gather every reference to
the surname even if the person is not clearly a relative.
Look for the names in Search for Ancestor. This will search
the databases that are a part of FamilySearch Internet. The
databases include family histories submitted by others.
Look for a published family history.
Look for the names in the Family History Library Catalog,
Surname Search.
The search will list family histories in the Library's collection
that contain the surname.
You can arrange to see many of the histories at your local
family history center.
Look for published family histories on other Web Sites or
at public archives and libraries.
If the family histories do not contain information about the
family you want, search for records from the locality where
your ancestor lived.
8 Search Records for Information about Your Ancestor.
Use Research Guidance. Research Guidance helps you find copies
of original records, such as censuses and birth records, based
on where the person lived and the time of his or her birth,
marriage, or death. You select the place and time, and Research
Guidance provides a list of recommended things to do and records
to search in priority order.
Download and print forms and guides to help you. Many forms
and guides are available in Research Helps to download for
free. These forms will help you plan, record, and analyze
your research.
Recomended Resources
For recomended resources navigate around the various sections
of the site. You will find specific areas that relate to your
research that will help you pinpoint relatives such as through
the analysis of Census Records for yoru county here;
or through civil registration records.
For additional resources please visit the Census Archives
directory.
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