How to Start your Family History Research

Use this guide if you'd like to start researching your family history, but are not sure where or how to begin.

Step 1 - Start with yourself and work backwards

Move backwards one generation at a time to your parents, grandparents, etc. Remember that when you are doing your genealogy you are finding a person, in a specific place at a particular time.

Step 2 - Talk to your relatives

Ask them questions about your ancestors and relations. Collect together documents, such as official birth, marriage and death certificates that are still kept by your family.

Step 3 - Look at birth, death and marriage certificates

From your birth certificate you learn the date and place of your parents’ marriage. From your parents’ marriage certificate you gain the information which should enable their birth certificates to be obtained. From these you will obtain the date of your grandparents’ marriage, etc.

There are various ways to get a copy of your birth certificate if you don't already have one. Some, including the Victorian births, deaths and marriage register and the National Archives in the United Kingdom are listed on the Family History Resources page.

Step 4 - Obtain a blank pedigree chart

Use this chart to document your findings in the appropriate place on the chart showing relationships between family members. Free downloadable and printable charts are available from the FamilySearch and Ancestry Library Edition websites, as well as from books in the Library's Genealogy Centre.

Family Search pedigree chart >

Library Ancestry Edition chart >

Find out more about Ancestry Library Edition >

Step 5 - Get organised

Always write down where you find information. Make sure it's very specific so you can locate it again if required. Start a file on each person you research. Include copies of charts and any other information you find.

Step 6 - Consult books and guides

Refer to books and guides for information about available records for the place and time you are searching in that are available in the Genealogy Centre, online and elsewhere.

Read our list of Family History Resources >