Finding your ancestors is an exciting and meaningful activity that helps you learn more about your family history and see how your roots are connected to the past. If you are just beginning your genealogy journey, here are some tips to get you started and make the process more fun and productive.
Start with what you know
Before diving into archives and ancient documents, gather information that you and your family already have. Talk to relatives, especially those who may remember old stories or events related to your ancestors. Write down everything you learn: names, dates, birthplaces, jobs, and important events. Even small details can be helpful.
Make a family tree
Once you’ve gathered the basic information, try drawing your family tree. This will help you see who you have already been able to find and which branches need further research. You can use either manual methods (paper and pen) or specialized online services such as MyHeritage, Ancestry, or FamilySearch, which offer convenient tools for creating and storing your family tree.
Utilize online resources
There are many platforms and archives online to help you continue your search. Some offer free databases, while others offer paid databases. The most popular online resources for genealogy include:
- FamilySearch – A free platform with many historical records such as birth, marriage, death and census records.
- Ancestry – a site that provides access to a large number of archives and also has its own social network for finding relatives.
- Findmypast – particularly useful for finding British roots, provides access to censuses and many other documents.
Don’t forget about documents and archives
If online resources don’t give you the full picture, contact local archives. State archives, church archives, libraries and museums may contain documents that have not been digitized and are not available online. These include metric books, birth, marriage and death certificates, census lists, military records and many other important historical records.
Remember deduction and logic
Searching for ancestors is not always a simple linear endeavor. Sometimes information can be incomplete or contradictory. Use the deductive method to connect individual facts and draw logical conclusions. For example, if you find an ancestor’s death record, you can try to find information about his or her family through birth or marriage certificates.
Be patient
Searching for ancestors is a long process, and you can often run into difficulties: documents may be lost, information may be unavailable or contradictory. It is important not to lose patience. Remember that every small step along the way brings you closer to great discoveries.
Save all materials you find
It is important to save all documents, photographs and records that you find during your search. Not only does this help you in the future, but it can also become a valuable legacy for future generations. You can do this by creating digital copies or using specialized services to store and organize genealogical data.
Network with other researchers
Look for other families and researchers who may be related to your ancestors. There are forums, social media and specialized groups where people share their knowledge and findings. Working together can help you make a breakthrough in your search.
John Gama 
