Beginner Genealogy: How to Build Your Family Tree from Scratch
Starting your family tree should feel exciting, but it can also feel overwhelming. With so many websites, tools, and records out there, it’s can be challenging to know where to start.
Whether you’ve always been curious about your roots or you recently did a DNA test and you’re waiting for the results, this post will walk you through the first steps of beginning your research.
And if you’d like a printable version to guide you through the process, I’ve created a free worksheet to kickoff your research that you can download below:
Don’t Skip What You Already Know
Your memory, old family photos, and stories you heard growing up are all part of your starting toolkit. First make a quick list of the names, dates, and places you think you know. Start with yourself, then work back each generation to fill in your parents, grandparents, etc. Highlight which facts you’re confident in, and which ones are a bit fuzzy.
Even old family stories can contain useful clues if you know how to approach them critically.
Talk to a Living Wealth of Knowledge: Your Relatives
If you have living relatives, especially older ones, now is the time to ask questions. Even a short phone call can save you hours of digging through records later. Ask about full names, birthplaces, military service, marriages, migrations, pretty much anything they remember. Don’t worry if it feels scattered, you’ll organize it later. Be sure to take some notes too.
This part of the process can be emotionally difficult for some, especially if there are suspected or confirmed cases of misattributed parentage in your family tree. Sometimes having an open-ended conversation can give you more productive answers than looking for hard facts which can be upsetting.
Look for Research That’s Already Been Done
Before you start looking through census records or sign up for a subscription site, do a quick sweep for research that may already exist. Try:
Searching public family trees on Ancestry, FamilySearch, or MyHeritage (a free account is usually required)
Asking cousins if anyone has done genealogy work
Checking old family papers for charts, letters, or keepsakes
You’ll still want to verify details (especially user-generated trees,) but it gives you a huge head start.
Choose a Simple Research Goal to Start
It’s tempting to trace your tree “as far back as possible” (I’m guilty of casting that wide net myself!) but starting with a small, focused goal will help you learn and stay motivated. Some beginner goals could be:
Find out where my great-grandparents were born
Confirm my grandmother’s maiden name
Discover when my family immigrated to Canada (or the USA, etc)
Once you have a clear goal, the research process becomes more manageable—and more rewarding.
Get Organized from the Get Go
One of the biggest frustrations for new genealogists is not being able to find notes or retrace research steps.
You don’t need a costly genealogy website subscription. You can get started with just a simple folder system (physical or digital), a consistent way to save links or screenshots, and a habit of jotting down where you found each piece of information.
A lot of genealogists like to use spreadsheets and keep typed notes on each ancestor, either in a word doc or in a tree builder like on Ancestry (available with their free version.) In any case, and I cannot stress this enough, always site your sources as you go. Even just copying and pasting the URL to the source somewhere organized is enough to save you hours trying to find a record you know you’ve seen before but seems to have disappeared.
Want a Printable Guide to Walk You Through This?
I’ve created a free download you can print or keep on your computer:
It’ll walk you through these tips and includes space to take notes and set your first research goal.
And if you’re already feeling stuck or need help sorting through what you’ve found, I offer free consultations and custom research packages.
Final Thoughts
Genealogy isn’t a sprint, it’s a marathon. You’ll start to discover more facts which give you answers, but you may be left with more questions too. If you start small and stay curious, you’ll be surprised how far one name can take you.
Did you find this guide helpful? Check out my handy list of
Free Canadian Genealogy Websites to kickstart your genealogy research.
