The first step in tracing your history is building a tree.
Begin with yourself then go back as far as you can.
Don’t worry if you’re unsure of the details – guesses work
too. In fact, they can help us find clues to new information
about your ancestors.
Tell us who you are.
Then tell us about your parents.
As soon as you begin a tree, we automatically look through billions of historical records, photos, and other Ancestry trees for information about your family.
When we find something, a green leaf appears on your family tree. Just click the Ancestry Hint to review the details.
Looks like we found a
census record for Grandpa.
While hints take you back generations, AncestryDNA looks even deeper into your past—up to 1,000 years—and shows you where your ancestors likely came from, uncovering your ethnic origins.
AncestryDNA can also connect you with distant cousins to add to your family tree.
Learn moreA document isn’t just a piece of paper – it’s a snapshot of your family’s past. Plug a name into a search of our vast collections, and there’s no telling what you’ll find.
or grow your tree and search for records
Discover how to get the most out of your journey.
Find more helpful information here.
“Ancestry is always adding to their record collections. Keep checking back to see if a new search gets more results.”
“Review all the hints. Not only are the documents fascinating, but make
sure the facts are right before you
add to your tree. I wish someone
had told me this when I started!”
“Get the free Ancestry app. It
makes sharing and updating really
portable – and so much fun!”