With how much stuff you can find online it was only a matter of time before people started looking for their ancestors online.
However, before you start using the internet to find your ancestors you will want to learn a few things.
Taking the time to read these tips can make the search process easier, as well as also make you more successful in tracking down the right people.
Learning where to start Knowing where to start is an important part of finding your ancestors online.
You will want to start with yourself and work backwards so that you can ensure that you are finding the correct ancestors.
For every family member in your records you will want to obtain their birth date and the place that they were born.
Having this information allows you to easily identify your ancestors in case somebody else has the same name or even birth date.
You also want to work on one side of your family at a time so that you don't get confused with who belongs where.
Using the Census Records Learning how to read and use census records is vital to your research because it will give you all of the information that you need.
Census records record the names, birth dates, and place of birth for all of the people in your family.
Once you get a new name for your list, you'll want to look at the census records to get the information that you need.
Don't Dismiss the Neighbors One mistake that many people make when looking at census records is not paying attention to the neighbors.
Even if the neighbors don't sound familiar you will want to write down all of their important information just in case.
Back in the old days when times got tough neighbors helped each other out, even if that meant raising somebody else's kids.
Head Down to Your Local Courthouse The courthouse can also be helpful in finding ancestors.
At the courthouse you can look at old wills and other public records to find out more about your ancestors.
You can even check guardianship records, which can be helpful if you turn up empty on old census records.
Land records also need to be checked because of how often land is passed from one family member to the next.
Always Use Maiden Names When looking at your female ancestors online you always want to use their maiden names.
Using the maiden name ensures that you can find their parents and other family members.
Even with maiden names, never assume the names are spelled the same in the records as they are now.
Your best bet is to use various spellings of the surnames because not everybody who kept records could spell.