How to Find Members of My Family Tree

Tracing your family tree can inform you of any heroes, villains, famous or infamous people in your family. You could discover that your ancestors fought the British in the Revolutionary War, vice versa or even both. Determining your heritage can inform you of a predisposition to a disease specific to your ethnicity or help you locate living relatives. According to the University of Minnesota, selecting a specific branch of your family to start with is better than attempting to research your whole family at once.

• 1

  Fill in the information that you already know on a family tree.

• 2

  Talk to the oldest member of your family for the branch you are researching. Grandparents and great grandparents can provide a wealth of information on who your family members are and where they came from. Add any new members onto your tree.

• 3

  Search online genealogy websites. Enter the names you have into the sites to locate information about your family. These sites often have access to government birth, death and marriage records, which list the parents and locations of the person you enter.

• 4

  Search census records. The census can provide information about immigrants and naturalized citizens. These records are only available online through subscription-based sites, but you can access the sites free from National Archive facilities.

• 5

  Hire a genealogist. A professional genealogist can locate additional family members for your tree when you have reached a dead end in your own research. Interview several and ask about their accreditation, experience and fees to help you find the right one for your needs.