What’s the easiest way to research family history? Create your family tree online
Uncovering your family history used to involve digging through public records in the cupboards of dusty libraries, but now you can journey back from the comfort of your own home.
Online genealogy databases can connect you with documents revealing information about your ancestors' lives.
How do I research my family tree online?
There are several websites that will guide you through building your family tree.
The biggest in the UK is Ancestry.co.uk, which has 2.4million paying subscribers.
Other services, including genealogy.com, genesreunited.co.uk and findmypast.co.uk, are also available.
How does it work?
You'll need some basic information to get started including the names, birthplaces and dates of birth for parents and grandparents.
But, quickly sites will begin to help you put the pieces together by searching census, military, parish, passenger and even criminal records.
Ancestry.co.uk highlights records of people likely to be related to you for you check and, if correct, add to your tree.
The information you find is organised on an easy to naviagte family tree - with documents stored to the relevant relative.
Ancestry has more than 18 billion records worldwide, which have helped create more than 80 million family trees.
How much does it cost?
Ancestry.co.uk offers a free 14 day trial.
After that it's £119.99 for annual premium membership, £179.99 for worldwide membership and £224.99 for all access membership - with monthly payment methods also available.
There are plenty of add-ons available including a £79 DNA test, which will tell you where in your ancestors come from.
You can also pay for expert help, lessons, books and photos.
Genealogy.com offers a 14 day free trial followed by £10.99 a month subscription, with other sites offering similar deals.
Top tips
Ancestry.co.uk has provided the following top tips:
1. Involve your family
The best way to start your research is by speaking to your relatives. Older relatives can push your family research back two or three generations ,which will give you a firm standing point.
2. Start with what you know
Begin by recording your family members' names, where and when they were born, married, died.
3. Find others researching the same ancestors
Once you’ve involved other family members, it’s time to see if someone else has been working on the same family lines. Chances are someone else may already have information about your common ancestors.
4. Search for historical records
Search censuses, birth marriage and death records, immigration, military documents and more.
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