Is there a webiste that i can find my whole family history on?

Question

i dont know much about my family and was wondering if there is a website that i can find my family history on.

Answer 1

There are over 400,000 free genealogy sites. I have links to some huge ones, below, but you'll have to wade through some advice and warnings first.

If you didn't mention a country, we can't tell if you are in the USA, UK, Canada or Australia. I'm in the USA and my links are for it.

If you are in the USA,

AND most of your ancestors were in the USA,

AND you can get to a library or FHC with census access,

AND you are white

Then you can get most of your ancestors who were alive in 1850 with 100 - 300 hours of research. You can only get to 1870 if you are black, sadly. Many young people stop reading here and pick another hobby.

No web site is going to tell you how your great grandparents decorated the Christmas tree with ornaments cut from tin foil during the depression, how Great Uncle Elmer wooed his wife with a banjo, or how Uncle John paid his way through college in the 1960's by smuggling herbs. Talk to your living relatives before it is too late.

You won't find living people on genealogy sites. You'll have to get back to people living in 1930 or so by talking to relatives, looking up obituaries and so forth.

Finally, not everything you read on the internet is true. You have to be cautious and look at people's sources. Cross-check and verify.

So much for the warnings. Here is the link.

http://www.tedpack.org/yagenlinks.html

It has links, plus tips and hints for each of these sites:



http://www.cyndislist.com

http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/f...

http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.c...

http://www.rootsweb.com/

http://www.usgenweb.net

http://www.ancestry.com/learn/facts/defa...

http://ssdi.genealogy.rootsweb.com/cgi-b...

http://find.person.superpages.com/

http://vitals.rootsweb.ancestry.com/ca/d...

http://www.tedpack.org/goodpost.html

http://www.genforum.com

http://boards.ancestry.com/

http://searches.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/lis...

I used to put short tips in the stock answer. Now Y!A limits the size of an answer. You'll need the hints. Use the link.

Answer 2

We just done up a family tree and this one was brilliant!

http://www.ancestry.com/

Answer 3

The best advise I would give is start with your self and work your way back......

I agree with Ted get the stories while those that can tell them are still able to do so.

Answer 4

You have to resarch the latest generations yourself, unless there's someone in your family who has already researched it. I've been researchign my family for 2 years, and I've only just been told that my aunt has done loads of the resarch too!

If nobody's already worked on it, it is quite easy to find out more by asking your parents and grandparents what they know. Add what you know to a tree on Genes Reunited or Ancestry, and you will soon see if another member has matching information. If they do, the chances are they will have information you don't have, and you can hopefully compare notes.

Be aware though, they may expect something in return, so be prepared to share your information. Remember to withhold information about living relations though.

Answer 5

http://www.cyndislist.com/beginner.htm

One reason I like to offer cyndi's list to beginners, is that, if they LOOK at the site.. it gives an idea of the thousands of sites out there, which have to do with genealogy.  Each of your ancestors are unique.. and which site is useful, is going to depend on them.

Ancestry.com does have all US census records, which are key records to use..and more.  IT IS NOT THE ONLY SITE OUT THERE.  Limiting yourself to a *single* site  means easy.. it does not mean quality or complete. It is like never eating anywhere except McDonalds.. you will never realize that there is something like Red Lobster.  If the information on ancestry.com happens to be wrong (when it comes to submitted trees, that is often the case).. you will never know.

Do you want FAST or do you want GOOD??  Yes.. it makes a major difference.

Answer 6

I just looked up my ex wifes family tree..

...Most of them are still living in it..lol

Answer 7

Don't expect it.  Also, if you do find some of your family on ANY genealogy website  whether it is free or not free, you should verify it with documentation.  Also don't expect to find living people as that is considered an invasion of privacy and can lead to identity theft.

The family trees are not submitted by experts working for the websites, but by folks like you and me. They are poorly documneted if documented at all.  There are errors.  You might see different information on the same people from different subscribers.  Then you will see repeatedly the same info from different subscribers on the same people, but that is no guarantee at all it is correct.  A lot of people copy without verifying.  The information is useful as CLUES as to where to get the documentation.

If you are really interested in tracing your family history, there are lots of good people on this board that can give you some great tips and advice.  Just ask.

Answer 8

It is unlikely that your whole family history is already done for you, unless you have a relative who is involved in it.  Family history work generally takes a lot of time and effort, but can be fun and quite rewarding.  A good place to start could be FamilySearch.org