Research

Investigating your family tree

First steps in researching family history

The following ten steps are a helpful guide to starting your family research.

1. Starting with yourself, note all the dates and events you are certain of concerning your immediate family and work back methodically generation by generation. Collect certificates of these events which will give you vital information to help you continue your research i.e. mother’s maiden name. See information recorded on birth, marriage or death certificates for more guidance.

2. Formally record information as you find it and keep files of documents obtained. Download and use our Family Tree Chart (pdf, 73k) to help record your family information.

3. Ask people in your family for their recollections and make notes of what each person says to make comparisons. Ask more knowledgeable relatives to go over their reminiscences more than once. Nobody recalls everything of use in one sitting.

4. Search for as many family records and as much memorabilia as possible. Look in your attic and ask your elderly relatives if you can look in theirs. Ask elderly relatives to identify people in old family photographs – writing names on the back.

5. Scour the records for clues and make a note of any firm information you find together with where you found it.

6. Show your findings to elderly relatives, as they may jog a series of fresh memories.

7. Create a list of questions arising out of your research so far, this will be your starting point.

8. Don’t despair if you can’t find out much. The minimum information you need to get started is your own place and date of birth.

9. Civil registration started in July 1837. To trace back further you will need to look at parish records.

10. You may want to join a local family history society where you can share your experiences and receive help with any problems you encounter. See www.ffhs.org.uk to find your local family history society. You may wish to enrol in a family history course. Many adult education centres run these courses and they are inexpensive and extremely helpful.

If you would like a copy of the General Register Office’s ‘Getting Started’ pack email us your name, address and contact details to: certificate.services@ons.gsi.gov.uk. Please include GQ in the subject field of your email to ensure an auto text response is not generated.