Are you interested in learning more about your family history? If so, you're not alone. According to a recent study, about 80% of Canadians and 60% of Americans say they would like to know more about their ancestors.
There are many ways to learn about your family history. You can talk to older relatives, look through family documents, or even do a DNA test. But one of the best ways to learn about your ancestors is to do some genealogy research.
Genealogy research can be a lot of fun. It's a chance to learn about your family history and to make new discoveries about your ancestors. But it can also be a bit overwhelming. There are so many resources available, and it can be difficult to know where to start.
That's why we've put together a list of the 10 best genealogy research websites. These websites are a great starting point for your research, and they offer a wealth of resources to help you learn more about your family history.
The Best Free Genealogy Research Website
There are many great genealogy research websites out there, but which ones are the best? Genealogy research can become an expensive adventure. I like to always start my research by checking out my free sites, then move into where I may have to pay for the records or even the search. Here is a list of the 10 best free genealogy research websites:
1) FamilySearch.org – This website is run by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and has a massive amount of resources available for free. You can search through millions of records, including census records, birth/death/marriage records, obituaries, and more. They also have an excellent blog with tips on how to do your family history research.
2) AncestryLibrary Edition – This website can be accessed for free at most public libraries (including all branches of the Salt Lake City Public Library). It has billions of historical records from around the world that you can search through to find information about your ancestors.
3) FindMyPast – Another great website with billions of historical records from around the globe. You can access it for free at some public libraries or sign up for a 7-day trial if you want unlimited access. There is a subscription fee required to access some records.
4) MyHeritage– A slightly different take on things, as this site allows users to create their own family trees using data they’ve found themselves or uploaded from other sources like GEDCOM files. However, they do have over 12 billion global historical record collections that you could use in your researches. Like FindMyPast there are limited records accessible for free.
5) Geneanet– Boasts having “the largest collection of French Genealogy online ” with 24 million names in their database. If tracing back your roots leads you across la Manche.
6) National Archives UK– Of course, no list would be complete without mentioning good old TNA! With 2 million digitized documents and lots more waiting to be explored.
7) Genes Reunited– One specific UK resource worth checking out if you think British newspapers may hold clues to your past; as they boast 80 million pages already transcribed.
8) Cyndi’s List– Not strictly speaking a Website per se; rather this is an enormous directory packed full of family history links organized into categories such as censuses & vital records; DNA resources; ethnic & religious groups etcetera. This resource also provides links to different tools you may not have considered using in your research. Explore some of the Gazetteers, maps and other links provided here.
9) RootsWeb & WorldConnect Projects -An often overlooked part of ancestry owned by FISHLINKS but still boasting 500 million plus user-generated family tree profiles between them. This site helped me connect to other families researching the same family as well as gave me personally a starting point with my family research.
10) FreeBMD– Offers free Transcriptions of Birth Marriages and Deaths for England and Wales from 1837 To 1983. Finally don’t forget local archives and societies that often put transcripts and indexes online too.
As an alternative, don't forget to check out the local archives or genealogical society sites.
The Best Online Genealogy Research Website
There are many websites that claim to be the best online resource for genealogy research. However, not all of these sites live up to their promises. To help you find the most useful and reliable website for your needs, we have compiled a list of the 10 best genealogy research websites.
1) FamilySearch: This site is run by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and is one of the largest free resources available. It contains millions of records from around the world, including censuses, immigration lists, birth/death/marriage records, and more.
2) Ancestry: One of the most popular subscription-based sites, Ancestry offers access to billions of historical documents from around the globe. They also have a large collection of DNA data which can be used for genetic genealogy purposes.
3) MyHeritage: Another well-known subscription site with over 10 billion historical records worldwide as well as an extensive DNA database (including 42 million family trees). They offer several features not found on other similar sites such as face recognition software to help identify photos containing unknown people in your family album!
4) FindMyPast: A UK-based website with global reach - they boast over 2 billion international historical records including parish registers & census reports.
5) BillionGraves: As its name suggests this site aims to digitize every cemetery in order to provide easy accessibility to burial information (currently they have 130 million+ graves indexed). You can also upload photographs of headstones directly onto individual profiles.
6) Geni World Family Tree: This user-generated tree currently connects 13 million individuals across 3 continents & continues growing at a rapid pace.
7) 23andMe – This website offers excellent DNA tests that not only provide detailed results about your own ethnic makeup but can also connect you with distant cousins who share similar ancestry.
8) RootsWeb: One of oldest (& therefore vast!) collections freely available online dating back 1990s.
9) GEDCOM File Manager Online(GFMO): Although technically Not a ‘website’ per se… GFMO allows users to manage GEDCOM files easily without having to download any software program first.
10) Archives.com: Owned by Ancestry, Archives.com is a called-down version of its mother site. If your family has been in the United States for generations, this website may be your ticket to finding records for your family.
The Top 3 Genealogy Research Website
There are many reasons to use a paid genealogy research website. The most important reason is that they offer access to databases that you cannot find anywhere else. They also have records from around the world, which can be very helpful if you are trying to trace your ancestry back to another country. Paid websites also generally have more search options and filters than free ones, making it easier to find the information you are looking for. Finally, paid sites often have customer support staff who can help you with your research if you run into any problems.
In my opinion, the top three best genealogy research websites to get started with are FamilySearch, Ancestry.com, and MyHeritage. All of these sites offer extensive databases and search options, as well as customer support in case you need help with your research project. Any one of them would be a great choice for anyone looking to do serious family history research.
Conclusion
There is a multitude of resources available online for anyone interested in researching their genealogy. With so many options, it can be difficult to determine which ones are the best. These lists of the 10 best genealogy research websites will help you get started on your journey to discovering your family history. Each website has its own unique features and resources that can help you in your research. By taking advantage of these resources, you will be able to find the information you need to build your family tree. So what are you waiting for? Start your research today and see how far back you can go!
Article by Carol Walsh
Carol Walsh is the CEO of Creative Roots, a professional genealogy company. She has a passion for preserving family history and storytelling. Carol's research methodology centers around fact-finding and publishing in a format that readers can use to preserve the stories. Her ultimate goal is to help families connect with their past and each other.
