Use + and - to narrow your results. Adding a plus sign before a word, with no space between, will restrict the search to all pages that have that exact word and exact spelling. Likewise adding a minus sign before a word, with no space between, will restrict the search engine to showing only pages that do not contain that particular word or spelling of it. So if you wanted to search for an ancestor named Elizabeth Taylor but wanted to omit any results about the actress, Elizabeth Taylor, you would enter your search term like so: Elizabeth Taylor -actress or if you only wanted to find out about the actress you would enter your search terms like so: Elizabeth Taylor +actress

Use quotations to narrow your results. Say you search for the words, Elizabeth Taylor, The search will likely bring up pages about various Elizabeth Taylor’s but it will also include any pages that have either the word Elizabeth or Taylor in them. Putting a phrase in quotation marks causes the search engine to treat the terms inside the quotes as one word. Meaning that if you search for “Elizabeth Taylor” it must bring up only pages that have the words Elizabeth and Taylor right next to each other, in that order.

Use the ~ sign to narrow your results. Using the tilde symbol in front of a word, without a space, will cause the search engine to give results that contain both the specific word as well as synonyms for that word. For example searching for “Elizabeth Taylor” ~headstone would bring up pages with the exact phrase Elizabeth Taylor and terms such as grave, tombstone, marker, etc. in addition to headstone.

Use the term “allinanchor:” to narrow your results. When this term is used directly in front of a word or term the search will find all websites that define themselves as your specific keywords. For example, the search allinanchor: “Irish Immigration” would return results containing all the websites that define themselves as being about Irish Immigration.

These are just a few beginning ways to make your internet searches more effective. Learn to use these well and in combination with each other and you’ll soon be able to feel that if information you seek is published somewhere on the internet, you’ll find it!

One way that many genealogists research is through use of the internet. Instead of writing into historical and genealogical societies and waiting weeks or months for a reply, we can find much that we seek at the click of a button. But remember, most of the genealogical information out there still isn't on the internet. And often that which is on the internet displayed in other users family trees is not verified.

You'll find that after questioning your relatives, you'll have gaps in your information; people, dates, or places that are missing, and that is where the real fun begins! Family documents, bibles, photographs, and more can provide vital clues to help you fill in the big picture and it's possible there are some of those hiding right under your nose. Just because your grandma doesn't know about them, doesn't mean they aren't hiding in her attic. You would be amazed at what people inherit and store away without ever looking at. You would also be amazed at what people forget they have!




Ask your parents, grandparents and other relatives if they think they might have any documents or photographs pertaining to your family history. Even if they don't think they do, don't be shy about asking if you might look around their home just to be sure. I've found many documents providing proof of information and other priceless glimpses into my family's past that might have been forever buried had I not asked if I could just double check.

When you're looking around, don't discount anything. A bin labelled "clothing" might have your great grandma's diary buried at the bottom of it. A dusty old shoe box might contain a treasure trove of photos. Boring looking manila envelopes inside a filing cabinet might contain newspaper clippings filled with family names and dates. These pieces of family history might provide just the information you need to fill in some of those gaps. And they'll help you connect with your ancestors in a more meaningful way.

Full names - When recording names of ancestors (whether it be on your pedigree chart, family group sheet, online family tree, or in notes) write the individual's name in their natural order - first, middle, surname. Always use all given names if you know them. Some genealogists like to print surnames (last names) in upper case to better distinguish them from middle names.

  Nicknames - If a nickname was commonly used for an ancestor, you can include it in quote after their given name. For example: William "Billy" James MOORE.

 Maiden Names - Always enter a married female under her maiden name (her surname at birth) rather than her husband's surname. If you do not know a female's maiden name, you can insert a Mrs. as her title on the chart followed by her first name and her husband's surname. Or you can write her first name followed by a pair of empty parentheses e.g. Mary ( ). If you ever come across a situation where the woman's maiden name is the same as her married name, be sure to note it so as not to later on confuse yourself or other researchers.

 Also Known As - If a person is known by more than one name then include all alternate names in parentheses after the surname. For example, my great grandfather Earl Hugh Talbert was orphaned as a baby and raised by a Mr. and Mrs. Strong. I have found him in records listed with the surname Talbert and Strong so I might list him as: Earl Hugh TALBERT (a.k. Earl Hugh STRONG)

 Alternate Spellings - If you find that an ancestor's surname has changed over time or can be found in records spelled many different ways, you can record those spellings. Record the earliest known usage of the surname first, followed by later spellings e.g. Jennifer Koch/Cook.

Somehow or other your interest has been piqued. You've started to wonder what your great grandpa was like, or if you have any famous ancestors hiding in your family tree. You know you want to start finding information but you have one daunting question on your mind: Where do I begin? Luckily for you, genealogy is all about asking questions. And luckily for you there is an answer to your daunting question:


 Genealogy, quite simply, is the study of a family and how members are related to each other. The type of research you do will vary depending on the time period you're searching, where you're searching, what records are available and what information you're looking for. But you don't need to worry about that quite yet. Right now is simply the time to gather. Write down or type up everything you know about your family and once you've done that ask other family members if they have more information for you. Is there a family tree online? A family website you can look at? A book that has been published about your family history? You need to know what has already been gathered so you can verify and build off of that.

 Now some of you, when you begin this process may find next to nothing has been done. You've got your work cut out for you!

 Others of you may find that scores of generations of people have been researched and documented. Guess what, you've got your work cut out for you!



 There are always individuals that have been missed. There are always individuals for whom assumptions have been made that may be connected to the wrong family members. There is always information to add, information to correct, and information to verify. Genealogy work is detective work filled with cases that constantly need solving and reopening. It's exciting exploring different avenues that might get you the information you need.

 The most important thing to do after you have gathered information is to record that information along with your source material. So how do genealogists record their information? Whether you're planning on keeping track of your ancestors online, on paper, or both, there are some common forms you will see that will help you keep your families and facts in order. Below is one example of a pedigree chart:
A pedigree chart is used to document your direct line ancestors, typically four generations back. This includes you, your parents, grandparents, and great grandparents. There are variations on this that include more generations but less detail such as fan charts.


 Below is one example of what is called a family group sheet:

A family group sheet is used to document the parents and children that belong to one particular family.

Another way to record is on the internet through use of a family tree website. An online family tree program combines everything in one, giving you the ability to view your family lines in pedigree form, individual form, or family group form and allowing you to attach source material and records to your ancestors. Some programs will even search for possible matching records for you.



My personal recommendation for creating your family tree online is Ancestry.com. I am not affiliated with them in any way, I am simply a happy customer of over 15 years. And what's even better is that if you're LDS, your subscription is completely free! Visit this link to sign up and start your family tree.

If you are LDS you may be wondering why you need Ancestry.com in addition to your familysearch.org account. Family Search is great and obviously necessary for submitting names for temple work, but your tree on family search is an open edit system. What this means is that anyone with a membership can log in and change anything to any individual in the tree at any time. It's meant to encourage collaboration but is more often frustrating than not as so many individuals don't provide contact information. It's nice to have your own personal family tree elsewhere that only you can edit and make sure information stays correct. And you can import individuals from familysearch to ancestry and vice versa. Also, ancestry.com has records available that familysearch does not.

So to sum up: