Searching for an Ancestor

Choose the site you wish to search. Click on the SEARCH button for that site.
A new window will appear with your search results for your ancestor at that site. You may browse that window as you wish. It might also help to resize this window depending on your browser's settings.
To search another site, simply click on the SEARCH button for that site. You do not need to re-enter information about your ancestor. Again, the information you saved earlier is used to automatically query the next site that you choose.
You do not need to close the search window to conduct another search. It is OK, however, to close the window before conducting another search if you wish.
It is also OK to leave the "hints" window available for reference while you are searching.

In this example, the SEARCH button for Ancestry.com was selected. A new window appeared with the search results from the Ancestry.com site. The site was automatically queried using the information you saved on your ancestor. The word "started" also appeared under the selected SEARCH button. This helps keep track of which sites you have searched and which you have not. If you would like to reset the "started" entries, just follow the instructions in the green text above the SEARCH buttons.

Click here for the next page in the tour (page 6 of 8)
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Click here to start searching family trees

Easiest way to search family trees

Use Active Searches. This allows you to search major sites by entering your information just one time. Also, this determines the best type of search for you at a particular site (all sites are not created equal).

Go to Family Tree Searches.

For those just starting out

Are you just starting to research your ancestry? If so, the following site provides an easy set of decision charts to help you get started.

Go to Genealogy Fast Track.

Free advice

Have you started your genealogy search, but need suggestions that will make your search on the Internet more productive?

Go to Genealogy Search Advice.

Record keeping software

Family Tree Maker 2010, the latest version of the world’s best-selling family tree software, gives you an easy way to build and share your family tree — and preserve your family history. It is probably the easiest and most complete resource for keeping track of your research.

Go to Family Tree Maker at Ancestry.com.