Family history is a rich and rewarding pastime, which can help you discover more about where you came from and those who preceded you. This guide offers some pointers on how to get started
Family research always starts with you and your parents. Then your Grandparents and their parents (who are your Great Grandparents). A starting target would be to find these 14 people before going back too far down the generations. This will allow you to perfect research techniques in centuries where there are many sources before tackling eras where there are few. Genealogy is not just about 'collecting' relatives to make the largest tree. Nor is it a competition to claim the oldest ancestors. You will get the most out of this hobby if you find out about your ancestors' lives. Where they lived, worked and played. In recent years family researchers have noted trends for certain health issues in their ancestors which made them seek treatment before the issue become a problem for family members in this generation.
Start by asking if anyone in your family has already started family research or anyone who can tell you the names of your 14 direct ancestors. You can check these known people in records as a control group when developing your research techniques.
Family gatherings are an excellent place to collect oral family history so take a small notebook to weddings, christenings etc. It's not difficult to start a theme going people love to remember their past and to relate them for an interested audience and it will soon spark off others to add to the tales. You may find relatives who are the custodians of family photographs and papers. By showing an interest they may allow you to copy or, if you are very lucky, keep these documents and photographs. But before you gather up the 'treasures' ask for names and dates for each item. Its best to avoid labelling a relationship to photos such as 'Mum & Dad' as in the future this may not be obvious. Better to use personal names with any nicknames. Dates and places are also very useful to add.
Hints for taking oral history:
* Try not to stop the storytellers' flow by questions as it may lead them off the subject. Details can be clarified at the end.
* Note the source, who said what so you can go back to them for clarification.
* Write down all the tale you are told, regardless of how far fetched the 'story', as pieces may be of use later.
* Don't ignore younger members of the family they may have been told things by their elders that will add to the mix.
* Record details of siblings as searches of close family may help when your prime subject gets 'lost' in the records.
If you become the custodian of family photos and original documents they will need to be stored for prosperity There are several specialist companies who provide archive standard storage systems and display folders. You will often find them at family history fairs or a web search.
Once you have some information you will need to start keeping it in some logical order and a notebook will be adequate to start with. However, you will soon start amassing a great deal of information and if you have a computer you will find it is the logical way to store it all. Most family historians keep hard copies as a back up. If you don't have a computer or prefer pen and paper then start with pre-printed forms. You can buy them but they can also be found as a free download on the internet.
You could make use of free online tree makers on family research sites such as:
You don't need to take out a subscription to use them although this may mean you don't get the full experience of the site and you do need to see original documents yourself and not trust the transcribed index.
Be cautious about giving out any personal details of living persons and never publish them on a public website. Its a great help when a distant cousin contacts you from across the world and you are able to swap information with them. But in the excitement it is so easy to forget that you don't really know them and things you pass on to them may be published without your consent and you will not be able to stop them doing so.
There are many on the market and they are not overly expensive. It is difficult to recommend any but prime points to look for would be a version for the country you are from so the terminology is familiar to you and check that the reports generated are suitable for your personal needs. Best of all is to find a couple of experienced family historians and get them to show you how their tree-maker works and ask what they do and don't like about it. If you don't know any family historians then join a family history society near to your current home. It does not matter if your family are not local to that area as family research does not significantly change from county to county.
There are many origins of surnames, from locational (eg Hill, Wakefield), occupation (eg Baker, Butcher), personal characteristics (eg Small) and paternal lineage (eg, Smithson, Johnson). You can start to learn about your surname and its origin by accessing the The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland, which is free for individuals in the UK at Google Play.
You may also be interested in researching a surnames origins and other individuals with the same surname. The Guild of One Name Studies provides a gateway into researching a surname, its origins and global distribution and frequency.
The Kent Family History Society provides access to unique datasets and expertise not available anywhere else.
Members receive online access to the society historical records and archives, twice monthly email newsletter and quarterly journal.
In addition, the society provides expertise that members can call upon as they progress their family history research, whether it be via the society Forum, GroupsIO, Facebook or BlueSky discussion groups.
There are numerous websites available to get your started with tracing your family history.
Here are a few of interest to get you started:
Tracing Your Roots: A Beginner's Guide to Genealogy
Last updated: 15 May 2025