The Family Tree Guide blog
Every article in one place. Choose a topic to narrow things down, or scroll through them all.
How to Start Your Family Tree: A Beginner's Roadmap
Never researched your ancestors before? This step-by-step roadmap shows you exactly where to begin, using only what you already know and the people around you.
25 Questions to Ask Older Relatives About Family History
The memories of your oldest relatives are a source no archive can replace. Use these 25 prompts to turn a casual chat into a family history treasure.
How to Tell Whether a Genealogy Source Can Be Trusted
Not every record is equally reliable. Learn the simple questions experienced researchers ask before accepting a name, date or place as fact.
8 Ways to Get Past a Family History Brick Wall
Stuck on an ancestor who seems to have vanished? These eight proven strategies can help you find a way around the dead end.
The Records That Tell Your Family Story
From birth certificates to passenger lists, here is a tour of the record types that hold family details, what each one reveals and where to find it.
How to Read a Census Record, Step by Step
Census returns are packed with clues about your ancestors' lives. Here is how to read one carefully and make the most of every column.
A Simple System for Organising Your Family Research
Papers piling up and files scattered everywhere? Set up a simple system for folders, file names, citations and research logs that you will actually keep using.
How to Care for Old Family Photographs and Papers
Old photos and documents are irreplaceable. Follow these practical steps to store, handle, label and digitise them so they last for generations.
Creative Ways to Share Your Family Story
Your research deserves an audience. Discover simple, meaningful ways to share what you have found with relatives young and old.
What a DNA Test Can and Cannot Tell You About Your Family
Consumer DNA tests promise a lot. Here is a balanced look at what they really reveal, where they fall short and what to consider before you test.
Pedigree, Descendant or Group Sheet? Choosing the Right Family Tree Chart
Family trees come in several shapes, and each answers a different question. Here is how to pick the chart that suits what you want to show.
How to Set Family History Goals That Actually Get Results
Vague goals lead to endless browsing. Learn how to turn big questions into small, focused research tasks you can finish in an evening.
Researching Your Family History on a Small Budget
You do not need expensive subscriptions to make real progress. These low-cost and free approaches will take your tree a long way.
Second Cousin Once Removed? Family Relationships Made Simple
Cousin terms confuse almost everyone. This plain-English explanation will help you work out exactly how any two relatives are connected.
Why Your Ancestor's Name Keeps Changing, and How to Search Smarter
Spellings shift, nicknames appear and surnames change. Here is why it happens and how to adjust your searches so you stop missing records.
Using Old Maps to Understand Where Your Ancestors Lived
A map can turn an address on a record into a real place with neighbours, churches and workplaces. Learn how maps can unlock new research leads.
Baptisms, Marriages and Burials: A Guide to Religious Records
Long before governments kept registers, places of worship recorded life's milestones. Here is how to find and read these valuable records.
What Old Wills and Estate Papers Can Reveal About Your Family
A single will can name children, grandchildren and in-laws all at once. Discover why estate records deserve a place in your research.
Tracing an Ancestor Who Served in the Armed Forces
Service files, pension papers and memorials can tell you far more than when someone enlisted. Here is how to start researching a military ancestor.
Following Your Ancestors' Journeys Through Migration Records
Many families moved at least once across a border or an ocean. Learn which records capture those journeys and how to trace a family back to its origins.
Finding Your Family in Old Newspapers
Announcements, local news and even advertisements can bring your ancestors to life. Here is how to search old newspapers effectively.
How to Write Source Citations Without the Headache
Citations sound academic, but they are simply notes that tell you where a fact came from. Here is an easy way to write them that you will actually stick to.
A Beginner's Guide to Digitising Your Family Archive
Scanning photos and papers protects them and makes them easy to share. Follow this simple plan to digitise your collection one box at a time.
How to Write a Short Biography of an Ancestor
Dates and names become a story when you write them up. This step-by-step approach helps you create a one-page biography your family will love to read.