How to Search Ancestry

Finding records on Ancestry® can help you build your family tree. Fill in your family tree with what you know, then search Ancestry to find what you don't. 
 

How to build your tree using historical records

If you know details like the name and birthdate of one of your ancestors—even if it's a parent or grandparent—you can often find records that include their parents' names.  For example, a census record from when they were a child would likely contain the names of your ancestor and their parents. And once you find their parents' names, you can use the same strategy to find their parents' names. 

To find unknown ancestors, start by searching for records for your oldest known relatives. If this is your grandmother, for example, search for records with your grandmother's name in them. When you find records where she appears, save the record to your tree, and add any new information from the record (like her place of birth or marriage date) to your tree.

When you find records for your grandmother that mention her parents or siblings, add them as new people to your tree. Census records can be especially useful for finding someone's immediate family members. 

Once you've found your grandmother's parents' names and added them to your tree, start searching for records for each of her parents, keeping an eye out for records that include their siblings and parents. By working your way backward in time like this, you can often find older and older ancestors.

If you get stuck moving backward in time, try expanding your tree horizontally until you find information about the next generation back. You can do this by searching for records for the sibling of the oldest ancestor you've found and then looking through the sibling's records to find their parents.  

To view the records you find, you may need an Ancestry family history membership. 
 

Searching from your tree and adding what you find

When you start a search from within your tree, any facts you’ve added about the person you search for will be automatically included in your search.

1. In your tree, click on someone you want to find records for. 
2. In the card that appears, click Search.
3. To narrow your search results to a certain time, place, or record type, select a filter (or multiple filters) on the left side of the page.
4. In your search results, on the right side of the page, click on a record to open it. Examine the details to see whether they match the details of the person you're searching for. 
5. If it's a match, you'll want to save the record (and the information in the record) to your tree. Click Save > Save this record to [Name]. 
6. Information from the record will appear on the left side of the page, with information from your tree appearing on the right. If a fact in the record (like a birthdate) differs from that same fact in your tree, it will say DIFFERENT. If a fact in the record isn't already in your tree, it will say NEW. Check the boxes next to the facts you want added to your tree. 
7. If the record contains the names of other family members, those names should appear further down the page. You may have to scroll to see them. To add someone new to your tree who appeared in the record, check the Add box next to their name. 
8. Click Save to tree.