Interest in genealogy has risen considerably over the past decade-plus, as the digitization of public records has made it easier to learn about family history. Genealogical websites and services have helped people interested in their family histories. The following are helpful tips to get started.

Speak with older relatives.

Parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents can be invaluable resources for younger relatives seeking to learn about their family histories. Some may already have gathered information and records about their ancestors. Older relatives can also share stories about ancestors that won’t appear in digitized records or on genealogy sites. These anecdotes can provide the spark needed to explore a family history as thoroughly as possible.

Gather as much information as possible.

Birth dates, maiden names, existing documentation (such as physical copies of birth certificates, marriage certificates, and passports), and property records can make it easier to find information about your ancestry. Many families have physical copies of these records, which may also note relevant details, such as a grandmother’s maiden name. Having as much information as possible before using a genealogy service may speed up the process and produce a more detailed record of your family history.

Make use of modern services.

Many accessible services, some free, can help people uncover information about their ancestry. FamilySearch (familysearch.org), the National Archives, and the USGenWeb® Project are free genealogy resources that can help people learn about their family histories. Subscription-based services like Ancestry.com can also be invaluable.

Genealogy is a wildly popular hobby. Individuals looking to learn more about their family histories can use a wide range of resources, including their own relatives, to learn as much as possible about their ancestry.