Genealogy Guide
Step-by-step guides for your family history — clearly explained, no experience needed.
Building your tree & the app
- How to Make a Family Tree: Step-by-Step GuideHow to make a family tree step by step: where to start, which details belong in your first tree, and the beginner mistakes worth avoiding.3 min read
- Create a Family Tree with Children and GrandchildrenCreate a family tree with children and grandchildren as a simple family project or gift. Tips for photos, privacy and printing.3 min read
- Family Tree School Project: Finish It in One EveningA family tree school assignment done in one evening: what teachers expect, three generations, printing tips, privacy and blended-family options.5 min read
Printing, export & backup
- Printable Ancestor Chart: Template, Layout and TipsCreate a printable ancestor chart with clear generations, readable names, photos and export tips for printing your family history.3 min read
- Preserving Family Photos: Scan and LabelLearn how to preserve old family photos: scan safely, name files clearly, identify people, and store originals with care.5 min read
- How to Share Your Family Tree With RelativesHow to share your family tree with relatives — as a ready-made image to send, or as a backup file they can edit. No account, no cloud.3 min read
- Back Up Family Memories: The 3-2-1 RuleKeep photos, documents and your family tree for good: the 3-2-1 rule, durable file formats, the limits of cloud storage, and who can get in later.7 min read
Genealogy for beginners
- Starting Genealogy: First StepsStart genealogy with no experience: a simple first-week plan using family stories, home records, photos, and clear notes.5 min read
- Interviewing Relatives: How to Run a Family InterviewHow to run a family interview with parents and grandparents: prepare, ask in a sensible order, raise difficult topics gently, and record with permission.5 min read
- 50 Questions to Ask Grandparents About Family HistoryUse these 50 questions to ask grandparents about childhood, parents, work, love, food, photos, family stories and memories.3 min read
- Where Does My Last Name Come From? Research GuideLearn how to research the origin of your last name using meaning, spelling variants, locations, records and family history sources.3 min read
- How to Find Immigrant Ancestors: Records and Search TipsFind immigrant ancestors using home country clues, passenger lists, census records, naturalization papers, name variants and family evidence.3 min read
Understanding relationships & terms
Documents, sources & archives
- Family Documents at Home: Genealogy CluesFind genealogy clues at home in certificates, family Bibles, photo albums, letters, military papers, and old keepsakes.5 min read
- Official Genealogy Records: Where to SearchLearn where to search official genealogy records: civil records, vital records, church registers, archives, fees, and access rules.5 min read
- Free Online Genealogy SourcesFind useful free online genealogy sources, including FamilySearch, national archives, indexes, newspapers, and cemetery records.5 min read
- Reading Old Handwriting for GenealogyLearn how to read old handwriting in genealogy records with simple steps, comparison letters, transcription notes, and patience.5 min read
- GEDCOM Explained: Import, Export and LimitationsGEDCOM explained in plain English: what the file stores, how import and export work, and why photos and layouts may not transfer perfectly.3 min read
- Find Wartime Ancestors: Military Records That SurviveTrace ancestors who served in WWI and WWII: NARA and the 1973 fire, UK service records, war graves, draft cards, pension files and how to request them.7 min read
Privacy, DNA & sensitive topics
- Family Data and Privacy in GenealogyLearn what to store and share about living relatives in genealogy, with simple privacy rules and respectful consent.5 min read
- DNA Testing for Genealogy: Is It Worth It?DNA testing can support genealogy, but it has limits and privacy risks. Learn when it helps, what it cannot prove and how to handle results.3 min read
- Adoption, Unknown Fathers and Gaps in a Family TreeHow to handle adoption, unknown fathers and sensitive gaps in genealogy with respect, privacy, careful notes and clear evidence.3 min read
Family history & chronicle
- How to Write a Family History From Your Family TreeTurn your family tree into a family history with chapters, photos, documents, timelines, sources and simple storytelling tips.3 min read
- Family Crests: The Truth About "Your" Coat of ArmsThere is no coat of arms for a surname. What a family crest really is, how to find out whether your family has one, and how to spot a bucket shop.7 min read