Other lessons in this series:
Starting a tree
An Ancestry® membership gives you access to historical records to help you build and expand your family tree beyond what you already know.
It's usually best to start your tree with yourself and work your way backward. This way, you can use the information you know to find the information you don't know.
There is no limit to the number of trees you can build.
- From any page on Ancestry, click the Trees tab and select Start a New Tree (if this is your first tree) or Create & Manage Trees > Create a new tree.
- Click Add Yourself or Add home person.
- Enter information and click Save or Continue.
- Click Add Father or Add Mother, enter their information, and click Save. If you're adopted or don't know your biological parents' names, see this article for help.
- Follow the prompt to add more people or to name the tree. Save the tree. Once your tree is created, you can access it from the Trees tab.
- To add children, click on yourself and select More options
(the three horizontal dots) > Add relative > Child. - To add grandchildren, click on your child and add a child to them (step 6).
Entering information in a tree
- Names: Enter full names when possible. Use maiden names for women (leaving off their married names; these are implied by any spouses they have in the tree). For more information about maiden names, see When to Use Maiden Names.
- Dates: List dates in dd mmm yyyy format (for example: 25 Dec 1928). If you’re unsure of the day or year, use the words before, after, or about before the date. You can also use ca. (circa) to indicate an estimate.
- Places: Record as much information as possible about where an event happened. List the smallest level first and the largest level last (for example: “Venice, Veneto, Italy”). When you begin entering a location, select it from the drop-down menu if it appears. If it's not there, put a comma and a space between the location levels (like "City, State, Country") and include the country. Include all known levels of a place when not all levels are known.
Correcting mistakes
For help changing relationships in your tree, see Fixing Relationships in Trees. To merge duplicate people, see Merging Duplicate People.
To change the name, gender, living status, birth or death information, you entered for someone in your tree:
- Click on someone in your tree whose information has an error.
- In the card that appears, click Quick edit.
- Change the information and click Save.
Gathering information
The first step in building a family tree is gathering the records and information you already have. These records tend to be most useful:
- Family group sheets, pedigree charts, and books of remembrance
- Family Bibles
- Journals, diaries, and letters
- Photographs
- Obituaries and newspaper clippings
- Birth, marriage, and death certificates
If you want to organize information in a paper chart before entering it online, download our free family group sheet or pedigree chart. Our many blank charts are available for free.
Interviewing an older biological relative can help you gather information about your ancestors. Be sure to take notes. Your family members may remember important details or have family heirlooms, records, or photos that can help you.
Sharing your tree
It’s easy to share your tree with friends or family. From any page on Ancestry, click the Trees tab and select a tree. From the tree, click Share in the top-right corner.
Having a tree built for you
If you'd rather hire a professional genealogist to build your family tree, see Hiring a Genealogist.
