Last updated April 2026.
How to Know About Your Ancestry?
Discovering your ancestry is a rewarding way to understand your family history and heritage. There are several methods and resources you can use to research your family background, from online genealogy databases to government records.
Using Vital Records to Research Ancestry
One of the most effective ways to trace your ancestry is by obtaining vital records. Birth certificates and death certificates contain important information about your ancestors, including:
- Names and dates of birth
- Locations where ancestors were born and died
- Names of parents and sometimes grandparents
- Occupations and social status
- Maiden names of female ancestors
Where to Find Vital Records
Vital records are maintained by state and local governments. To obtain birth certificates or death certificates, you can:
- Visit your state’s vital records office in person
- Contact the office by phone or mail
- Apply online through many state vital records offices
- Use a vital records service to request documents on your behalf
Using DNA Testing for Ancestry
DNA testing services like AncestryDNA, 23andMe, and MyHeritage offer an additional way to discover your ancestry. These tests can:
- Connect you with distant relatives
- Provide ethnic and geographic ancestry information
- Help you build your family tree
Online Genealogy Databases
Popular genealogy websites like Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org contain millions of historical records, including:
- Census records
- Marriage and divorce records
- Immigration and naturalization records
- Military service records
- Historical newspapers and documents
Interviewing Family Members
Before beginning your formal research, interview older family members about your ancestry. They may have:
- Stories about your ancestors
- Family photos or documents
- Knowledge of family origins and migrations
- Connections to living relatives you haven’t met
Getting Started With Ancestry Research
To begin researching your ancestry:
- Start with what you know about your immediate family
- Obtain birth certificates and death certificates for family members
- Join genealogy websites and begin building your family tree
- Interview older relatives about family history
- Explore historical records on genealogy databases
- Consider DNA testing to connect with relatives and explore ethnic heritage