I agree. I started when my mom passed away at the age of 83. We found notes that started naming family member going back a couple generations. Then we ran across documents from the early 1900's and a few from the 1800's. That was enough to get me started. When I eventually signed up on a couple Genealogy websites, I was ahead of the game and was able to match online with my mom's notes and documents. Now 7 years later I have discovered secrets that none in our family knew about and was never talked about my whole life.

Such good advice. When I started the family tree my mother was still alive and she filled me in on a lot of relatives. It made them real to me rather than just a name. I have talked to cousins, uncles and aunts since then. The one thing I do regret is I didn't have a chance to question my grandparents more than just the usual childhood questions. I have to be careful when using Ancestry as the names for my ancestors are common names for those times and there a lot of people with the same name. Having my basics has helped a great deal in determining whether Joe Smith is actually related to me as there is no DNA to compare with a lot of these folks.

4:57 So true. I'm one of the youngest grandchildren on both sides of the family and my older cousins now get the questions I didn't think to ask those who are now gone.

Hey! First time here! ... just wanted to say I completely understand where you're coming from, and, i also agree. With me, when i was growing up, my Grandparents used to tell us stories of their lives, their siblings, cousins, parents and grandparents. My parents also used to share their family trees that they had drawn up based on the stories told to them, and, their memories. And we even had (for one branch of the family), lawyers who had handled the probate of the family estates for generations, give us a copy of the family tree based on their records. Those things were my starting point. It's a great foundation, but, it sometimes gets to the point where there's only so much that can do for you. For example, for me, based on the information I had, I only got, maybe, the name of the father of one of my ancestors, but, not the mother. Then try coupling the stories your family told you, with official records ... sometimes your family's stories might differ from official records, simply because there were things that the family did not know, or, maybe, the stories got a little twisted over time. For example, my family did not know that we had Native American ancestors, until various family members did DNA tests ... we still have to prove it via documentation, etc. (& unfortunately documentation for that part of the world, especially at that time, is still quite lacking), but, it is believable, because we know and can prove that several generations of our family were based in that country & neighboring countries (we'd been told they were of a different cultural background though ... which, according to the DNA, wasn't a complete lie, as, it showed us they were descended from both cultures ... we just didn't know about the other). But, yea, sometimes, where your family stories leave gaps, DNA, and official records, can help fill them.

My research began long before Google, consumer DNA tests, and home computers. It was done in libraries and cemeteries and in my grandparents' homes. My obsession with family history/genealogy started with conversations with my grandparents. Some grandparents knew more about their family history than others did and were a big help at the beginning of my research. One grandparent had no idea who her maternal grandparents were. I was able to tell her what I found in my research. The look on her face when I told her the names of her grandparents is a something that I will forever treasure. All of my grandparents are long gone now and I have forgotten all but a very few of their stories because I didn't have the foresight to write down or otherwise record their stories. At 14, you really don't realize that some day you may not remember their stories, even when you're sitting and talking with someone in the grips of Alzheimer's. For one thing, they are going to live forever and be able to remind you about their stories, right? Oh, how I wish! Your advice is great advice. Start at home, that's where the real stories are. Make those memories while you can and definitely record their stories somehow!

Thank you , Amy. This is exactly how I started my journey many years ago ~ at home and with family, memories, etc !

I’m finding that family stories blended with actual documentation is clearing up a lot of questions. Your channel is an excellent resource for genealogy. Thank you!

The picture of your grandma threw me for a loop. She looks so much like my mother. I know some about Mom’s family, but not as much about Dad’s. She and my Grandma told stories of different family members and I remember both of my maternal great grandmothers. Daddy didn’t talk about his family much and the little I know, I learned from his baby sister after he died. Fun fact, my paternal grandfather was 100 years older than me.

Hi Amy, I've learned to take what's told at home with a 'grain of salt'. The evidence I found in 'births, deaths and marriages' certificates dispelled many family myths.

When I first started years ago I got on the wrong family of my grandfather. The families had basically all the same names. The only way to separate them was one family came from Kentucky and the other was from Tennessee.

Excellent tips, Keep It Simple. Thanks

I started back in the late 1970’s with I knew and what I got from family. I kept adding to it and the stopped for a time due to a family situation. I picked it up more steadily in 2000.

Wasn't sure where to comment. I just found your channel and really appreciate the information you provide. I have a question I'd like to ask you about family books (the ones small counties, towns, or even individual families publish with historical listings and sometimes stories of families. We have come across a few in thrift shops and purchased them in order to ensure they don't end up in a junk journal. Is there a way to make sure that these books are preserved somewhere already for genealogy clues?

Thank you. I am so glad you made this video. When I coming up as child my parents refused to tk about our family history.

My father began genealogy in the 1960s. He was able to talk to grandparents and cousins who remembered people born in the 1840s. I picked up his hobby in the 1990s after his death. The only regret was that he only followed his surname and didn't delve into his grandmother's lineages, and didn't spend any time on my mother's line - not that that would have gone well because she didn't like her family and avoided them.

I have family all the way in Norway… I live in the USA 😀 To cut things short, I have a VERY interesting family tree/history

Thank you.

I'm glad you put up this video. Thanks. My grandfather's name is William Thomas Rogers. There are thousands. He is on the paternal side. The one who might have known him, or about him, are all gone. I am the only one currently interested who also has time to research.

I am 14 years old and this august i make with my 96 years old great grandfather interview. That interview is 2.5 hours long. And I ask him questions about his life and historical events as he experienced them, etc. I've been doing my family tree for 2 years now. And my challenge is to find all of my direct ancestors (So photo, first name, last name and year of birth and death) but I am only looking after 5 generations aka my great great grandparents. And of course I'm always asking my grandparents for stories and facts. Sometimes I write the stories down, sometimes I record my grandparents discreetly. I try to preserve all the stories but I don't know if I'm doing it right, I'm afraid the stories won't be preserved. And I ask them all sorts of questions so that later in life I don't regret not asking them a particular question.

I quit using Ancestry long ago. So much copying my information that I worked hard on. I found a free website that doesn't do any copying and my research is mine and I can share it with my KNOWN family

Me upon finding this video: "Hmm, maybe I'm kinda curious about how to start learning more about my family tree..." Me after watching this video: "Ehhh, okay, I don't think I'm THAT curious."

Both my parents passed away when i was young My mom was native and my dad was European I found my dad's side going to the 1800s but on my mom's side I can't even find anything about her or her side of the family all I have is 1 photo of her and her name I know she has sisters but they don't give me much

So what is your advice to someone who is adopted and their birth mom was adopted as well? And my birth father died and I never met him. I met my birth mom and siblings in 2012.

Hi Amy, like Patricia I'm glad you posted this video, but I have an interesting situation going on with my family. 1; there was some adoption with the family that went on (not me) and 2; there's just no one that wants to share information or just don't know any. So I'm at a fork in the road so to speak doing my family research especially on mom's side of family. But I am steadfast in my endeavor. Love your hints and tips. Thank you for your knowledge.

I am blessed to a degree. On my mother's maternal side of the family, my great-uncle started tracing the family. In fact he documented each and every little piece that he was able to trace and add to the family tree.😊 But my mother would never give me any information while she was alive about her father's side of the family. When she passed away I received a letter that was in her belongings that for some strange reason she had it addressed to me talking about my grandfather's father and his maternal side. Which had been a brick wall. Why she did this I do not understand. She also had a collection of various genealogy papers that I would have loved to have gotten my hands on years ago. I begged and begged for answers and never got them until her passing. And with winter coming on I will have a lot of research to do.

but what if I've done this and still haven't found anything i didn't already know where do i go now?

Amy, I hope this is relevant since I don't know where else to ask and I have never seen it addressed. Essentially, where do you draw the line and say "this person is related to that person"? What I refer to is, for example, where there is no DIRECT evidence such as a marriage certificate or a maiden name of the wife in a will but there is plenty of INDIRECT original source evidence such as naming patterns of children, neighbors, other relatives and other "context". I originally started out pretty rigid in my thinking that if there is no absolute proof then the link is not real. I am still that way with original source material vs secondary sources. But on indirect evidence I have evolved so that now I see several cases of pretty good circumstantial and indirect evidence of family relationships. The problem now is how much is enough. It is now a range of possibilities from "possible but not likely" to "possible and highly probable". But still without the smoking gun. Hope you have some thoughts on this. And thanks for you great channel!

When I began, I got my first bit of information from a cousin. From there I went a bit nuts. I wish I had a system to make my tree more viable.

Been looking for my mothers family for years my mom died in 2006 it’s like her or her parents have no records I don’t know what else to do

Thank you! Your videos are fascinating & you offer great advice!

I have almost nothing that my grandparents had. Apparently they had an entire book at documented family history but it was lost by one of my aunts.

My Family tree from what family said In my father side we started from Kingdom of Holland ( 1806-1810 ) back when Louis Bonaparte was the king, then next generation move to Spanish Empire in a tiny town where my grandpa , grandpa live and from there his son who had red bread like Frederick Barbarossa, who he move to Mexico where he had my grandpa who meant my grandmother who in her side is Native to Latin America, they had 8 kids who was my dad who was the 2nd generation to be born in Mexico, my father then move with my mom to the US where they had Me and my brother where born. Last person to end my family tree is me due to never having a relationship , thus ending my family tree.

Good advice!

Im not normally into family trees, but you make it very interesting!

I stopped using ancestry after going back up to 5 generations ,as there were a lot of people with the same names at that level..(& i always double check family members & connection before adding)I ignore hints.(i think theres currently around 400) far too many to follow them all up,and most duplicated.

I mostly get very little to zero records and hints. The only way I got to where I am currently with my family tree is simply going to churches. And I am still around 1800. and cannot go further. I think Europe has much less information, consensus lists etc. than America. So information is scarce, mostly on latin, and wasnt well recorded among common people.

Someone in my ancestry like 200 years ago was adopted. Is a DNA test going to do me any good at all?

How do you correct information that is incorrect?

My question is: what about people who are not Caucasian or have family based in the US? I’m first generation and my family is from another country. How do I trace my family history out of the US?

Is there a legitimate company i can just pay them to research my ancestry

Problem is.. My mom is the only child, from a czech family. She got married with Indonesian man. Her Dad passed away even before she got married. The last time i met my Grandma was when i was 9 y/o, before she passed away. From my Dad side, in this country.. There's noting in genealogy arvhive. I don't even know how his parents looks since there is no photo at all. I only have their names 😥 I consider i'm lucky that i dig out my moms's family side 'till 5 generations back thank to names, pictures, and a lot of information from her cousin the last time i met her in Czech 4 years ago. But more than that, i'm pretty stuck

Absolutely right

I know nothing about my mother’s side of the family. Absolutely nothing. And my father doesn’t have any records either. That’s why I want to try a dna test.

➡These habits can help you find more of your family tree: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/jdeHZbGnvJPTYqc.html

I recently got a DNA test for my mother, and I’ve been building a tree for her family. It brought up a LOT of third cousin ‘possible’ relations, and a message came from one of those asking me to send names of people on my tree “because we’re related and I can probably give you more information”. His profile showed he has several thousand names on his tree. That experience creeped me out; felt like he was a “collector”. I’ll be reviewing my privacy settings!

How about when you don’t have a clue who your dad is or his parents or anything? The only person you know about him is what he looked like? Yep that’s what I thought

How can I find my long lost brother and grandfather and his side if I don’t know any of their names?