Building a family tree is one of the most rewarding projects you can take on, and you can start this afternoon with nothing more than a notebook. This roadmap walks you through the first steps in order, so you never feel lost.
Step 1: Work from what you know
Family history always moves backwards in time, from the known to the unknown. So the first person on your tree is you. Write down your full name, when and where you were born, and any marriages. Then repeat the exercise for your parents, followed by your grandparents.
For each person, aim to capture:
- Their complete name, including middle names and the surname they were born with
- Date and place of birth
- Date and place of marriage, plus their spouse's name
- Date and place of death and burial, if they have died
- Jobs they held and towns they lived in
If you are unsure of something, leave it blank. An empty space is far more helpful than a guess, because it shows you exactly what to research next.
Step 2: Look around your own home
Most families already own useful evidence without realising it. Spend an hour checking drawers, cupboards and old boxes for:
- Birth, marriage and death certificates
- Photographs, particularly any with notes on the back
- Letters, postcards, diaries and greeting cards
- Religious books with family details written inside
- School reports, employment papers, service records and passports
- Newspaper cuttings, such as wedding notices or obituaries
Tip: Photograph or scan each item before you study it closely. Older paper can be delicate, and a digital copy lets you examine it as often as you like without causing wear.
Step 3: Talk to your relatives
Parents, aunts, uncles and grandparents often know names, places and stories that were never written down. Even a short phone call can fill several gaps in your tree. Our list of 25 questions to ask older relatives will help you get the conversation going.
Step 4: Choose one small goal
"Find all my ancestors" is too vague to act on. A good research goal is narrow and specific, such as:
- Discover my paternal grandmother's maiden name
- Find the town where my great-grandfather was born
- Confirm when my mother's parents married
Working on one question at a time keeps the project manageable and makes it obvious when you have found your answer.
Step 5: Note where every fact came from
Whether you use paper, a spreadsheet or genealogy software, record the source of each piece of information. "Told to me by Aunt Meera, March 2026" or "Birth certificate in Dad's file box" is plenty. When you later find conflicting details, you will know which source to trust. Our guide to organising your research explains a simple way to do this.
Mistakes beginners often make
- Copying online trees without checking them. Errors spread quickly from tree to tree. Treat other people's work as a lead, not as proof.
- Assuming a matching name means a matching person. Names repeat across families and generations, so look for agreeing dates, places and relatives too.
- Racing back too many generations. It is tempting to leap to a famous ancestor, but every link in the chain needs evidence.
- Putting off conversations. Speak with older family members while you have the chance.
What to do next
Once your first three generations are on paper, you are ready to start checking them against records. Our guide to family history records shows you where to look.