10 FREE THINGS to do on Ancestry

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Jack Miller1963-

David Miller1940-2011

John Miller1916-2001

David Jones1906-1992

David Miller1829-1885

David Miller1829-1885

David Miller1829-1885

David Miller1829-1885

JoAnn Jones1936-1999

LouAnn Smith1921-1972

JoAnn Mapleton1829-1885

JoAnn Mapleton1829-1885

JoAnn Mapleton1829-1885

JoAnn Mapleton1829-1885

JoAnn Mapleton1912-1980

David Miller

JoAnn Mapleton

David Miller

JoAnn Mapleton

David Miller

JoAnn Mapleton

David Miller

JoAnn Mapleton

David Miller

JoAnn Mapleton

David Miller

JoAnn Mapleton

David Miller

JoAnn Mapleton

David Miller

JoAnn Mapleton

Not sure where to start or what we offer? Well, get ready. There’s plenty to do here—and a lot of it is totally free.

2. Learn about your last name.

What’s the story behind your surname? Get meaning and history, where your family likely lived over time, migration, possible occupations, and more with our handy name origin tool.

3. Search select census records.

What were your ancestors doing in 1880? How about 1940? Find out in two free U.S. Federal Census collections—you’ll even get access to every image in the 1940 census. It’s like a virtual snapshot of your family in the forties. Have ancestors from the UK? You can also search the 1881 England and Wales Census every-name index for free.

1. Build your family tree.

Start with a few simple facts like your grandparents’ names and birthdates and we’ll lead you to more. Add photos, documents, and stories. See an ancestor’s history with LifeStory or get context about their life and times through Historical Insights.

4. Travel the country.

Searching for an early American settler in New England? Or a legendary character from the Wild West? Click on the “Search” tab, scroll down to the U.S. map, then choose a state to see a list of available records from that state on Ancestry.

5. See what the community is up to.

Message boards let you pick the brains of other researchers or share your own advice. It’s a great way to tap into the passion and expertise of the millions of people who are exploring their family history on Ancestry. You’ll definitely find answers—you might even find family.

10. Access two invaluable genealogy books.

The Source takes you through different types of historical records and what can be found in each of them, while Red Book is an expansive guide to the most useful resources for American states, counties, and towns. Both books are easy to browse for free on Ancestry.

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6. Share the discoveries with Member Connect.

This helpful free service lets you contact other Ancestry members, share research with them, and be notified when they add new information about one of your ancestors to their public family trees.

7. Educate yourself.

Acquire new research skills, get the inside scoop on records, or discover just how DNA works. With Ancestry Academy there’s always something new to learn through in-depth or short course videos. Sign up for full access or check out free foundational courses.

8. Get help with a range of topics.

From searching to AncestryDNA to member trees to billing, our robust Support Center connects you quickly and efficiently with answers from the community or our crack support team.

9. Organize your research.

Our range of helpful charts, forms, and census forms can help you make notes, keep track of details in your family tree, and more. From ancestral charts to correspondence records, you’ll be ready for discoveries.