So you want to build a family tree? Well you’re officially a budding genealogist. But before you go signing up for twenty different genealogy sites or diving into census records …
There’s a much easier place to start and it’s probably sitting around your kitchen table.
In this post, we’re staying offline and back to basics.
We’ll talk about how using your memory, your family, and a good old-fashioned piece of paper is the easiest, most powerful way to begin your journey into family history.
Step 1: Use your own memory
Yes, really. You probably already know more than you think:
- Your parents’ full names and birth dates
- Where your grandparents lived
- Family stories you heard growing up (“Granda fought in the war,” “Nan had seven sisters,” etc.)
You don’t need to have all the facts to get started, this is about building a framework you’ll keep adding to.
Start sketching out a basic family tree: just you, your parents, and your grandparents. Names, dates (even rough ones), places, nicknames and little stories as everything helps.
Beginners TIP
Step 2: Ask the living (before it’s too late)
This part is gold. Family members, especially older ones, are walking history books.
Grab a notebook or open a voice recorder and have a chat with:
- Parents
- Aunts & uncles
- Grandparents
- That one cousin who knows everything
Here are a few good starter questions:
- “What do you remember about your parents and grandparents?”
- “Where did our family live before here?”
- “Did anyone serve in the military?”
- “Were there any family traditions or sayings you remember?”
- “Do we have any old photos, letters, or keepsakes?”
You don’t need to interrogate anyone. Make it a chat, a memory-sharing session.
And write everything down. The smallest detail, like the name of a village or a strange family nickname, could unlock something later.
Beginners TIP
Step 3: Dig through the drawer (you know the one)
Every family has a drawer or box somewhere filled with the ghosts of paperwork past.
We’re talking:
- Old birth or death certificates
- Wedding invitations
- Funeral service leaflets
- School reports, military service records, newspaper clippings
- And yes… photos. Loads of unlabeled photos.
Don’t worry if things don’t look “official.” Even the roughest notes or old Christmas card lists can help you spot names and connections.
Make copies or take photos with your phone.
Step 4: Sketch a tree, just on paper for now
It doesn’t need to be fancy. Use a pencil and paper.
Write yourself at the bottom, then branch upwards:
→ Parents → Grandparents → Great-grandparents (if you know them)
Keep it loose and light. You’ll refine it as you go.
There’s something about physically drawing it that helps make sense of the connections.
Plus, it’s strangely satisfying.
Step 5: Stay away from the internet (for now)
Don’t fall into the trap of jumping straight into online records with only a vague name and “Ireland, maybe?” to go on. Trust me, that’s how you end up in a rabbit hole with six tabs open and no closer to an answer.
By starting with what you already know, you’re building a solid foundation. When you do go digital, you’ll have:
- Full names
- Approximate dates
- Places
- And a better idea of what you’re looking for
It’ll save you time and headaches down the road.
It starts with you
Starting your family tree doesn’t require a subscription, a degree in history, or a DNA kit.
It just takes curiosity, a bit of time, and a pen that works.
Talk to your family, jot down the stories, and build from there.