Daisy Goddard
Researcher
Mon Apr 28 2025
•
< 5 minutes read
With free genealogy records and family tree building software, you can discover key details about your ancestors – what their households looked like, where they worked, where they grew up, and where they grew old.
What can I discover about my family history for free?
If you’ve ever wondered where your stubborn streak comes from, or where your family’s creative skills originate, the answer may lie within your family history. You can uncover deeply personal connections that span centuries with free genealogical research.
How do I start family history research for free?
Understanding the lives of your ancestors doesn’t have to be costly. There are a few ways to begin unlocking fascinating discoveries without parting with a penny.
- Search free family history records and old newspapers for your ancestors. If you know your relatives’ name and date of birth, births, marriage and death records (BMDs) are a good place to start. Findmypast offers free access to over 230 million birth and marriage records for free.
- Use online software to start your family tree for free. To maximise your research, you may consider taking out a free trial with a family history website and making the most of all of the records and tools on offer.
Make fascinating discoveries for free
Genealogy records establish key facts about your ancestors – where they were born and bred, where they worked and even where they are buried.
Old newspapers add even more colour and context to your family, helping you to build up a detailed picture of your relatives’ experiences, from the attendees at their wedding to the pressing issues of the day. Findmypast offers free access to millions of newspaper pages for free.
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Get started with our family tree builder
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Add the family members you already know, and we’ll start our detective work.
We’ll look for your relatives in our genealogy records and send you hints when we find something.
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