Introduction
Discovering your family history can be an emotional and enlightening experience. With the advancement of technology, several applications have been developed to help people trace their origins and build their family trees. This article will explore some of the best apps available for discovering your ancestors and how to use them to better understand your roots.
1. Ancestry
Functionalities
Ancestry is one of the best known and most used applications for genealogical research. It offers access to a vast database of historical records, including censuses, birth, marriage and death records, among others. The app allows you to create your family tree and connect with other users who may have information about your ancestors.
How to use
To get started, simply create an Ancestry account and enter basic information about your closest family members. From there, you can explore available records and add new members to your family tree. Ancestry also offers a DNA test, which can provide additional information about your ethnic background and possible distant relatives.
2. MyHeritage
Functionalities
MyHeritage is another popular platform for family history research. It offers advanced tools for building family trees, as well as access to a vast collection of historical records and old photos. Additionally, MyHeritage has a facial recognition function that can help identify relatives in old photos.
How to use
Once you create an account on MyHeritage, you can start building your family tree by entering information about your family. The app will suggest matches from historical records that may be related to your ancestors. MyHeritage also offers a DNA test, which can help you discover more about your origins and find distant relatives.
3. FamilySearch
Functionalities
FamilySearch is a free app maintained by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It offers access to an extensive collection of historical records from around the world and allows users to create and share their family trees. FamilySearch also offers collaboration tools, allowing users to work together to discover more about their family history.
How to use
To use FamilySearch, you need to create a free account. After that, you can start building your family tree and exploring available records. The app also offers a search function that can help you find specific information about your ancestors.
4. Findmypast
Functionalities
Findmypast is a platform that mainly focuses on historical records from the United Kingdom and Ireland. It offers access to censuses, birth, marriage and death records, as well as old newspapers and military records. Findmypast also has a family tree function that allows users to organize and view their discoveries.
How to use
To get started with Findmypast, create an account and enter basic information about your family. From there, you can explore available records and add new members to your family tree. Findmypast also offers several subscription options, which provide access to different levels of information and resources.
5. Geni
Functionalities
Geni is an app that allows users to create collaborative family trees. It stands out for its focus on building a “worldwide family tree,” where users can connect their trees with those of others, creating a vast network of genealogical information. Geni also offers search tools and automatic suggestions to help expand your family tree.
How to use
To use Geni, create an account and start adding information about your family. The app will suggest possible connections to other family trees, allowing you to expand your kinship network. Collaborating with other users can help you discover additional information and resolve questions about your ancestors.
Conclusion
Exploring your family history can be a fascinating and enriching journey. With the help of these apps, you can find out more about your ancestors, build your family tree, and even find distant relatives. Each of these apps offers unique tools and features, allowing you to choose the one that best suits your needs and preferences.
Thanks
Thank you for reading this article and we hope it has been helpful on your journey to discover more about your ancestors. If you liked this article, we recommend that you check out other articles on our website on related topics, such as tips for conducting effective genealogical research and how to preserve your family's historical documents. Good luck in your search!
