Ancestry® Family History
Get the most out of the family history resources available on Ancestry and learn how to find generations of your family and their stories.
Immigration Records
The history of immigration is filled with some of the most hopeful stories of humanity—and some of the most tragic. Millions of immigrants ventured to North America over the centuries in search of economic opportunity, land ownership, religious freedom, and a better quality of life.
Featured Family History Articles
The discovery of gold in California in 1848 set off one of the largest mass migrations in North American history and forever changed the social and economic makeup of the region. Explore records from the California Gold Rush years on Ancestry.
Some war stories get passed down through generations, others may never have been shared, and still more are likely to have been lost over time. When you dive into the Ancestry military record collections, you can gain new insights into your family history about an individual's involvement in serving their country.
How much do you know about what your ancestors did for a living? Exploring an ancestor’s job history can provide so much more than just the cold, hard facts about the person. Discovering more about your ancestors is a thrilling and often introspective pursuit.
Throughout the 19th century, railroads became a vital method of transportation in the United States—for goods and people. If your ancestors worked on the railroads, they laid the tracks of your family history.
Getting Started with Family History
International Records
Historical Events
Going Beyond Family History
Learn how DNA can give you new details about your family history or even help you connect to your past in a deeper way.
What makes you, you? Learn how certain characteristics may be passed down in your DNA.
Curious but not sure where to start? Find insights, inspiration, and inroads to help you make your own discoveries.