Search Hints

Ancestry.com provides: a good search capability, free viewing of pedigrees, and downloading of GEDCOM files. It also has a feature that you can use to limit your searches to any new family trees added since the last time you searched. This way you can keep getting new information without wading through people you have already seen.

Ancestry.com provides several ways to search for family trees, but the best search capability is under "Ancestry World Tree."  The default search capability may return too many unrelated responses. You can find a link to the Ancestry World Tree on the first page, below the input area for searching. 

Your best bet is to search first on the ancestor's and the spouse's name. If the spouse is female, just use her first name. Quite a few researchers omit the maiden name. So it is best to not try to find it. If you get too many responses this way, add the father's name of the ancestor. If you get too few responses, omit the spouse's name and use only the father's name with the ancestor's name.

How to Search Ancestry.com® for Family Trees

Ancestry.com® Web Site Capabilities

See the definition of terms for any questions on the meaning of the entries.