When I was in elementary school, one of our school projects was to create a family tree. I taped together two poster boards and diligently drew lines between family members with black markers. I even colored in little flags representing where each person came from. Well, times have changed since then. You don’t need poster board and markers anymore. Now you can trace your family history with Ancestry.com.
About Ancestry.com
The Review
I looked at Ancestry.com almost like a treasure map that could help uncover more about my family’s history. To start the search, I had to create a family tree. This process is easy – you start with yourself (or someone else) as the root of the tree, making sure to fill as much information as you can about the individual.
As you continue to fill in more information about yourself, or your family, your family tree will grow as well. If Ancestry.com detects information in your family tree that is similar to another family tree or to one of the records in their database, then that person’s listing gets flagged with a leaf. Click on the leaf and you’ll be able to review the “Ancestry hints” to determine if the hint is the person in your tree or if you should ignore it. These leafs are immensely useful in helping to expand your tree quickly and easily. One leaf alone found 6 great-aunts and uncles for me.
If you’re stuck, then you can use their Search tool to hunt down additional family members. You can search by name, date, locations, travel documents, marriage certificates, and a number of other methods to help track down other members of your family. I was able to discover and track family members dating back to Europe in the 1700s, as well as see who immigrated to the US and where they went before I got to where I am today. No elementary school project could have shown me that.
As you can see from the tree above, I still have a few hints to explore, and I haven’t even touched my mother’s side of the family. There’s still a lot of information and family members to find and Ancestry.com certainly makes it easier.
If you are interested in learning more about your family tree and your family’s history, check out Ancestry.com. They are currently offering a 14-day free trial, and subscriptions start at as little as $12.95/month.
Ancestry.com Online
The WiC Project Ancestry.com Giveaway
The Prize:
One winner will receive a World Deluxe Membership to Ancestry.com.
Disclaimer: This post consists of my (and/or fellow tester) opinions only. Your experiences may be different. No compensation was given for this review/giveaway. I did receive a free product from the manufacturer or their representing PR agency to use and test for the purposes of this review. This did not affect the outcome of this review.
in 6th grade–still have it and have added to it. I really would love to win this–I know that doesn’t help my chances 🙂
I’ve never really created a family tree, except the foggy one I have in my head. Lately, though, I have felt so moved to do this.
I have created a family tree but can’t get past my great-grandfather on my dad’s side who came over from Greece.
I have not personally created a family tree. some members of my family have and use this website. I would like to trace some of the branches they have not
teressaoliver at gmail dot com
I have been able to go back only 5 generations
Kims2312@Verizon.net
My dad has worked on our family tree…goes back on some “branches” to the 1600s. Some not so far. I would LOVE to win this giveaway! I’m a geneaology nut 🙂 Thanks so much for the chance!
I’ve never created a family tree. It’s tough when both my grandfathers passed away before I was born. I’d love to find out more through Ancestry.com.
I never have. Would be interesting though!
animasou @ comcast . net
This very thing has been weighing on my heart and mind, but somehow I do not go past that step! I really need to do this not just for me but for the future generations. Especially now, to see how God has worked in our family…melting and blending many culture together in one family!
…unable to tweet with your tweet message, it is too long.
I am a huge genealogy addict! I have used Ancestry before (trial version). I (along with my mother) have gone back on both sides of my family and branched out. We get stuck in the early 1700’s on one side but have been able to go farther back on the other side. I did use Ancestry to help my boss with his family tree and of course found out he is descended from European royalty. But alot of fun anyways! Would LOVE to win!
My family does have a completed family tree-but we would love to add the twelfth and older generations
I firstgot started the same way you did…with an elementary school project! Since then I’ve done a lot of work and traced back about 8 generations on my Mom’s side 🙂
I have not track my ancestry
I have not traced our family tree but my husband or his mother would love to get the chance to do theirs!
On one part I get back to the 1700’s on other parts I’m not so lucky. Wonderful Giveaway!
Gladys P
sps1113 at yahoo dot com
One side of my family, I can trace back to the 1200’s.
I havent but other family members have. I have seen one online before of my grandmothers side of my family.
no I haven’t, but so far I have been thinking about how far I can trace back
I have started one. I had a free trial to ancestry.com and if I could afford it I would’ve loved to keep it! We traced many lines down our family. Searched through census records (handwritten!) found some pictures and my mother was able to reconnect with her deceased brother’s son’s family she hadn’t seen him since he was a little boy! Such a neat site!
Thanks for the Chance
Yes, I’ve created our family tree. I’ve traced at least 3 generations on my mom’s side and 3 on my dad’s paternal side and 2 on his maternal side.
I have not created a family tree, but this sounds like it would make it soo easy
I have not started a family tree yet but have been wanting to.
I have… 2 generations. But my grandma has made one for my dad’s side of the family that went back about 10 generations! I love this stuff!
I created a family tree when I was pregnant with my daughter. I only got back about 6 generations, but I would love to have the resources to go further!
i’m al ways working on my family tree i realy love genealogy and i have gone back a long way in my family tree i found out most of the family trees i’m realated to are some of the frist familys here to the u.s. most of my family has been here since 1600’s or longer
I know much about my fathers family and have even been to the village in Europe where my grandparents were born. However, I know little to nothing about my mothers family and back in the 80s when I tried to find out more, I found virtually nothing. I have never made any formal family tree.
I have created some of my family tree. I am missing some information on one of my great-grandfathers. He is a bit of a mystery. Thanks!
My great aunt did some genealogy. She traced our family back to the Mayflower. There is so much more to do. I am hooked on doing genealogy. I’d love to win this!
A second cousin traced my mothers side back to 1500’s England. I have taken my Dads side to the early 1800’s. I would love to get going again. I love genealogy!
I just started tracing my family tree and have two generations back. Hoping to get more on Ancestry.com!
I have tried and only got three generations back.
I have never created a family tree.
I made my own family tree but it only consisted of four generations.
I created a very simple tree in middle school lol! I have collected a lot of information and stories from my elders over the past few yrs, tracing my paternal ancestry to the late 1800s and my maternal ancestry to the 1700s, but I would love to be able to dig deeper 🙂
I love genealogy! My husband discovered that he has an ancestor who was on the Mayflower. I was able to trace mine back to the French Revolution in 1789!
gatsby1981 at gmail dot com
On paper I have- with a lot of information missing.
I know about 3 generations on my dad’s side. My mom I am fairly familiar with her dad’s side but have little information on her moms side.
I have done a family tree and quite a bit of genealogy research.
No, I have never created a family tree, but I would LOVE to do so. I have never had the resources at my disposal to do so before!
Never have done it. My brother has and went back 4 generations
I have never done one, but have always wanted too! Thanks so much for the fantastic giveaway!
Renee Walters
Bored2quickly@hotmail.com
I’ve used the site in the past and started a great family tree. It’s been a while since I worked on it and would love to win this so I could start working on it again.
I’ve done my family tree and have gotten back something like 8 generations on a couple of the branches.
I have started gathering info for a family tree but did not get very far.
I started one and got back many generations on my mom’s side, not very far on my dad’s.
I have never done a family tree. I have always wanted to, but never knew where, or how to start.
I am currently working on this. one side I can go back 16 generations. the other, only 3. This prize would surely help! love looking for my “dead folks” as my husband says!
No I have never tried to trace my family tree but I would love to! I think it would be interesting.
Oh I would love to have this! I dont know alot about my familys history, but I have been dying to find out!
I’ve traced back 6 generations and then got stuck.
I haven’t but members of my family have traced the family tree back to the 1500s which is fairly impressive. I’d love to know more about my husband’s family.
I have never created my own family tree.
Yes, when I was a kid for a project but only up through great grandparents.
I have started mine but only traced it as far back as my great-great grandparents.
Yes, I’m the keeper of the family tree, with information passed down from my great aunt in Germany (in german, and old script handwriting). I think I got back (on some limbs) 12+ generations!
I can go back 6 generations.
I have my father’s side traced back to France. Starting my mothers.
I worked with my daughter when she was in 7th grade to create a tree. We learned alot about my husbands family but not much about mine. I could use some help.
I am in the process of doing my family history now (one never really “finishes” it). I really need the World Deluxe version of Ancestry (I have the basic membership) to go further back. Some lines have been traced back to the 1600’s!
me to dad to grandma to great GM to G-G GM to G-G-G GM and I think that is it on one branch.
over 6 generations
tes 1283 yahoo
Yes, but only four generations back – would like to try to get further.
Not sure exactly how many generations but I was able to go back to the 1700’s on my dad’s side of the family.
I have worked on my family tree off and on for years but I have many “brick walls.” I still need to do extensive research to break through. This subscription would be a great help. Thanks for the chance to win.
Yes, we’ve created a family tree and in some places have been able to go back a long way (I’m not sure how many generations). My sister would be THRILLED to receive this subscription!!
I haven’t but my grandpa did my paternal side. He was able to go back about 5 generations (since my family came to America). He was not able to trace back when they lived in Europe.
i never have but always wanted to!
annae07@aol.com
I created my own family tree but I could only get as far back as my grandmother’s parents on one side and my father’s parents on the other :/
I have started my family tree on both sides of my family. On my maternal side have gotten back 4 generations and still bits and pieces on the paternal side. I am a big history buff and love digging up the dirt in my family. I have found some interesting facts and some of my family members could not believe what I told them at our annual family reunion. LOL All families have skeletons in their closets. 🙂
I signed up for the free trial a few months ago and was able to trace both sides of my family back to the late 1700s. Ancestry.com is fascinating.
I have never traced my tree down.
vmkids3 at msn dot com
never have, this would be great
nannypanpan at gmail.com
I have not traced my family tree, but I would like to
I did attempt to make a tree but it doesn’t go back further than two generations.
I have never done this have always wanted to
We have created a few for school projects with out kids but they only go back a couple of generations unfortunately.
My father’s line is traced to 1559.
But lots of work to be done on my mother’s side.
Thank you.
barbara dot montyj at gmail dot com
I’ve only went back 6 generations so far with the help of my family.
Dana Beeman: danabeeman(at)gmail(dot)com
I have never created a family tree but would love to do if I win!
madamerkf at aol dot com
I have traced parts of my family tree to early colonization of America.
I’ve went back to the 1700s.
Know little about family history so this would be great.
I have never created my family tree, but would love to.
nickieisis3atgmaildotcom
I’ve never done my own family tree, but my maternal grandfather did years ago. I would love to find out more about my father’s side of the family.
The Irish family tree gets stuck tracing thru CAN entrance during the potato famine years. Other branches of family tree have been traced back into 1700’s.
My mom has this hobby! She’s traced great-great-great…family members 🙂
katiekateoo7(at)gmail(dot)com
I haven’t but I would LOVE to.
In school we made one once but it was immediate family we didn’t go past cousins.
I love doing this. I have created a family tree before and I have went back 5 generations on my dad’s side. So interesting!
I’ve always loved ancestry but never sprung for the money for the World Membership.
No I have not done a family tree.
I’ve always wanted to use Ancestry for tracing my family tree but never got around to it. Now’s the time.
I’ve not done a family tree but I really want to
I haven’t done it personally, but one of my great-uncles did for one branch, many years ago. Would have to check it and recount to get the generations, but he traced back to 3 brothers who arrived in Massachusetts in 1635.
My grandma has traced back several generations! I have only gotten through a few generations myself but I would LOVE to be able to do more!
i have yet to create a family tree
I never have but I’ve wanted to for years.
I’ve never done it, but I want to try.
I used to have an Ancestry.com membership but had to give it up due to cost cutting at our house. It is a great tool !! I was able to verifiably trace once branch of my family back to the early 1800s in Germany. I also used other member’s hints to trace back other branches to the colonial years in Rhode Island and Virginia.
I’ve never traced my family tree but now that I have kids, I’d really like to do it for all of us and learn our history.
I have not but am very interested in my ancestry!!
I have not but would really love to do so 🙂
Yes, only got back as far as great-grandparents because info ran out. Would love to have this and be able to go further
Sometime recrds get lost or destroyed but you never know wha will turn up.
I have not created a family tree, but other family members have on my mom’s side.
My parents have created family trees that go back three generations.
Ive never created a tree
My brother and I have currently been researching our family but have only gotten to our great great grandfather
I’ve been able to go 6 generations back and I’m still resdearching
I have never made a family tree. I want to
I have not
No I haven’t but my son has tried.
sflickinger at rocketmail dot com
My mother and grandmother have the family history back to the 1700s…I would love to win this so that I can continue their quest
I have done a family tree and I am to my great grandparents and now I could use some Ancestry.com help.
I have used Ancestry.com’s 2 week trial to trace back so many generations I cannot count them all! It’s such a great tool. I would love to have unlimited access to international records, too.
My mother did quite a lot of work on her family, but I’ve never tried to go back further than she did and I’d like to. We know very little about my dad’s family except for his parents and I’d love to see what I could find.
i havent yet, but i know ancestry has recently aquired records to mexicos census! so I cant wait to try this! Most of family are from mexico and the resources here in the US arent as great as ones from mexico!
I’ve started researching for a family tree in the past and would love to be able to delve into it more.
i havent but my dad has. its weird we can trace it back to the late 1700s but a weird chunk is missing in the middle.
I have actually used Ancestry.com in the past for my family tree, and I tracked down one ancestor going as far back as the late 1700s in Holland. I don’t remember how many generations it was though. I wasn’t able to trace very far back at all on my mom’s side though 🙁
I didn’t need to because my mom is into genealogy and has traced a lot of our tree. She has gone back several generations. I have traced by husband’s tree back four generations so far. This would really help me go further. Thanks for the awesome giveaway!
I have never made a family tree but in my head I can go back only to my grandparents on both sides. I would love to find out my true history via winning this. Thanks for the chance.
My mom created a family tree and we add on as we discover more about of family.
I have tried but it has been hard since my whole family is from Italy so this would be great!
I’ve used Ancestry.com before to make a family tree. I discovered some really cool stories from my ancestors. I’d love to have a World Deluxe membership so I can continue my research.
I have a tree. I love this site.
I have not but I have always wanted to
I have not.
I have wanted to create a family tree for years now but I haven’t started yet. It is something I am looking forward to. Thanks for the awesome giveaway 🙂
Renee
fattybumpkins at yahoo dot com
I hadn’t but would sure love to
emmaspeel(at)gmail.com
my mom has alot of our family history she loves doing it
Traced it back to the late 1600s on my mom’s side.
I have never traced my family tree, but now that my Grandmother is 96 and starting to show signs of dementia, I would really like to try to before it’s too late.
I did start but only got back to my great grand parents…love to go full force though.
no i have not
ardelong2(at)gmail(dot)com
I have just recently started research. I only have a couple generations.
I’ve never created a “family tree,” but would love to get one started with my girls as a family project. Thanks for the chance.
I started to but after 3 generations, I wasn’t able to go back further.
Thanks for the great contest!
bahjeep@aol.com
I have never created a family tree.
I have never created one, but would be interested in trying!
trippyjanet at gmail dot com
Yes I’ve done a family tree and went back to a set of great great grandparents.
Thanks for the giveaway…we have researched back to about the 1840’s so far…
senorpiero [at] yahoo [dot] com
I haven’t created my family tree.
I have not done it myself, but my mom is pretty avid.
ezmerelda at mail dot com