How to Determine Where Your Ancestors Came From

In a country built by immigrants, a common quest of beginning family tree researchers in the United States is identifying the country that your ancestors originally came from. Whether they arrived on the Mayflower or came as war refugees, the generations in your past left a paper trail. Your job is to find the key documents and decipher the clues they contain. Once you know where to look and what to look for, you'll be able to determine the origin of your ancestors.

Step 1
Interview your oldest living relatives to determine whether they know where your family is from. Many times, an elderly aunt will recall her grandfather speaking Italian or telling tales about ""the old country""—this will give you a strong direction on where to begin your search.

Step 2
Look for family documents that may pertain to your ancestors. For example, your grandmother may have her father's birth, marriage or naturalization papers tucked away in a safety deposit box. Often these documents will give the birth information of the generation before the recipient.

Step 3
Check census records for the person in question. US census records are available to the public 72 years after the year of the census, and typically list the state or country of birth. For instance, if you know your great grandfather lived in Detroit when your grandmother was born in 1928 you can search for their names in the 1930 census. The census will show your great grandfather's state (or country) of birth as well as the states or countries his parents were born in. You can then search the earlier census records for his parents and siblings and retrieve information from the next generation back, which will also give the same parental information.

Step 4
Consult with the library or genealogy society in the county where your ancestors lived. Often there are local records available that may point to your ancestor’s origin, such as membership lists of organizations and churches.

Step 5
Search for records on genealogy websites such as the Ellis Island website or Ancestry.com.

Tips
Most public libraries have access to the US census records.
Most U.S. counties have genealogical societies that hold information and offer help in county searches.
Many family surnames were changed at the time of immigration, so remember to look for variations.