How Do I Start To Compile My Family History?

First you need to decide which line of the family you will start with your research.  The most common is to follow the paternal line or the male surname i.e. your father's surname and the one you were born into.

However if you have a very common paternal name such as Smith, Brown or Jones you may be setting too hard a task to start with and it could be easier until you become more experienced to start with the maternal line.  This is your mother's maiden name and if more unusual will make it easier in the first stages.

Whichever name you choose the first stage is to gather and record all the available information – birth, marriage and death certificates which provide a wealth of starting information.  You may uncover other items with information to help in your research such as old family photographs, letters, postcards, diaries and family bibles etc.  In fact it is surprising what you can uncover from all sorts of documents lying around your home and from your parents or grandparents.