Every person's story is made up of invisible threads that intertwine across generations.
Knowing where you come from not only satisfies your curiosity, but also strengthens your identity and helps you better understand who you are today.
Thanks to technology, we can access powerful tools such as FamilySearch and Ancestry, which make it easier to build your family tree and show you, step by step, the fascinating journey of your ancestors.
We live in a globalized world where mobility and cultural changes often distance us from our roots.
However, the search for one's own family history has become a growing trend, both due to the desire to discover forgotten stories and the need to connect with a legacy that transcends the present.
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In this context, genealogy apps play a fundamental role: with just a few clicks on your phone, you can access historical records, old photos, and documents that reveal who your great-grandparents, great-great-grandparents, and even more distant generations were.
1. The importance of ancestry for self-knowledge
- Strengthening personal identity
Knowing your lineage helps you better understand your cultural, ethnic, and geographic roots. By discovering the customs, professions, and values that shaped the lives of your ancestors, you recognize the foundations upon which your own history was built. - Sense of belonging
Being part of a family chain that transcends your own life, you feel a deeper connection to your community and the diverse stories that converge in your family tree. This generates a sense of pride and belonging. - Intergenerational learning
Each generation offers life lessons. Knowing the challenges and triumphs of your ancestors gives you useful insights for your own decisions, inspiring you with examples of resilience, adaptation, and creativity. - Health and predispositions
In some cases, genealogical research can reveal hereditary health patterns. Identifying diseases or conditions that have affected your family can be key to taking preventative measures and improving your well-being. - Emotional connection
The pursuit of family history brings together relatives of different ages and locations. Sharing discoveries and anecdotes strengthens bonds and creates shared memories that last.
2. Benefits of having a genealogy app at your fingertips
Having a mobile tool to guide you through your genealogical research process offers multiple advantages:
- Immediate access to historical records
Forget about going to physical archives or libraries. With a couple of taps on your phone, you can look up censuses, birth, marriage, and death certificates from different times and locations. - Simplified search and smart suggestions
The apps analyze patterns in names, dates, and locations to suggest possible matches from global databases. This speeds up the identification of distant relatives. - Visual construction of the tree
Generate clear and attractive diagrams that show the relationship between each family member. The lines and boxes make it easy to interpret connections and generational levels. - Real-time collaboration
Invite family members to collaborate on the research. Each member can add data, photos, and documents, collectively enriching the project. - Notifications and reminders
Receive alerts when new relevant records are added, old journals are updated, or when matching with other family trees is suggested. - Cloud Sync
Securely save your progress and access your tree from any device, without losing data if you change phones or accidentally lose them. - Multimedia resources
Attach photographs, audio recordings of interviews with older relatives, and scanned documents to complement the textual information.
3. Featured Apps: FamilySearch and Ancestry
3.1 FamilySearch
FamilySearch It is a free platform supported by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which has invested decades in digitizing records from around the world. Its most notable features include:
- Global and collaborative database
With more than six billion historical records available, FamilySearch provides access to censuses, church records, old library records, and immigration documents. - Shared family tree
Work on a single collaborative tree to which all users can contribute. This avoids duplication and facilitates data unification. - Integrated guides and tutorials
For those new to genealogy, the app offers explanatory videos, free courses, and step-by-step guides covering everything from basic research to advanced techniques. - Recognition of historical writing
Using handwriting-reading technology, it helps interpret ancient documents whose handwriting is difficult to decipher. - Cross-platform synchronization
Your tree and notes are kept up-to-date on both the mobile app and the website, allowing you to continue your research on any device you prefer.
3.2 Ancestry
Ancestry It is one of the most popular trading platforms, with a monthly subscription that gives access to an extensive collection of records and advanced tools:
- More than thirty billion records
Includes U.S. census records, military records, immigration records, and documents from around the world. - Hints (automatic suggestions)
As you build your tree, Ancestry generates “hints” that suggest possible records or family connections based on the data you enter. - DNA and genetic correspondences
With an additional package, you can submit your DNA sample and receive a detailed report on your ethnic origins, as well as suggestions for biological relatives. - Migration maps
Visualize your ancestors' movements over time on an interactive map, identifying migration and settlement routes. - Collaborative projects
Create projects with family members, assign research tasks, and track each member's progress. - Ancestry Stories
A tool that combines data, photographs, and text to generate visual narratives about an ancestor's life, ready for sharing on social media or printing.
4. How to start your genealogy project
- Gather basic family information
Write down the full names, dates and places of birth, marriage, and death of your closest relatives. - Download the app you prefer
If you are looking for a free and collaborative option, choose FamilySearch. If you want DNA functions and migration maps, consider Ancestry. - Create your profile and your tree
Enter your initial information: first name, last name, and your parents' information. From there, add siblings, grandparents, and previous generations. - Explore historical records
Use the date, location, and document type filters to search for matches. Review the results carefully and accept only those that clearly match your data. - Attach evidence
Upload photos of certificates, scanned documents, and family photos to support each connection. - Share and collaborate
Invite cousins, aunts, uncles, and other relatives to join you. Assign specific tasks, such as interviewing an older relative or searching for records in a local archive. - Check out suggestions and updates
Check regularly for notifications of new matches or records added to the platform.
Conclusion
Tracing your family tree isn't just a hobby; it's a journey of personal discovery that nourishes your sense of identity, strengthens family ties, and gives you valuable insights into your health and cultural roots. With apps like FamilySearch and AncestryThe process becomes an accessible, interactive, and collaborative experience, where each discovery contributes a fundamental piece to the puzzle of your family history. Dare to explore your legacy, build your family tree, and discover the fascinating tapestry of generations that came before you!
