Use these four steps to easily Google American ancestry.
This article is written to easily provide assistance on how to Google American ancestry. Sample Google search queries are suggested for your use to help you research and learn about your ancestors.
Four Steps to Google American Ancestry
The following search queries are designed to provide search results that will get you off to a good start by finding the essential information when researching your ancestral roots. For ease of presentation, I am going to organize the article as follows:
- Country of Origin Resources
- Providing A list of Websites vs. Queries to Find Websites
- Understanding Search Query Organization
- Step 1: General Search Queries
- Step 2: Search for Records
- Step 3: Free Database Search Queries
- Step 4: Subscription Database Search Queries
See other articles for specific countries.
To find the Google Country Codes for searching in other countries that are not listed above, see the article:
Websites referenced in this article include:
Finding Country of Origin Resources
Where do you find the country of origin genealogy resources on the Internet?
It is a seemingly simple question with a complex answer. You will find records in many places, such as large databases to tiny family-related websites and blogs. Records for each generation are going to be different. The records created and available on the web for a specific place in 1940 will be different from those created for 1880, 1840, or earlier. Remember that only a small number of records have been digitized and available online, but digitized records are growing at an ever-increasing rate. I have researched for records for one month without success and found them six months later with the same Google search queries. Why? The records were put online during that six months, or I didn’t find them the first time I searched.
Providing a List of Websites vs. Queries to Find Websites
Over the years, I have provided genealogists with a list of websites to research their ancestry and search queries to find internet resources they can explore.
Overwhelmingly the best success has come from providing search queries. Why? When search queries were used, the genealogists said their search returns included the websites specific to the period, type of record and place they were searching. It was much easier to go from one site to the next to search for the same type of information.
When I just gave them a list of websites, genealogists felt it was cumbersome because they didn’t know which websites included the information they wanted and/or which websites were related to the type of content they were seeking.
Understanding Search Query Organization
As you use a variety of search queries, you will see the following elements routinely used:
- Use of location. With each search string, I have included the name of the country or related location reference that will help Google have a greater chance of returning country of origin resources. For example, if my country of choice were the Netherlands, I would use one or more of the following variations in my search query: “Netherlands” or “Dutch” or “Netherlands OR Dutch.”
- Use of (site:). The “site:” operator will allow you to confine/restrict your search to a specific domain.
- Use of quotes (” “). The use of quotes around two or more words (e.g., “Australian”) tells Google that you search for these words/phrases precisely as they are written and in the same order.
- Use of OR. I have used OR Boolean operator (e.g.,” database OR index OR records”). Google will search for both options and will return either “database,” “index, “records,” or any combination of the three words.
- Use of genealogy. I have used the word “genealogy” in almost every query. I have found this word necessary to get to the records or databases that I can use for genealogy or family history research. Feel free to try and use other descriptive words.
Step 1: General Search Queries
These are general search queries that can be used to uncover the more frequently used websites and databases to get you off to a good start in your research. If I were searching for genealogy libraries or archive websites for Albemarle County in the State of Virginia, I would use the following search query:
- “Albemarle County” genealogy “library OR archive”
If I were going to expand the search, I would include the state. For example:
- “Virginia OR Albemarle County” genealogy “library OR archive.”
Instructions. Choose the general search you would like to conduct and replace the “Location text goes here” with your state and county. Next, replace “place text here” with the corresponding query element listed in the chart below. - “Location text goes here ” “place text here.”
Notes: 1.) Use variations of the location for different results. A sample variation follows for Albemarle County in the state of Virginia: “Albemarle County” or “Virginia” or “Albemarle County OR Virginia.” I like to use the county and state together.
(Searching general term) = (Use query element). Use the associated query element if you are searching for a general genealogy search term.
- Education = genealogy “guide OR tutorial OR how-to”
- Beginning = “beginning”
- Catalog = “catalog”
- Classes or Workshops = “classes OR workshops”
- Dictionary = “dictionary”
- Family history = “family history”
- Forums = “forums”
- Genealogy websites = “genealogy OR ancestors OR roots.”
- Language = “language.”
- Library and archives = genealogy “library OR archive.”
- Message Board = “message board.”
- Records and databases = genealogy “records OR database.”
- Research links = genealogy “links OR sources.”
- Societies = genealogy OR history “society OR group.”
- Wiki’s = genealogy “wiki.”
Sample Queries. These queries cast a broad net and will find a wide variety of websites.
- “Virginia OR Albemarle County” genealogy
- “Virginia OR Albemarle County” genealogy OR ancestors OR roots
- “Virginia OR Albemarle County” genealogy OR research OR database
- “Virginia OR Albemarle County” genealogy OR historical society OR group
- “Virginia OR Albemarle County” genealogy online OR site
- “Virginia OR Albemarle County” genealogical library OR archive
- “Virginia OR Albemarle County” genealogy sources OR links
- “Virginia OR Albemarle County” genealogy wiki
Step 2: Search for Records
This search query is designed to help you find websites and databases that include specific types of records. If I were searching for census records in Brown County in the state of Ohio, I would use the following search query:
- “Brown County” genealogy “census” “database OR records”
To expand the search, I would include the state. For example:
- “Brown County OR Ohio” genealogy “census” “database OR records”
Instructions. Replace the “Location text goes here” with your state and county. Next, choose the record type you would like to search for and replace the “place text here” with the corresponding query element.
- “Location text goes here ” genealogy “place text here” “database OR records.”
Notes: Use variations of the location for different results. A sample variation follows for Brown County in the state of Ohio: “Brown County” or “Ohio” or “Brown County OR Ohio.” I like to use the county and state together.
(Search for record type) = (Use query element. If searching for a specific record, use the associated query element.
- Adoption / guardianship = “adoption OR guardianship”
- Bible = “bible”
- Biography = “biography”
- Birth / christening = “birth OR christening”
- Business = “business”
- Cemetery = “cemetery”
- Census = “census”
- Church = “church OR parish”
- Civil registration = “civil registration”
- Court = “court”
- Culture / history = “culture OR history”
- Death = “death”
- Directories = “directories”
- Divorce = “divorce”
- Immigrant / settlers = “immigrant OR settlers”
- Immigration / emigration = “immigration OR emigration”
- Land / property = “land OR property”
- Maps = “maps”
- Marriage = “marriage”
- Military = “military”
- Naturalization = “naturalization”
- Newspapers = “newspaper”
- Obituary = “obituary”
- Passport = “passport”
- Pensions = “pensions”
- Poor houses / orphanages = “poor houses OR orphanages”
- Obituary = “obituary”
- Periodicals = “periodicals”
- Royal / nobility = “royal OR nobility”
- Probate / will = “probate or will”
- School = “school”
- Ship passenger lists = “passenger”
- Tax = “tax”
- Vital = “vital”
- Voting = “voting”
Sample queries
These queries will focus on finding websites with specific types of content related to records. The queries are a little long but will save you hours of research. I would encourage you modify and experiment with following queries using what you have learned in earlier chapters of this book.
- “Brown County OR Ohio“ guide OR tutorial OR articles OR how-to”
- “Brown County OR Ohio” genealogy Catholic “church OR parish” “database OR index OR records”
- “Brown County OR Ohio” genealogy “church OR parish” “database OR index OR records”
- “Brown County OR Ohio” genealogy “adoption OR guardianship” “database OR index OR records”
- “Brown County OR Ohio” genealogy “birth OR christening” “database OR index OR records”
- “Brown County OR Ohio” genealogy “cemetery” “database OR index OR records”
- “Brown County OR Ohio” genealogy “census” “database OR index OR records”
- “Brown County OR Ohio” genealogy “civil registration” “database OR index OR records”
- “Brown County OR Ohio ” genealogy “church OR parish” ” database OR index OR records “
- “Brown County OR Ohio” genealogy “court” “database OR index OR records”
- “Brown County OR Ohio” genealogy “culture OR history” “database OR index OR records”
- “Brown County OR Ohio” genealogy “death” ” database OR index OR records “
- “Brown County OR Ohio” genealogy “immigrant OR settlers” “database OR index OR records”
- “Brown County OR Ohio” genealogy “immigration OR emigration” “records OR database”
- “Brown County OR Ohio” genealogy “Jewish” “database OR index OR records”
- “Brown County OR Ohio” genealogy “land” “database OR index OR records”
- “Brown County OR Ohio” genealogy “language” “database OR index OR records”
- “Brown County OR Ohio” genealogy Lutheran “church OR parish” “database OR index OR records”
- “Brown County OR Ohio” genealogy maps “database OR index OR records”
- “Brown County OR Ohio” genealogy “marriage OR divorce” “database OR index OR records”
- “Brown County OR Ohio” genealogy “military” “database OR index OR records”
- “Brown County OR Ohio” genealogy “municipal” “database OR index OR records”
- “Brown County OR Ohio” genealogy “naturalization” “database OR index OR records”
- “Brown County OR Ohio” genealogy “newspaper” “database OR index OR records”
- “Brown County OR Ohio” genealogy “obituary OR cemetery” “database OR index OR records”
- “Brown County OR Ohio” genealogy “passenger lists” “database OR index OR records”
- “Brown County OR Ohio” genealogy “passport” “database OR index OR records”
- “Brown County OR Ohio” genealogy “poor houses OR orphanages” “database OR index OR records”
- “Brown County OR Ohio” genealogy “probate or will” “database OR index OR records”
- “Brown County OR Ohio” genealogy “royal OR nobility” “database OR index OR records”
- “Brown County OR Ohio” genealogy “school” “database OR index OR records”
- “Brown County OR Ohio” genealogy “tax” “database OR index OR records”
- “Brown County OR Ohio” genealogy “vital” “database OR index OR records”
Step 3: Free Database Search Queries
There are extensive websites/databases that include thousands of free records and resources related to almost every research topic. To have Google search only a specific website, you will be using the (site:<URL>) operator. If I were looking for death records in Camden County in the state of Georgia, in the website FamilySearch.org, my search string would be as follows:
- site:familysearch.org “Camden County” genealogy “death” “database OR records”
To expand the search, I would include the state. For example:
- “site:familysearch.org “Camden County OR Georgia” genealogy “death” “database OR records”
Instructions. Do the following three things, 1) Choose the web property you would like to search for and replace the (site:<URL>). 2) Next, replace the “Location text goes here” with your state and county. 3) Choose a search string from Step 1 or Step 2 or of your choice.
- site:<URL> “Location goes here” (Search string from Step 1 and Step 2)
Notes: 1.) Use variations of the location for different results. A sample variation follows for Camden County in the state of Georgia: “Camden County” or “Georgia” or “Camden County OR Georgia.” I like to use the county and state together. 2) I prefer to use the (site:) operator at the beginning of the search query. 3.) You can use the (site:) operator with any URL you want to search. 4.) Many genealogy/family history organizations will use .org non-profit websites to host their information.
(Searching website) = (Use query element). If you are searching for a free database website, use the associated query element.
- FamilySearch = site:familysearch.org
- USGenWeb = site:usgenweb.org
- RootsWeb = site:rootsweb.ancestry.com
- .org (Non-profit websites) = site:org
The following are examples of adding Step 1 and Step 2 to the above query elements. I prefer to the (site:) operator at the beginning of the search query. If you like you can also put it at the end.
- site:familysearch.org “Camden County OR Georgia” genealogy “census” “database OR index OR records”
- site:familysearch.org “Camden County OR Georgia” genealogy “birth OR christening” “database OR index OR records”
- site:familysearch.org “Camden County OR Georgia” genealogy “death” “database OR index OR records”
Step 4: Subscription Database Search Queries
There are a variety of subscription websites/databases that include many records and resources. You can either use the websites’ search engine or have Google locate the resources of the specific website. You will be using the (site:<URL>) operator. If I were looking for birth records in Dallas County in the state of Texas, in the website Ancestry.com, my search string would be as follows:
- site:ancestry.com “Dallas County” genealogy “birth” “database OR records”
If I were going to expand the search, I would include the state. For example:
- “site: ancestry.com “Dallas County OR Texas” genealogy “birth” “database OR records”
Instructions. Do the following three things, 1) Choose the web property you would like to search for and replace the (site:<URL>). 2) Next, replace the “Location text goes here” with your state and county. 3) Choose a search string from Step 1 or Step 2 or of your choice.
- site:<URL> “Location goes here” (Search string from Step 1 and Step 2)
Notes: 1.) Use variations of the location for different results. A sample variation follows for Camden County in the state of Georgia: “Camden County” or “Georgia” or “Camden County OR Georgia.” I like to use the county and state together. 2) I prefer to use the (site:) operator at the beginning of the search query. 3.) You can use the (site:) operator with any URL you want to search.
(Searching website) = (Use query element). If you are searching for a subscription database website, use the associated query element.
- Ancestry = site:ancestry.com
- MyHeritage = site:myheritage.com
- FindMyPast = site:findmypast.com
The following are examples of adding Step 1 and Step 2 to the above query elements. I prefer to the (site:) operator at the beginning of the search query. If you like you can also put it at the end.
- site:ancestry.com “Camden County OR Georgia” genealogy “census” “records OR database”
- site:ancestry.com “Camden County OR Georgia” genealogy “birth OR christening” “database OR index OR records”
- site:ancestry.com “Camden County OR Georgia” genealogy “death” “database OR index OR records”
