Free genealogical research by surname: reliable methods and platforms

1. MyHeritage DNA: best for its large database and genealogical research tools to refine your international searches
2. Ancestry DNA: best for the power of its matching tools to unlock complex branches with automatic clues
3. FindMyPast: best for exploring British and Irish roots with access to unique national archives
4. Heredis: best for its intuitive interface and rich layout features for structuring and visualising ancestors in Europe and around the world
5. Family Search: best for its 100% free and unlimited access to a global collection of historical documents

🥇MyHeritage DNA: the best free genealogy website

MyHeritage DNA is a benchmark for learning more about your ancestors. The secret to its effectiveness? SuperSearch, a search engine that provides access to a digital library of 38.7 billion historical documents, mainly covering Europe and America.

Simply enter the surname and first names of your ancestor and the algorithm will search through years of archives from a variety of sources:

• Civil status and public life: Birth, marriage and death certificates, and electoral rolls.
• Personal archives: Vintage photographs, biographies and newspaper clippings.
• Life history: Immigration records and military files.

You can then use this information to build or complete your family tree.

🥈Ancestry DNA: the global giant of family memory

While MyHeritage is a formidable challenger, Ancestry DNA is the long-standing leader with a more extensive database. It contains over 60 billion historical records and offers truly in-depth search capabilities for tracing family archives dating back to before the 20th century.

Ancestry’s key tool is its intelligent suggestion system, called Ancestry Hints®. After entering your surname and a few ancestors, the platform automatically analyses its billions of records to identify potential matches.

To refine your search beyond your surname, you can add criteria such as an address, occupation or even ‘race’.

🥉FindMyPast: the website for tracing British and Irish roots

If your research takes you to the United Kingdom or Ireland, Findmypast is an essential tool to add to your arsenal. The platform has exclusive partnerships with national archives, giving you access to documents that cannot be found elsewhere, such as:

• The 1921 census
• The 1939 register
• Parish registers
• Detailed military records
• Ship passenger lists
• Court records
• British and Irish press archives

Its surname search function is particularly powerful. It handles spelling variations of surnames to better study old documents, where names were frequently altered. With a single click, you can obtain comprehensive information about your ancestors.

Heredis Online: the leading genealogy software in the world

Heredis is one of the most powerful genealogy software programs on the market for conducting genealogical research in Europe and around the world. The tool accesses public online archives and large genealogy databases to provide reliable results.

Heredis also draws on data from certain users and genealogy associations who have freely shared their data with the group. By simply entering a surname, you can access reliable data to fill in the gaps in your family tree. You can read our full review of Heredis to learn more about its features.

FamilySearch: The universal, free genealogy access tool

FamilySearch is a completely free platform offering access to billions of genealogical records from over 100 countries. By using their search engine with a surname, you can explore a wealth of valuable sources:

• Parish and global records
• Censuses and passenger lists
• The World Tree, a collaborative family tree enriched by the discoveries of millions of users
• Audio files that preserve lineages and oral histories from various regions, including Africa and Oceania.

Beyond document consultation, FamilySearch offers intelligent assistance tools to help you overcome roadblocks in your research. You also benefit from ongoing support from a community of passionate volunteers and research centres around the world to help you identify an ancestor or translate an ancient document.