To discover your long lost ancestors, start here. New to family history? To help you start discovering those long-lost ancestors and learn more about their intriguing stories here's a simple introduction to set you on your way -- doing the groundwork, starting a family tree, searching records -- and more. First steps I'm new to this. How do I trace my family history? We can help you to trace your family history online. But before you start, here are a few hints and tips before you dive in. After all, like any good detective, it's best to establish a few facts. Begin with the closest members of your family (you, your brothers and sisters, your parents) and work your way backwards in time. Records and documents, family information, stories (and the odd bit of hearsay) can give you a real start. What are 'records' and how can they help me? These are anything that, as the name suggests, record an event. For family historians, important records are ones that show the names of our family members and ancestors as well as other information. Many of these are official records like Census, Birth, Marriage and Death (BMD), immigration and military records. But they could also be something as everyday as a phone book. Using the names in these records along with what you've learned from other sources you can uncover a treasure trove of information about your ancestors. How can you help me discover my ancestors? There are millions of records