Family Tree Mapping

Interest in family tree research is growing rapidly,who had to make physical visits to government
with North America, the UK and the Antipodiesbuildings and archives.  It is even possible to
leading the way. Perhaps this is hardly surprising asdiscover some of your family tree by using a
North America, Australia and New Zealand are thesearch engine.  Interestingly, three of the most
'New World' seeded by Europe, and by Britain andcommonly performed searches are 'family tree
Ireland in particular. The histories of all thesemaker', 'free family tree' and 'trace family tree'.
countries are intertwined and for any EnglishThe words 'family tree' imply so many things; the
speaking family historian looking further back thanvisual aspect of an actual tree that can be
the 1900's, it is likely that part of the family isnurtured and which will grow with research, the
located in these areas. For those living in the Newuniqueness of each family tree (just like real
World, who are not from the indigenoustrees), the sense of ownership but also sharing
population, all roads lead to Europe, at least as farwith others that comes from visualising the family
as family history research goes.as branches and leaves.  These ideas are not
Luckily, family tree research and creation hasconveyed in the same way by the word
never been easier, even though distance from thegenealogy which sounds more difficult to do,
source can still be a problem. There are numerousmore boring, more about pedigrees. Family tree
free family tree software packages on the webperfectly conveys the inter-connectedness of
giving information and support on how to create amany of us with British and European heritage.
family tree and enabling users to create and printThis has undoubtedly been behind the recent
their family tree in ever more interesting ways.moves by many of the internet data and
One downside of these "free" family treesoftware providers to try and bring people
products is that sometimes they are integratedtogether to share their research and to enable
within commercial websites that require you todistant cousins to work on tracing and creating
use their other (paid for) services in order totheir family tree together.
access this "free" service. Also, always check theFor those who are digging deeper into their past
terms and conditions to ensure that by using athe new kid on the block is family tree DNA. As
free site to begin building your family tree you arewell as being able to confirm whether or not
not giving the provider any rights over the familypeople are closely related for example in paternity
tree information that you add. The website Mycases,  DNA (your genetic code) is now being
Heritage is an exception and offers free accessused to identify the human groups to which
to family tree charts and other helpful servicesfamilies belong. This is a less specific but no less
with no strings attached.  Family tree software isinteresting course of research and is probably the
also free to download from the Legacy Familyfastest growing area within the world of family
Tree website, and the Family Search site,history. For some it is, perhaps, one step too far,
whereas the very popular Family Tree Maker bysince it involves providing a sample of your cells (a
has to be paid for.mouth swab is sufficient) in order to begin the
Most people hoping for success in discovering andprocess, and the idea of having one's DNA stored
building their family tree now start out on theon a distant database is too Orwellian. We will see
web in marked contrast to previous generationshow things progress!