Begin at home
Write down what you know and speak to relatives. Record where each detail came from.
WYDWiki guide
Good genealogy begins with what you can prove.
A practical starting point for gathering records, testing family stories and building a history that others can trust.
Work backwards
Confirm one generation before moving to the next. Similar names are not proof of identity.
Compare records
Use civil registration, censuses, parish records, newspapers, wills and other independent sources.
Keep uncertainty visible
Distinguish evidence from inference. Record conflicts instead of quietly choosing the most convenient answer.
Organise as you go
Name files clearly, preserve originals and attach citations or source notes to the relevant facts.
Collaborate carefully
Ask what relatives know, but verify memories where possible and respect privacy.
Common mistake: copying a large online tree without checking its sources can multiply one error across hundreds of profiles.