Genealogy Research Guides

April 23, 2026 · 8 min read

Ancestry costs up to $299/year. This guide covers the best free and cheaper alternatives — GraveMapper, FamilySearch, MyHeritage, and more — so you can do the same research for less.

April 23, 2026 · 7 min read

Step-by-step guide to finding obituaries for free — using cemetery databases, Chronicling America, library newspaper archives, Legacy.com, and funeral home records.

April 23, 2026 · 9 min read

Research guide for tracing Polish immigrant ancestors — surname variants, Polish Catholic parishes, settlement patterns, headstone inscriptions, and connecting to Polish archives.

April 4, 2026 · 10 min read

What do the symbols on your ancestor's headstone mean? A complete guide to crosses, doves, anchors, hands, lambs, Masonic emblems, and more — and what they reveal about the person buried beneath.

April 4, 2026 · 9 min read

How to find Italian immigrant ancestors in American cemetery records. Research tips on Italian genealogy, regional surname variants, mutual aid societies, and key Italian-American burial sites.

March 18, 2026 · 7 min read

FindAGrave has gaps. This guide compares the best alternatives — GraveMapper, BillionGraves, Interment.net, and more — so you can find the right tool for your research.

March 18, 2026 · 7 min read

You don't need a paid subscription to find cemetery records. This guide covers the best free databases and tools — GraveMapper, FamilySearch, Interment.net, and more.

March 17, 2026 · 6 min read

A step-by-step guide to finding cemetery and grave records online — including major databases, search tips, and how to interpret what you find.

March 17, 2026 · 7 min read

You don't need a paid subscription to trace your family tree. Here's how to get started using free databases, census records, and more.

March 17, 2026 · 5 min read

Looking for a loved one's burial location? This guide walks you through cemetery search tools, county records, funeral home archives, and online databases.

March 17, 2026 · 6 min read

What survived the 1973 NPRC fire, how to request military records, and which online databases cover veterans and military cemetery burials.

March 17, 2026 · 8 min read

New to family history research? Start here. A step-by-step guide covering vital records, census data, cemetery records, family interviews, and DNA testing.

March 17, 2026 · 6 min read

A complete guide to finding death records — state vital records offices, the Social Security Death Index, cemetery databases, and more.

March 28, 2026 · 8 min read

How to find Irish immigrant ancestors in American cemetery records — from Famine-era arrivals to 20th century communities. Includes surname variants and key cemeteries.

March 28, 2026 · 7 min read

Research tips for locating German immigrant ancestors in US cemetery records — from 1848 political refugees to early 20th century German-American communities.

March 28, 2026 · 8 min read

A complete guide to finding Civil War soldier graves — national cemeteries, Confederate burial sites, pension records, and USCT soldiers.

March 28, 2026 · 9 min read

How to find African American ancestors through cemetery records, Freedmen's Bureau files, historically Black cemeteries, and Great Migration records.

March 28, 2026 · 6 min read

Research tips for tracing Smith family ancestry — the most common US surname — through American cemetery records, with disambiguation strategies and variant spellings.

March 28, 2026 · 6 min read

How to trace Johnson ancestors in US cemetery records — geographic distribution, surname variants, and strategies for narrowing the second most common US surname.

March 28, 2026 · 7 min read

A complete guide to finding WWII veteran burial records — from American Battle Monuments Commission overseas cemeteries to local hometown graves.

March 28, 2026 · 6 min read

Step-by-step guide to finding ancestors by searching specific cemeteries — using GraveMapper's cemetery index, death certificates, and local genealogical resources.