Most of us know our families well. Some of us might feel like we know them too well. But all of us have at some point wanted to know about the generations who came before us. Where did our ancestors live? What were their names? How did they earn a living? How did their lives affect ours?

Believe it or not, these can be easy questions to answer on Ancestry.com, the world's largest collection of family history information. You can find out when your ancestors were born, where they settled, whom they married and so much more. You can also build your family tree and discover where it connects with others around the world.

So what’s the best way to begin?

1. Start with what you know.
Write down names, dates and family facts already in your head. Think about marriages, divorces, births, deaths, locations and anything else that comes to mind. It's okay to guess if you're not sure. The more information you have, the easier it is to find additional facts and build your family tree on Ancestry.com.

2. Ask your family for more.
Talk to your parents, grandparents, even younger cousins - any relative who can offer first-hand information or stories that provide clues to your family's past. Take notes or record your discussions (and your sources). All stories are worth preserving and each point of view offers new insight, whether it's 100% accurate or not.

3. Take a look around you.
Search through photo albums, baby books, family Bibles, diplomas, letters and journals, newspaper clippings, yearbooks, etc. for clues about your family's past. All of the above can provide names, dates, places and more that you can enter on Ancestry.com to research further. If you don't have keepsakes like these around your house, again, just ask your relatives.

4. Find the proof you need.
If you already have historical records in your possession, you're off to a better start than most. Don't worry if you have nothing. Ancestry.com is home to 4 billion historical records, and there are more added every week. To find records on your ancestors, enter a name and any additional information you have in the search area on Ancestry.com.

5. Save what you find.
If you've found a historical record at home or through your family, keep it in a very safe place. When you find historical records on Ancestry.com, make sure you save or bookmark the information on the web site. Then you can access it again by clicking on My Ancestry at the top of any page on Ancestry.com.

6. Build your family tree.
Find out if someone in your family already has a tree underway. If so, get a copy and use that as your starting point. If not, start yours from scratch on Ancestry.com. Just click on Family Trees anywhere on the web site to begin. Then use the information you've gathered to start your family tree. Ancestry.com will help you grow your tree and find out where it connects with others around the world.

7. Don’t stop there.
Once you get started researching your family history, you'll find it difficult to stop. There are so many generations to discover and resources to explore. And you won't be the only one in your family interested. Your siblings, parents and relatives will be just waiting for the next discovery you make on Ancestry.com.

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