Are you struggling to find the perfect gift for the genealogist or family historian in your life? Our specialist team at FamilySearch has you covered! Whether you are a fellow enthusiast or you’re completely new to the topic, we’ve got a variety of genealogy and family tree gift ideas that are sure to impress.
Quick Links: Gift Ideas
5 Great Gifts for Genealogy Buffs
- A DNA Test Kit
- A Map of an Ancestral Homeland
- A Published History or Travel Book
- A Membership to a Genealogical or Historical Society
- A Registration to an Online Family Tree Database
4 Great Genealogy Gifts for the Rest of the Family
- A Framed Family Tree or Pedigree Chart
- A Framed Photo of an Ancestor
- A Physical Photo Album or Book
- A New Journal or Diary
3 Great Do-It-Yourself Genealogy Gifts for Any Occasion
Let’s face it—finding the perfect gift for a genealogist or family historian can be tricky, especially if you aren’t much into genealogy and family trees yourself. What sort of gift would someone enjoy who is into family history? While your options may seem limited, there are actually many different interests in family history and numerous genealogy gift ideas to choose from.
Perhaps you’re approaching this conundrum from the opposite direction. Maybe you’re the genealogy lover in the family, and you’re looking for a simple genealogy gift for the other members of your family. It can be difficult to share your passion for family history with a gift without overwhelming the receiver. You need something simple and, most importantly, something fun. Not to worry. We think we’ve got you covered too.
Whichever category you fall in, here are 12 genealogy and family tree gift ideas. These gift ideas are perfect for genealogy lovers and for everyone else who happens to sit around the dinner table throughout the year.
5 Great Gifts for Genealogy Buffs
Let’s start with genealogy gifts you can give to the genealogy lovers in your family. Consider one of these thoughtful and compelling gift ideas.
1. A DNA Test
Up until now it has been all sweat, tears, sore eyes, and paper cuts, or perhaps pure love and adventure to find ancestors. Give your genealogist the chance to see what science can do for new ancestor discoveries. Purchase a DNA kit, or arrange for him or her to take a DNA test. Our team at FamilySearch have selected some of the best DNA testing kits you can buy!
2. A Map of an Ancestral Homeland
Someone who loves genealogy likely spends much of his or her day reading the names of villages and towns where his or her ancestors were born (ancestral homelands). Sounds like a real hoot, doesn’t it? Make it an even bigger hoot with a wall map that shows these locations in detail. It could be a working map for marking and placing pins—or something more decorative, such as an antique map, with names and titles no longer in use. You’ll have to do an internet search to find out where to buy one, but that kind of research is easy!
3. A Published History Book or Travel Book
Your loved one, or loved ones, like to read and ponder the details surrounding each ancestor’s life, right? Give them something to really sink their teeth into. Give them a history or a travel book about a place where one of your ancestors lived. They will be familiar with the localities and appreciate the added insights that can embellish the ancestor stories they are researching. They will undoubtedly love the book, and it may even become the catalyst for your family’s next genealogy field trip.
4. A Membership to a Genealogical or Historical Society
Give a membership to one of those local organizations or websites you’ve never heard of! Such a membership would probably come with a subscription to a magazine or newsletter and might even include special access to historical records not available anywhere else. Start by asking your genealogy-loving friends what geographic locale they are spending the most time researching for an ancestral line. To find a society for that area, do an internet search. For a search term, enter something like “New England Genealogy Societies” or whatever the region might be. The FamilySearch wiki lists several examples. You could also consider an annual membership to a website with access to old newspapers, periodicals, or other helpful genealogy services. Check out the RootTech Expo Hall for a list of cool genealogy-related products and service providers.
5. A Registration to an Online Family Tree Database
Your family historians are likely obsessed with learning as much about your ancestors as possible. Registering them for an Online Family Tree Database and filling out as much information as possible for them is a great gift idea! The best thing about this gift is that joining our family tree database is completely free of charge. All you have to do is make your loved one an account, and you’re good to go.
4 Great Genealogy Gifts for the Rest of the Family
Not everyone in the family needs to be a genealogy buff to enjoy, or even cherish, a genealogy gift! For other members of the family, choose something simple—something that takes only a moment or two to engage with but that will remind them of their heritage for weeks and even years to come. Here are some ideas.
6. A Framed Family Tree or Pedigree Chart
Similar to a family portrait, a family tree is a symbol of family unity, love, and connection. Giving relatives a family tree to hang on the wall is a great way to help them learn the names or faces of ancestors and to see where they themselves fit in. Seeing ancestors in this context often deepens appreciation for the family legacy shared and the stories they remember. Check out some of our family tree templates for inspiration!
7. A Framed Photo of an Ancestor
Vintage photographs are just cool, plain and simple. You don’t even have to be related. But if you are related, then the photograph is both cool and inspiring. Vintage photos of ancestors can go anywhere—above the fireplace, on top of a dresser or piano, or on the corner of a desk or windowsill. If a family member has a favorite ancestor, that could be a great choice for an ancestor photo.
8. A Physical Photo Album or Book
Phones are great for taking, viewing, and sharing photos. But many people prefer books to digital photos and technology, or they just like the tangible benefits of being able to take a photo book from the shelf and reminisce. Unfortunately, we either forget to create photo albums ourselves or just don’t have time—which is why it’s such a nice thing to do for someone you love.
9. A New Journal or Diary
Careful, this one could be habit forming! Choose a type of journal that takes your loved one’s personality and habits into consideration. Is he or she an artist? Try a journal with completely blank pages for sketching, doodling, or even painting. Is your loved one new to journaling? Then choose a journal with journal prompts for every day. You could also help your loved ones purchase a mobile journaling app if that’s more their thing—or upgrade it so that it’s ad free.
3 Great Do-It-Yourself Genealogy Gifts for Any Occasion
Some of the best presents are ones that you can’t order online. Hard to believe, but it’s true. Here are 3 such genealogy gifts to consider, and you can modify or expand on them as you would like.
10. A Family Heirloom
What do you think of when you read the words “family heirloom”? A rare painting? An expensive necklace? Those are nice, but something more ordinary and everyday can be just as special, especially if it’s something connected to your personality or interests. A hat, a jacket, a ring, a baseball glove, a doll, a fishing pole, a favorite scarf or tool—these can all make great gifts if the item has been with you for a long time and the other person knows it. Or perhaps a family member has expressed interest in a particular family artifact. What better time than now to gift it to him or her? You’ll be passing on a little bit of yourself, which is what family history is all about.
11. A Favorite Hobby or Family Tradition
Do your loved ones know you for your chocolate chip cookies? Or do they know your passion for and experience with quilting? Consider passing on your talents and hobbies as a gift to others. Perhaps your family has always loved to fish, and you think your loved one would enjoy continuing the tradition.
This gift could be a 1-day event or a series of lessons you offer or something do together through another service. Choose something that’s important to you and that you think the other person would be interested in. Throw in a little refreshment at the end of the excursion, and you’ve given your loved one a memory and skill that will last a lifetime and may be passed on to the next generation.
12. A Family Recipe Book
Favorite foods are as much a part of family history as photographs and birth certificates. And certain smells coming from the kitchen can take you back in time faster than anything written down. Speaking of family heirlooms, a recipe or favorite food is one of them. For some family members, being taken back to particular moments or memories in life will be much more meaningful than anything materialistic.
Don’t want to do a recipe book? Give a personal coupon offering to prepare and teach how to make a favorite family recipe, including the ingredients. It will be a gift your family members will value and remember forever, and many future mouths will be grateful for it!
Well, there you have them—12 genealogy gifts for the genealogy lovers and the family-oriented people in your family. If you’re looking for other incredible genealogy gifts, check out the comment section below for ideas other people have come up with, or take a moment to share your own genealogy gift inspiration!
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