We inspire people around the world to connect with their families across generations
Free for everyone
FamilySearch is a non-profit organization. We believe that families are at the heart of people's lives and that family relationships span generations. We also believe that if we gain a deeper understanding of the lives of our ancestors and their courage and example, we will become better people, more caring at home, and better citizens in society. That's why FamilySearch provides free genealogy services designed to help people around the world find their own family trees and connect to their ancestors.
Our work
FamilySearch is the world's largest genealogy organization. We work with more than 10,000 archives, libraries and other institutions in more than 150 countries to collect genealogical records. Millions of people use FamilySearch's records, resources and services through our website and mobile apps each year to research their family trees and build family trees.
Chinese genealogy
People all over the world have a desire to find their roots. FamilySearch is proud to help Chinese people discover family trees and understand their family history in China. To this end, FamilySearch brings together the world's largest collection of online family trees, with more than 65,000 family trees available for free to the public.
Search your family treeOur History
FamilySearch is a service provided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We started out as a small society dedicated to finding our roots. As technology developed, it grew into a global organization. The following is the development history of FamilySearch.
1894 | The Utah Genealogical Society is established, the predecessor to FamilySearch
The Utah Genealogical Society (now FamilySearch) was founded to help people trace their family trees.
1924 | Research assistance available in multiple languages
What started as a local organization nearly 100 years ago, supporting only a few languages, has flourished into a large global website with users from 238 countries.
1938 | Use of microfilm begins
Church and government archives began photographing paper documents. Microfilm was used until 2002, and since 2002, all digital archives have been used. Photo courtesy of Nelson W. Clayton
1983 | Preserving Chinese Family Trees
Efforts to collect and preserve genealogical records around the world expanded to China. We have established partnerships with the National Library of China, Shanghai Library and other institutions, and will continue to expand record collection work internationally and establish international partnerships.
1999 | Website launched
The FamilySearch website was launched and quickly became the most popular family history website on the Internet, with 7 million hits per day. In 2020, our average daily visits were 400,000.
2007 | "General Catalog of Chinese Genealogy"
FamilySearch cooperated with the Shanghai Library to compile the "General Catalog of Chinese Genealogy", which was the most complete genealogy catalog in the world at that time.
2011 | The first RootsTech Conference
The RootsTech conference makes its debut in Salt Lake City. Over the years, it has become the largest genealogy and family history event in the world.
2014 | 1 billion historical records
FamilySearch released its billionth historical image, allowing users to explore the details of their family's story.
Today
Today, FamilySearch continues to work with archives and libraries around the world to collect records to help people trace their roots. Over 1 million new records are added to the FamilySearch website every day.
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FamilySearch Values Every Story
For 125 years, FamilySearch has helped millions of people preserve their records because every story matters. This video showcases post-disaster record recovery in the Philippines, collection of oral histories in Africa, and efforts to make Chinese genealogy accessible.
FamilySearch for Record Custodians: Your Trusted Record Keeping Partner Since 1894
Archivists and partners from around the world describe their relationships and experiences with FamilySearch.
FamilySearch Blog
Archivists and partners from around the world describe their relationships and experiences with FamilySearch.
Learn MoreHelp Center
You're not the only one with doubts. Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions in the FamilySearch Help Center. Click the link to learn more.
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