On a number of family history websites, you can search for historical records, maintain a personal tree, share DNA results, and more. As a FamilySearch user, why should you look at another one? Geneanet may be one of those gems you didn’t know you needed.
Geneanet went online in 1996. It was created by several visionary genealogy enthusiasts from France who saw the potential of the internet to accelerate family history. Its original name was LPF, an acronym for “Liste des patronymes de France,” meaning “List of Surnames of France.”
From this modest start, Geneanet has become the “largest community of genealogists” in Continental Europe. While remaining true to their French roots, they have added records from many other countries in Europe and beyond. The website is available in 10 languages and has a social media presence on Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube.
What does Geneanet have to offer you as a FamilySearch user? Let’s take a look.
Searching Geneanet’s Record Collections
In addition to vital records (birth, marriage, and death), Geneanet collections include books, newspapers, magazines, and more. Some of these records are exclusive to Geneanet and not available on FamilySearch.org.
When you visit the page for the first time, Geneanet gives you the option to take a short tour. The Collections Catalog page provides a helpful overview of Geneanet’s digitized record offerings and allows you to search some or all of them.
Not surprisingly, the largest share of records is from France. But there are also sizeable collections from Belgium, Germany, Spain, Canada, and Switzerland, along with the UK and the US. And there are many smaller collections from areas around the world, including Armenia, Cambodia, Denmark, Haiti, the Netherlands, Ukraine, and more.
A helpful feature on FamilySearch.org allows users to search Geneanet directly from any Family Tree profile page. In the Search Records box on the profile page, click Geneanet to initiate a search. FamilySearch uses the information on the page to run the search—you don't need to retype the information!
Geneanet’s acquisition by Ancestry.com in 2021 has allowed them to expand their offerings by providing access to select Ancestry databases at no additional charge to premium members (see Membership Options below).
Create and Maintain a Personal Tree
FamilySearch allows users to work together in Family Tree, a public, collaborative family tree. So why might you want a personal tree on Geneanet? There are several reasons. As you research your family, you may need a place to keep incomplete or unproven information that isn't ready for a public tree. In addition, a personal tree can be helpful if information you've added to Family Tree gets changed incorrectly and you need to change it back.
Geneanet makes it easy to create and maintain a personal tree online. You can type your information directly into the simple form on the website, or you can import a GEDCOM file. There is no size limit to your tree, and you retain full ownership of the information you add. You can configure privacy settings for your tree to share it publicly or only with specific Geneanet members.
Your tree is searchable, which is helpful as it grows. You can also attach images, calculate relationships, and see a time line of events in a person’s life. You can download a PDF chart of your family tree in a variety of creative formats.
Currently it isn't possible to synchronize a Geneanet tree with Family Tree directly.
The Geneanet site also hosts a successful "Origin of Last Names" feature that shows the frequency of a surname on a map.
Other Geneanet Offerings
Beyond the basics, Geneanet has some other helpful features you'll want to try.
- Look up a surname on the Family Names page, where you'll learn about the surname's origin and even see it plotted on a map.
- For a unique glimpse into the past, take a look at Geneanet's searchable database of old postcards. Search by place, date, keyword, or category.
- While Geneanet doesn't offer DNA testing, the DNA section of Geneanet allows you to upload autosomal DNA test results (Y-DNA and mtDNA are not currently supported). Once your results are uploaded, you can see matches to other Geneanet members. You are also alerted when new matches become available.
- Geneanet makes it easy for members to give back to the genealogy community by participating in various worthwhile projects.
- The Geneanet team also hosts GeneaStar, a website where you can browse over 17,000 family trees of famous people. If you have a tree for someone famous that isn't already there, you can upload it.
Help
If you have questions about using Geneanet, help is just a few keystrokes away. Geneanet offers a searchable database of help articles. If you don’t find the answers you’re looking for there, try the member forums.
Membership Options
Like many websites, Geneanet offers both free and premium memberships. The free
membership includes the following:
- Building your own family tree online.
- Access to other members’ family trees.
- Ability to contact other members.
- Access to all content shared by other members.
The premium membership adds features such as the following:
- Advanced search.
- Automatic matching of your entire family tree with the Geneanet database.
- Weekly email alerts.
- Access to the Genealogy Library, which contains information about more than 3.8 billion individuals.
For details, see “Geneanet is a ‘freemium’ website” on the About Geneanet page. Access to Geneanet is also available at no charge at all FamilySearch center locations as part of the Premium Content Services. Visit the FamilySearch Access Page to see what free options are available for you through FamilySearch.
Conclusion
To learn more about how Geneanet can help you, sign up for a free or premium membership today. Try searching for information about an ancestor, creating or importing a personal tree, or even looking through old postcards. Whatever you choose, you’re sure to discover something that will help you on your family history journey.
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