Overview
The FamilySearch Wiki is not designed to find the names of ancestors; rather, it is a tool people can use to learn how to find their ancestors.
The Wiki is a genealogical guide that gives information about record types, search strategies, records collections, and genealogical resources on FamilySearch, other online sites, and offline sites.
Wiki contains information submitted by users, including expert genealogists. It will often be the most important, and first, database used to help a guest find records.
FamilySearch Wiki Support
A wiki is a collaborative website that allows users to add and update content about a subject. The FamilySearch Wiki content is submitted, edited, and updated by its users, not by FamilySearch.
Click here to access the Wiki.
Prepare to Research
When searching Wiki, use keywords, not phrases, for the best results.
Before searching the Wiki, you need to know:
- What type of record you are looking for: Example: Naturalization
- The place the you expect to find the record: Example: New York
- The general time period of the record: Example: 1915
Searches on the Wiki
- Record Search is used to find a specific type of record.
- Word List contains translations for common genealogical terms.
- Record Type search is used to find information about a certain type of record for a locality, such as cemeteries, church records, civil registration, military records, obituaries, naturalization, probate, etc. The Record Type box is found on the right side of the record's home page.
- Place Search is used to see what types of records were kept in a specific area, possible addresses for county courthouses or other record locations, and a time frame of when records were kept. Type the county/province, comma, then the country, comma, then “Genealogy" for the best results.
- Online Record Search is online records that are listed in the Wiki for each country, state (province), and county (parish).
- Subject Search uses keywords to search for a specific topic, such as Native American.
Key Points About Historical Record Collections
FamilySearch has multiple historical records collections accessed through the Search Records tab. Wiki has a page that explains each collection. When you type the name of a collection in the Wiki search bar, you will be taken to the corresponding collection page. The Wiki page for a historical record collection:
- Explains what the collection is
- Provides a coverage table
- Provides sample images
- Provides information about reading the record
- Tells what can be found on the records in the collection
- How to search the collection
A Table of Contents lists the information Wiki provides for using a historical record collection.
Coverage Tables and Known Issues
"Coverage Tables" is one of the most important sections on the Wiki historical records collection page. If you cannot find a record within a collection, try to add "FamilySearch Historical Records" in the search bar, along with the collection title. Locate the Coverage Table for this collection. Click on the Coverage Table link.
Online Genealogy Communities (Research Groups)
FamilySearch Communities and Facebook genealogical communities can provide specific research help for specific ancestors. They are moderated by FamilySearch volunteers and missionaries. Anyone can post questions and information on these sites. Most of these Facebook groups are on a country or state (province) level.
Webinars
Wiki has a page that connects users to online Webinars at the Family History Library. You can access the link by typing “Webinars” in the Wiki search bar.
