Free surname directory
Find who else is researching your surnames
Search more than 120,000 family records shared by fellow researchers. See who is working on the same names, places and time periods, then message them privately.
Free to join. Your contact details stay private.
120,000+
family records
6
record types: births, baptisms, marriages, banns, deaths and burials
Free
to join and search
How it works
Three steps to your next lead
01
Search
Type a surname to see the places and time periods other researchers have recorded.
02
Connect
Join free and send a private message to the researcher. You decide if and when to share your email.
03
Add
Send me your family tree file and I will add your surnames, so other researchers can find you too.
Why it helps
Built by a researcher, for researchers
Private by design
All contact goes through private messaging. Your email address is never shown on the directory.
Living people protected
We only list births before 1921, and marriages and deaths before 1971.
Free to join
No subscriptions and no card details. Just a free account to message other researchers.
Your data, your choice
Leave any time and your records are removed from the directory.
Add your family tree in one step
Export a GEDCOM file from your family tree software and upload it. I check every file by hand, add your surnames to the directory and email you when they are live.
GEDCOM files up to 25 MB. Not sure how to export one? See the FAQ.
About the directory
Hi, I'm Sue
I started researching my family tree around 1994, when an aunt got me interested in where we came from. More than 30 years later, I’m still hunting. In my day job I’m a web developer, so building a place for researchers to find each other felt like a natural fit. Records are important, but the people behind them matter more. Somewhere out there is someone working on the same surnames as you, and I hope this directory helps you find them.
Sue Cooper
Founder, The Genealogy Directory. Brisbane, Australia.
For researchers
Brick walls, broken
Find the cousins you didn’t know you had. List your surnames and places, and other researchers working on the same families can find you.
Break down brick walls together. Someone out there may hold the record, photo or family story you’ve been searching for.
Built by a researcher, for researchers. Sue has been tracing her own family since 1994 and built this directory to make connecting with kin easier.
FAQ
Common questions
Is it really free?
Yes. Joining, searching and messaging are free. There are no subscriptions and we never ask for card details.
Can anyone see my email address?
No. Researchers contact you through private messaging, and you choose whether to share your details.
Can I add living people?
No. To protect privacy we only list births more than 100 years ago, marriages 75 years and deaths 50 years.
How do I add my family tree?
Export a GEDCOM file from your family tree software and upload it here. Most programs, including Ancestry, MyHeritage, Family Tree Maker and Legacy, have an export or "Save as GEDCOM" option. I add every file by hand and email you when your surnames are live.
What happens if I leave?
Your records can be removed from the directory.
How do I get in touch?
Email me at [email protected]. I read every message myself.
Your next lead could be one surname away
Search the directory now. It's free, and no account is needed to look.
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