Last updated: 20 January 2006 1231 GMT

There is a whole host of information out there to help trace your family tree - you just need to know what to look for.

Family Bibles are another useful resource to help trace your family line.

Many people used bibles to record new births and they can prove to be a useful resource for information.

Genealogy expert Sue Stafford said: "If a bible has been passed down in your family then you know it's relating to your ancestors, as opposed to something that you've found on the Internet or on a census which you're not sure is part of your family.

"Bibles are also essential if you are researching a popular name like 'Smith' or 'Jones' as it helps to narrow down the search".

Censuses are useful in identifying family members but are probably best used to add to information you already hold, as there can be errors in transcribing names and ages.

The 1881 census of England and Wales has been indexed, county by county so is useful if you know which county your ancestors originated.

The Church of the Latter Day Saints (LDS) have constructed an International Genealogical Index which is available on fiche and CD-ROM.

However it is not a complete record and can contains transcription errors.

It lists variant spellings of surnames together and makes it easy to identify patterns associated with names.

Also check out local family history societies as they often have indexed census records for their districts.

If your grandparents have passed away and you can't remember details then visit their grave.

Go along to your grandparents grave and copy the memorial inscription as it will list their year of birth and death. You can then look at the census from the year of birth which should be surname indexed.

Sue Stafford

Sue said: "Go along to your grandparents grave and copy the memorial inscription as it will list their year of birth and death.

"You can then look at the census from the year of birth which should be surname indexed."

Past family members are also often listed on the grave inscription giving further insight into your past.

Public records are also an essential source when trying to gather information.

They hold a whole host of information including pensions records, service record dockets for military personnel and they also hold The National Archives.

This is one of the largest archival collections in the world, spanning 1000 years of British history, from Domesday Book to government papers recently released to the public.

Wills and probate information can give you a large amount of information when searching for a family member.

Wills give you details of the person, the executor of the will, where the person died, the date they died, where they lived, the property, who will inherit what, and it usually list all the children and the daughter's married name.

So you get more information for your family tree.

If your ancestor owned a lot of land, property or was a criminal there is likely to be more information about them.

Sue Stafford said: "You will find more information in criminal records than you would for an ordinary person. If your ancestor comes up in a settlement certificate you get much more information about them. It will often list the whole family, with number of children, ages and often occupational information which is a huge help.

"Jail records, jail admission records, are also a good source. Check records at houses of correction and prisons in the areas you may think an ancestor might have been".

A concise guide to researching British ancestry both locally and at a distance.

Everything the family historian wants to know about parish registers, the Civil Registration system, the 19th century Census returns and dozens of other archives, indexes and sources, with all the costs, contacts, addresses and tips a professional or amateur researcher could ever need.

It is also worth investing in a good book to help you start your family tree. Here are a few recommended reads:

• Track Down Your Ancestors by Estelle Catlett (Elliot Right Way Books)
  
  
• Tracing Your Family Tree by Stella Colwell (a Teach Yourself book)
  
  
• The Family Tree Detective by Colin D. Rogers (Manchester University Press)
  
  
• In Search of Your British & Irish Roots, A Complete Guide to Tracing Your English, Welsh, Scottish, & Irish Ancestors by Angus Baxter
  
  
• Finding Your Roots Online by Nancy Hendrickson
  
  
• Netting Your Ancestors: Genealogical Research on the Internet by Cyndi Howells

There is a whole host of information out there to help trace your family tree - you just need to know what to look for.

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