For some dedicated souls, genealogy (the study of family trees) has always appealed and motivated. But, until recently, it was an interest that demanded long hours spent in the bowels of vast buildings like the Public Records Office, poring over endless books and studying dusty documents. Genealogy was difficult, wearisome and required frequent travel to London, where most public records were stored.

So while many of us are intrigued by the idea of knowing more about our families before us, actually tracing our roots has largely been the territory of those with swathes of surplus time and resources to throw at the task. Now, however, all that has changed.

Catching the genealogy bug
The BBC series Who do you think you are?, which maps the journeys of celebrities as they delve into the lives of their ancestors, has inspired a whole new generation of aspiring genealogists, eager to unearth more about their family heritage. The latest series accompanied Matthew Pinsent as he encountered an undreamt-of family connection with William the Conqueror; whilst Graham Norton dug up the secrets of a mysterious skeleton in his southern Irish history. And Alistair McGowan was astonished to discover more about his family heritage, which was not Scottish as he'd always believed, but Anglo-Indian.

Armchair exploration
While the BBC's odysseys were igniting the nation's imagination, so the ordinary person in the street was being presented with ever-more accessible methods of discovering their own stories. Recent developments of online census databases and sophisticated specialist sites like www.ancestry.co.uk bring hands-on family history research into libraries and living rooms across the UK. Provided you have basic computer skills, you can begin to build up detailed information about your forebears at the click of a button.

What do you know?
Researching your roots has become a hugely popular pastime, and one which can quickly become a passion. So how do you start? Well, there's a wealth of wonderful advice and information to be found on the web, but before you even begin it's a good idea to simply write down all that you know about you and your immediate family. Dates and locations of births, marriages and deaths, names, military service, travel abroad - all these details will give you a useful foundation on which to build.

But don't forget: information like this will demand some sensitivity for the feelings of other family members who may not share your enthusiasm, so it's wise to tread carefully. Having said that, family research is a great way to talk to long-lost cousins or Great Auntie Ada, who you might not have not seen for years. Every family member will have their own information to add - and far more in the way of stories and memories that inject life and colour into the hard facts.

Surfing, searching and secrets
Once you have the basics, just head for your nearest computer and log on to the websites that can help you with your search. The links we've listed below will help get you started and whatever you find, you're sure to be amazed.

Visit the BBC's Family History pages, www.ancestry.co.uk and www.findmypast.com - all great places to begin your research journey.

The latest sites allow you to search census information, view the handwritten records of your forebears' lives and build a picture of who you really are. You can add photos, documents and stories to breathe life and character into your records. Some sites will automatically construct your family tree and highlight new sources and hidden secrets that lie within its branches. It's remarkable stuff and should come with a health warning: online genealogy is seriously addictive!

There's never been a better time
So what better opportunity to trace your family line than now? You have the benefits of extra spare time to indulge your interests and years of experience you can use to add to and enrich existing records for future generations. And with all that online information and guidance at your fingertips, it's easy to get started.

Whoever you think you are, you could be on the verge of some amazing discoveries…

Need to kick-start or brush up your computer skills before you begin? Simply visit the learndirect Careers Advice website to find a computer course in your area.

Have you got a story to tell? Or any comments or questions about this article? If so, contact us today!

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