Did you know that Library and Archives Canada (LAC) has an online Ancestors Search function that combs through many of our genealogical databases at once, simply by using your ancestor’s name?
The Ancestors Search page lists all of our genealogical databases. Those labelled with the letter “G” are included in the Ancestors Search results, while the others can be searched individually.
If you cannot find your ancestor’s name in the Ancestors Search results, try searching in one of our other databases, listed by topic.
The layout of each of our genealogy databases is similar and includes useful tabs on the left menu. For example, the “Search Help” section provides information that will:
- help you understand the records we have indexed;
- tell you how to interpret your search results;
- explain how to consult or obtain copies of documents.
Did you know?
- Databases can have indexing errors because of poor handwriting, poor legibility, or the fading of ink over time in the original records. If you find an error in the index, use the “Suggest a correction” feature.
- Some databases allow for wildcard searching, that is, you can substitute a letter with a symbol to allow for more search results. For example, use “Sm*th” for Smith or Smyth, or “Fred*” for Frederick or Fredrich.
- In the past, many names were written phonetically by the person recording them, such as the priest for a Parish Register or an enumerator for the Census. This resulted in various spellings of the same name.
- Nicknames or middle names may have been used by your ancestor(s). For example, many French Canadians of the Catholic faith were baptized as Marie or Joseph, and as such, your ancestor(s) may have been registered under one of these names.
- A woman may have been listed under her married or maiden name.
- Sometimes individuals anglicized their names. For example, a branch of the “Boisvert” family became the “Greenwood” family. Many immigrants from Eastern European countries also anglicized their names, such as in a branch of the “Kowalchuck” family, which became the “Cowell” family.
- Names or dates may be different than what you have in your records. Our ancestors did not have to identify themselves as we do today and they might not have known their exact date of birth or date of immigration.
Only a portion of LAC’s genealogical records have been indexed. Visit our Genealogy and Family History pages for more information about genealogy topics and other sources.
Questions or comments? We would love to hear from you!
Problem logging in to get to the searchable database. When I click the URL provided it comes up with a URL by Microsoft Exchange, an app that asks for my username and password. I tried the wordpress one but it didn’t work.
What’s the secret here and why is it a secret? Not user friendly or intuitive at all. You can do better than this.
Duncan McLaren
http://www.LDRB.ca
Thank you for bringing this to our attention; we have since replaced the URL. It will bring you directly to our Ancestors Advanced Search page: http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/lac-bac/search/anc_adv
Perfect!, Thanks for the quick and positive response, appreciated.
Duncan
Pingback: Questions And Answers About Scottish Ancestry Search
Pingback: Fab Finds in Genealogy for the Week of 12 February 2012 | 1 Ancestry 2 Little Time
Pingback: Genealogy: Free Online Genealogy Databases | Tree Genealogy
Why is it so difficult to find anything on your site? Why not use the same idea you use to get Attestation Papers? For example, a list of all the records where youn click on the one you want and type in the name, number etc of the person you want and just like magic, the record you want comes up. So far, I have spent 3 1/2 hours looking for my dad’s records and have only his Attestation form!
Hello Mr. Patterson,
your father’s service file can be found here: http://central.bac-lac.gc.ca/.item/?op=pdf&app=CEF&id=B7638-S033
If you have any further questions, you can always submit your question through the Ask Us A Question form that is found here: http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/assistance-request-form/Pages/assistance-request-form.aspx?requesttype=1
Good luck!