1. Ancestry.com - Ancestry.com is the leading genealogical data site, with some articles, instruction, and reference help. (1) 2. Genealogy.com - This is a major data site, with instruction and reference help and a popular forum for seeking and exchanging data. (4) 3. MyHeritage.com - MyHeritage focuses on genealogy community building and networking. (3) 4. RootsWeb.com - Rootsweb is a major data site, with free instruction and reference help. (2) 5. MyFamily.com - Hosts family websites for sharing photos, genealogy, and more. (5) 6. FamilySearch.org - This major data website, sponsored by the LDS Church, includes the International Genealogical Index, other data collections, instruction and reference help. (5) 7. FindAGrave.com – The largest database of cemetery inscriptions and photos. (7) 8. Geni.com - Web 2.0 and focuses on genealogy community building and networking. (18) 9. Footnote.com - In conjunction with the U.S. National Archives, Footnote offers data, original records images, and more. (8) 10. AncestorHunt.com - Genealogy links with state and topic specific search engines. (12) 11. OneGreatFamily.com - A family tree sharing and collaboration website; uses computer programming to suggest additions to your tree. (9) 12. GenealogyToday.com - Genealogy Today includes instruction, reference articles, and some unique data collections. (11) 13. WorldVitalRecords.com - Inexpensive access to over a billion names in thousands of databases. (10) 14. AccessGenealogy.com - Includes references to helpful articles, especially for Native American information, and some data. (13) 15. USGennet.org - Historical and genealogical web hosting service. (17) 16. Interment.net - Transcribed and indexed cemetery inscriptions. (16) 17. CyndisList.com - A huge website dedicated to cataloguing genealogy website links. (15) 18. GeneBase.com - A DNA ancestry cataloguing project. (24) 19. SearchForAncestors.com - Interactive directory of free genealogy websites and data. (21) 20. EllisIsland.org – New York passenger lists that is free to search. Actual passenger list images can be printed or purchased. (14) 21. FamilyTreeMaker.com - Homepage for Ancestry.com's genealogical software. (20) 22. KindredKonnections.com - Grassroots created data site with compiled family Trees, and some extracted records. (19) 23. DistantCousin.com - An online archive of genealogy records and images of historical documents. (22) 24. Linkpendium.com – Millions of genealogy links categorized by state/county and surname. (35) 25. DeathIndexes.com - Lists of links to United States death records, by state. (31) 26. FamilyTreeDNA.com - DNA testing service focused upon family history test types. (27) 27. CousinConnect.com - A large free queries website. (23) 28. TribalPages.com - Family trees hosting and charting program. (25) 29. CensusFinder.com - Links to free census records. (40) 30. USGenWeb.com - Volunteers working together to provide free genealogy websites for genealogical research in every county and every state of the United States. (49) 31. GenealogyBank.com - Database with indexed newspapers and early books. (41) 32. JewishGen.org - Jewish, reference, instruction, coordination, and databases. (28) 33. PoliticalGraveyard.com - Comprehensive source of U.S. political biography that tells where many dead politicians are buried. (34) 34. Genuki.org.uk - Large collection of genealogical information pages for England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man. (32) 35. *GenealogyTrails.com – Three year old site with free data contributed by volunteers. (Not ranked) 36. GenCircles.com - Upload and share family trees. (30) 37. *GenoPro.com – Genealogy software that produces genograms. (53) 38. Census-Online.com - Links to censuses and census abstracts. (46) 39. HeritageQuestOnline.com - Census, PERSI (the periodical index), books and more. (39) 40. US-Census.org - Census abstracts from the U.S. GenWeb Census Project. (37) 41. Daddezio.com - Focused upon Italian research, with instruction, information and more. (33) 42. Geneanet.org - A collection of family trees, community, and submitted records. (36) 43. GenWed.com - Online marriage records, where to order, some indexes, and more. (42) 44. ObitCentral.com - Obituary database for finding obituaries and making cemetery searches. (29) 45. *ObitLinksPage.com – State-by-state directory of obituaries & obituary resources. (Not Ranked) 46. FindMyPast.com - Indexes to British records of many types. (50) 47. *FamilyHistory101.com – Less than two years old and full of instruction and guidance for genealogists. (107) 48. AncientFaces.com - Share genealogy research, community pages, family photos & records more for free. (38) 49. *DAR.org – Site of the largest lineage society; includes their library catalog and 32 million name index. (67) 50. GenealogyLinks.net - Links to free sites, arranged by state and county. (43)
This list was created in the first quarter of 2009. It was developed from a list of criteria explained in an article published in the Digital Genealogist, edited by Elizabeth Kelley Kerstens. The 2008 ranking is given in parenthesis after the website description. Sites new to the list for 2009 are marked with *.
