Census records were categorized in several ways. Some states used the head of household to file the records. In the 1800s, records were filed using the Soundex or the Miracode format. Both coding systems are similar but the Soundex was used most frequently. Earlier records are filed and recorded on AIS microfiche.

The Soundex system is phonetic. Sounds were used to group names together and not alphabetical order. Here’s an example. If two names sounded alike such as Sell and Sellers, they were grouped together, as possibly were names like Peel and Peale. The point of the Soundex system was to make it easier for people to search for information based on the fact they knew what a name sounded like, but not necessarily the correct spelling. People would no longer furiously search for names in the wrong places.

When you find the reference to a name spelled like your ancestor’s name, write down all of the information that you see. On each page is a page number and a number that identifies the district or town where the census was taken, called the enumeration district number. The consonants in each name are then coded using a number system. The resulting code leads you to the card for that family’s information within the state where the census originated. Knowing the name of a town can lead to other records such as old newspaper editions, books that chronicle the history of that particular region, or famous people from that area. If you hit a dead end with the surname on the page, you can also investigate the neighboring people for clues about your family.

Census records can be located in several places: The Family History Library in Salt Lake City or one of its branches, the National Archives, the Census online, or you can get copies mailed to your own house.

Here are a few of the easiest ways to find ancestors for free.

Family Bible
An old tradition that many families kept in the past was to record any family events in the big Bible that was passed down from generation to generation. Here, accounts of births, deaths, and marriages were recorded. For people who weren’t included in other recordkeeping activities, like slaves and some immigrants, it was a way to trace the history of their families.

Birth Certificates
Usually parents keep these in their possession until their children grow up. Then they pass them on to their children in the event of death. Someone in your family could have a treasure trove of records just waiting for your eyes. All births are submitted for public recording. You can always contact the local hall of records in your city or the state’s records to find a birth certificate and purchase a copy. Birth records before 1910 didn’t always contain the child’s name but only the name of the parent’s. You can use them to trace the family surname if not a specific individual.

Death certificates
When a person dies, a death certificate is kept on file. A death certificate can be used as proof to stop certain payments and services once the person is deceased. Death records after 1910 contain a lot of pertinent information not the least of which is the deceased person’s name. You can find out their family’s name, where they died, the cause of death, the deceased person’s occupation, and much more. Before 1910 the records weren’t as thorough and usually contained merely the name of the deceased and their cause of death.

Marriage certificates
Everyone who gets married files for a marriage license with their local court system. There is a lot of important information that is noted on these marriage certificates. You can find out the maiden name of the bride, the name of both the groom and bride’s parents, the wedding witnesses, and of course the date of the ceremony. Just like other vital records, before 1910 there was no mandatory recording of certain information, so a lot of what you might be looking for may be missing.