What counts as a pioneer ancestor
On FamilySearch, “pioneer” most often refers to early members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who traveled to the Salt Lake Valley in the mid-1800s. Pioneer Day in Utah, observed on July 24, commemorates the arrival of the first company in 1847. In everyday speech, though, “pioneer” can also mean early settlers of other regions, such as homesteaders on the American frontier. The tools below focus on the Latter-day Saint pioneer story, so check what meaning matters for your family.
Before you start: build your tree
FamilySearch’s tools work by comparing your tree to other records, so the more generations you have entered, the better the results. Create a free FamilySearch account, enter yourself, and add parents and grandparents as far back as you can support with evidence. If your tree is still sparse, see how to organize genealogy research for a way to build it systematically.
Use the pioneer discovery activity
FamilySearch has offered a pioneer discovery activity that scans your tree for relatives who were early Latter-day Saint pioneers and shows details such as relationship, life events and travel information. The page has been reachable at familysearch.org/campaign/pioneers, though FamilySearch moves and renames features from time to time. If that address does not work, search the FamilySearch help center or blog for “pioneer” to find the current version.
Typical steps:
- Sign in to your FamilySearch account.
- Open the pioneer discovery activity.
- Review the list of pioneer relatives it displays.
- Click a name to see the relationship path, life details and any stories or photos.
Search Church History databases
If the activity finds nothing, search the databases directly. The Church History Biographical Database compiles information on early members and travelers, including those who came to Utah between 1847 and 1868. The Church History Library also hosts a pioneer overland travel database that lists companies and travelers by name. When searching, try:
- Name variants and alternate spellings
- Approximate birth years rather than exact dates
- Searching by company or year if you know when the family emigrated
FamilySearch has also provided a way to cross-reference these databases with your own tree, showing which database entries match people already in it. Use that as a lead, then confirm.
Verify with records
A name match is not proof. Two people can share a name and a rough birth year. To confirm a pioneer connection, look for:
- Census records placing the family in Utah Territory
- Birth, marriage and death records
- Church membership or ordinance records
- Journals, obituaries and family histories
- Immigration records if the family came from Europe, which can lead you to records elsewhere in your research
A genealogy research checklist helps make sure you have checked each type. Record how you decided each match is correct and cite it; see how to cite census records in Chicago style for one example.
If you do not find a pioneer
Not having a pioneer ancestor is common, and the tree may simply be incomplete. Extend your lines further, check the tree for errors, and look at collateral relatives. If a branch stalls because of unclear parentage, our guide on how to trace illegitimate ancestors may help.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find the oldest ancestor in FamilySearch?
Open your tree in descendancy or pedigree view and follow each line back until it ends. Then check the earliest person on each line against records to confirm the link, since older entries in a shared tree are the most likely to contain errors. How far records go depends on the country and period; see how far back genealogy records go.
Is FamilySearch associated with LDS?
Yes. FamilySearch is a nonprofit organization sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Its records and tree are free for anyone to use, regardless of religion.
How do I connect FamilySearch to Ancestry?
The two are separate services, and I am not aware of a simple built-in link between your accounts. A common workaround is to export or share your tree data as a GEDCOM file (see how to print or download your Ancestry tree) where the site allows it, or to copy information manually. Check each site’s current help pages, as options change.
How can I trace my ancestors for free?
FamilySearch is free and includes a large collection of digitized and indexed records, and many public libraries offer free access to other sites; see HeritageQuest and Ancestry. Some records still require visiting an archive or paying a fee.