Family History Research Tool

Every ancestor leaves
a trail. Let's find it.

Geneablocks helps you identify exactly which kind of brick wall is blocking your research — and gives you proven, practical ways to break through it.

Where are you stuck?

Describe your research problem in your own words, and we'll suggest the most relevant brick wall types to explore.

Try describing the problem — missing records, unknown names, immigration gaps, DNA puzzles, and more.

Suggested brick walls

Browse all 20 brick wall types

What is a brick wall?

In genealogy, a brick wall is the point where your research stops — an ancestor who seems to vanish, a record that doesn't exist, a name that leads nowhere. Every family historian hits them. Most can be broken through with the right approach.

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Describe your problem

Type what you're stuck on in plain language — or browse our full list of 20 recognised brick wall types.

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Identify the block

We match your situation to the most likely brick wall type and explain why it happens so commonly.

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Get proven solutions

Read through 3–5 practical, expert-sourced strategies — and save or print the ones you want to try.

A few of the brick walls researchers encounter most often.

See all 20 brick wall types →

Recommended Resources

The Genealogist

Ever wondered who your great-great-grandparents really were? TheGenealogist makes it genuinely enjoyable to find out. With one of the UK's most powerful and flexible search tools, you can dig into census records, birth, marriage and death indexes, parish registers, military records, historical maps and so much more — all in one place. It's been voted the best-performing genealogy website by Who Do You Think You Are? magazine, and once you try it, it's easy to see why.

What really sets TheGenealogist apart is how smart it is. Its keyword search lets you think like a real researcher — mixing names, occupations, addresses and even partial clues — so you can track down ancestors even when records are messy or mis-spelled. And the exclusive Map Explorer lets you see exactly where your family lived, overlaying historic maps onto modern ones so you can literally follow in your ancestors' footsteps. Whether you're just starting out or you've hit a brick wall after years of searching, TheGenealogist has a habit of turning up the people you thought you'd never find.

The Genealogist - UK census, BMDs and more online Clicking the banner will take you to TheGenealogist in a new tab. If you make a purchase, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

Heredis Family Tree

So you've found your ancestors — now what do you do with them? That's where Heredis comes in. It's a beautifully crafted family tree software that's been helping genealogy enthusiasts — and professionals — piece together their family stories since 1994. With over 200 features packed in, you can build your tree, attach photos, documents and sources, then share your family history as printed charts, illustrated books, or even a personal website. It works across everything too — Mac, Windows, iPhone, Android — so your research is always with you wherever you are.

What makes Heredis worth your time is how thoughtfully it's all put together. It connects directly with major archives and FamilySearch for your research, handles GEDCOM files so you can bring in data from anywhere, and even has a free online community with hundreds of millions of shared records to explore. Whether you're just starting out and want something that makes sense straight away, or you're deep into your research and need serious tools, Heredis grows with you. There's even a free demo to try before you buy, so it's easy to give it a go!

Clicking the banner will take you to Heredis for Windows in a new tab. If you make a purchase, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Heredis 2026 — Windows