As he was growing up in Chocz, a small town in Poland, Leszek Szkudlarek was completely unaware that Jews had once lived in that town — much less been a significant part of its history from the mid- to late 18th century until 1942. Now the priest of the Roman Catholic Parish in Paczków, Poland, Leszek decided to research the history of his hometown and write a book about it. After discovering that the history of the Jewish community of Chocz and its great contribution to local history was erased after most of its members perished in the Holocaust, he decided to dedicate his book to commemorati ..read more

Have you ever been told you’re the spitting image of your mother? Family resemblances have fascinated us for generations. Our DNA holds the secrets to our physical features, but the expression of those genes can lead to striking similarities or vast differences between family members. Check out the uncanny resemblance between Kelly Bond and her grandmother Wilhelmina Thomas, captured in this photo shared by Kelly: As Mother’s Day approaches this year, we’re excited to bring back our look-alike competition! Share your look alike photos with the women in your family and get a chance to win a My ..read more

We are thrilled to announce the publication of three new and important historical records collections: New York City birth, marriage, and death records. These robust collections are some of the most important vital records in the U.S. available online today, and MyHeritage hosts the only index for these records that includes scanned images. After a year-long process of creating this brand new index, we are glad to share the collections with you. New York City has played a pivotal role in the story of the United States as a nation and in the personal stories of countless American families. If y ..read more

Anzac Day offers a great opportunity to honor the legacies of Australian and New Zealander family members who fought for freedom. To make this Anzac Day even more meaningful, MyHeritage is providing free access to all 130 million records from Australia and New Zealand on MyHeritage from April 23–28, 2024. Search free Australian and New Zealand records on MyHeritage Usually, a Complete, Data, or Omni plan is required to view these records, but for a limited time only, you can search and view them for free. Note that you’ll be asked to create a free MyHeritage account to access these free record ..read more

Have you ever wondered what it was like to walk the decks of history’s most massive naval war machines? Perhaps you even had an ancestor who served on the crew of a vessel — or commanded it! Today, you can start your own virtual naval career with World of Warships, a free-to-play online action game — and we’re teaming up with them to offer the chance to win free MyHeritage DNA test kits and year-long Complete plans in two separate contests! To participate in either contest, you’ll first need to create a free account on World of Warships. Take advantage of the following World of Warships Bonus ..read more

For almost 65 years, Kenneth Reimund Höfer of Koblenz, Germany searched for information about his biological father. He knew very little, and some of what he did know was painful. Still, he never gave up. Kenneth grew up knowing that his father, Raymond Leroy Duke, had served in the U.S. Air Force and was stationed in Germany during the 1950s. He met Kenneth’s mother, Margarete, under these circumstances. However, he sustained an injury and was sent back to the U.S. — leaving behind a pregnant girlfriend who didn’t know what had happened to him. Kenneth’s mother, Margarete, as a young woman ..read more

Did you know that if you started building your family tree using another service, you can import it to MyHeritage as a GEDCOM file and enjoy all the benefits we offer? There’s no need to start from scratch. Importing your tree is quick, easy, and free.  Import your family tree to MyHeritage for free If you’ve hit brick walls using other services, especially if you’ve struggled to get past the immigrant generation and research your roots in other countries, MyHeritage offers some unique features that could help you take your research to the next level. How to import your family tree to MyH ..read more

Are you ready to delve into the mysteries of your family’s past? Now’s your chance with our exclusive MyHeritage DNA sale! For a limited time only, you can unlock the secrets of your roots and connect with relatives you never knew existed. Order your kit today!  At MyHeritage, we believe that everyone deserves to know where they come from and the stories that shaped their family’s history. Our DNA test offers a simple and affordable way to discover your roots and uncover fascinating insights into your heritage. But don’t just take our word for it – hear the incredible story of Teresa, who ..read more

Teresa Scharf was adopted by an American couple from Madera Baby Center in Athens when she was 7 months old. The American couple who adopted her at the time were both in the U.S. Navy, serving in Kénitra Port Lyautey, Morocco. “My adopted father was in the military until I was 12 years old,” says Teresa. “I had the privilege of traveling very often, because that was during the Cold War. He got orders for a new duty station every 18 months, so we went to Midway Island in the South Pacific from there. We went to Japan and I attended first grade. From there, we moved to Turkey and other places. W ..read more

In March 2024, we published 71 million historical records in 17 historical record collections from the United States, Australia, Denmark, England, France, Northern Ireland, and Wales. The records include birth and baptism records, marriage and divorce records, death and burial records, census records, immigration and emigration records, passenger lists, and telephone directories. Some of the collections also include images. Search them to discover a family treasure! Here are more details about each of the collections. Collection Name Collection Description Number of Records Link to Search ..read more