Ancestry Merge Trees: A Comprehensive Guide

In the ever-evolving world of genealogy, merging trees is a crucial task that often comes up when working with Ancestry® and Family Tree Maker. Whether you’re combining information from multiple family lines or updating your existing tree with new data, mastering the Ancestry Merge Trees feature can simplify your work and save you valuable time.

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What is Ancestry Merge?

The Ancestry Merge Trees feature allows users to combine two or more family trees into one, helping you consolidate data and uncover relationships that may have previously been overlooked. It’s a powerful tool, especially when you’ve obtained parts of your family tree from other Ancestry users or discovered new ancestors you want to incorporate.

How to Merge Trees on Ancestry

1. Download the Trees
   If the trees you want to merge are on Ancestry, the first step is to download them to your computer as GEDCOM files. This allows you to import them easily into Family Tree Maker for the merging process.
2. Open Family Tree Maker
   Make sure your Family Tree Maker software is up-to-date with the latest version for seamless integration with Ancestry.
3. Import the Trees
   In Family Tree Maker, open your primary tree, then import the downloaded GEDCOM file(s) you wish to merge. This creates a copy of the second tree within the software.
4. Use the ‘Merge Two Files’ Option
   Family Tree Maker allows you to compare both trees before merging. To do this, go to the “File” menu and select “Merge Two Files.” You will see options for reviewing differences and conflicts between the trees, allowing you to decide which information to keep.
5. Resolve Conflicts
   During the merge, it’s likely that you’ll encounter duplicate individuals or conflicting information. Family Tree Maker provides tools to easily review and resolve these discrepancies. Make sure to verify birth dates, death dates, and relationships to ensure accuracy in your final merged tree.
6. Sync with Ancestry
   Once the trees are merged in Family Tree Maker, you can sync the newly combined tree with Ancestry. This ensures that your tree is updated across both platforms, so no data is lost.

Read Full blog: Syncing Merged Tree to Ancestry

Best Practices for Ancestry Merge trees

• Review the source information from both trees before merging to maintain accuracy.
• Backup your trees before starting the merge process. This ensures that you can revert to the original version if any errors occur during the merge.
• Pay attention to duplicate individuals that may appear after the merge. Family Tree Maker has built-in tools to help you merge or delete duplicate entries.
• Use the Ancestry hints that Family Tree Maker provides to confirm relationships and facts after the merge.

Avoid Common Pitfalls

1. Over-merging: Be cautious not to merge trees that are only tangentially related. Merging incorrect branches can lead to confusion and inaccuracies.
2. Skipping verification: Always verify new information from the merged tree before adding it to your main file. Cross-check with original documents where possible.
3. Not backing up: Backing up your trees is essential to avoid accidental data loss during the merging process.

Conclusion

Ancestry Merge trees can be an incredibly useful tool for expanding your family history and creating a more complete genealogy. With the right tools and a clear process, combining trees through Ancestry and Family Tree Maker is straightforward and manageable. Just remember to proceed cautiously, review all data, and back up your files before merging.

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