Full Text Search lets you search every word in certain historical records on Ancestry, not just indexed fields like names, dates, and places. This helps you uncover details and connections that traditional searches may miss.

Historically, most family history records were searchable only through indexes that captured basic details about the main people and key events, such as names, dates, and places. Many other names and details mentioned elsewhere in the document weren’t searchable.

Full Text Search unlocks those details by making all the words inside of documents searchable.

Why use Full Text Search

Full Text Search helps you:

• Find hidden people mentioned in records, such as relatives, witnesses, neighbors, or associates
• Discover relationships described in documents, like heirs listed in wills or probate records
• Learn more about your ancestors’ lives, including occupations, land transactions, events, and community ties
• Save time by searching the full text of records instead of browsing images page by page
  
  

For example, you might find:

• A relative mentioned in a probate record
• A witness connected to your ancestor in a marriage record
• A neighbor or associate mentioned with your ancestor in a land deed
• An occupation or life event described in a court record

These discoveries can provide new insights and help break through research brick walls.

How Full Text Search works

Full Text Search uses AI and handwriting recognition to convert images of historical records into searchable text.

This lets you search the full text of documents, beyond the key details captured in traditional indexes.

Who can use Full Text Search

Full Text Search:

• Is currently in beta
• Is available with an All Access Membership
• May expand to additional members over time

If you have an All Access Membership but don’t see Search full text in the Search menu yet, it will appear automatically when it becomes available to you.

Using Full Text Search

1. From any page on Ancestry, click the Search tab.
2. Select Search full text.
3. Enter a keyword, name, year, or location.
4. Select Search to view your results.
5. If needed, use filters to narrow your results.

You can also refine your search using the tips and techniques below.

Tips for better Full Text Search results

Full Text Search works best when you search for words that may appear in a record.

Try searching for things like:

• names (full, middle, maiden, or alternate names)
• relationships (son, widow, heir, witness)
• locations (counties, towns, landmarks)
• events (marriages, probate, land sales)
• occupations (farmer, carpenter, merchant)
• document types (deeds, wills, court records)
• organizations or institutions (churches, courts, local groups)
  
  

Advanced search techniques

Use the techniques below to make your searches more precise.

• Search exact phrases
  Use quotation marks around keywords to search for an exact phrase.
  Example: "brown eyes" finds records containing the exact phrase brown eyes. 
• Search for spelling variations
  Use a question mark (?) to replace one unknown letter.
  Example: Jens?n finds Jensen and Jenson
• Search for unknown parts of words
  Use an asterisk (*) to replace one or more unknown letters.
  Example: Car* finds car, carpenter, or carriage
• Include or exclude words
  Use + or - to control which words appear or don’t appear in results. 
  Example: +Lincoln -Abraham finds records including Lincoln but excluding Abraham
• Combine details
  Combine details like a surname, location, and year to narrow results.
  Example: Anderson Ohio 1880 finds records about the Anderson family in Ohio around 1880.

For more ways to refine your searches, read Ancestry Search Tips. 

Frequently asked questions

Can Full Text Search find people who aren’t the main subject of a record?
Yes. Full Text Search can find people mentioned inside records, even if they’re not the primary person listed.

For example, you might find someone mentioned as:

• a witness
• a neighbor
• a relative in a probate record
• a buyer or seller in a land record
  
  

What records are included in Full Text Search?
Full Text Search is currently available for selected historical record collections, including records that contain longer passages of text, such as:

• probate records
• land and property records
• court documents
• family history books

Additional record collections will be added over time.

How accurate is Full Text Search?
AI and handwriting recognition are powerful, but not perfect. Some transcripts may contain errors due to handwriting styles or document quality.

Whenever possible, review the original record image to confirm details.

Why don’t I see Full Text Search yet?
Full Text Search is currently in beta and available with an All Access Membership. Access may expand to additional members over time.

If you have an All Access Membership but don’t see Search full text in the Search menu yet, it will appear automatically when it becomes available to you.