Unwrapping the Past: Top 10 Holiday Gifts for Genealogists!

‘Tis the season to be jolly and delve into the world of family history! If you have a genealogist in your life (or if you’re one yourself), you know the joy that comes from uncovering the stories of ancestors. This holiday season, consider these ten holiday gifts for genealogists. From tech tools to personalized treasures, this list has something for every family tree enthusiast.

*Note: These are not affiliate links, and I do not earn any money by sharing what I think are great gift ideas that will put you on the nice list!

1. DNA Test Kit: Expand Your Family Tree with New DNA Matches

DNA testing allows testers to discover ancestral origins and to connect with relatives. Even if the genealogist in your life has already taken a DNA test, consider stocking up while the tests are on sale for the holidays. Your genealogist likely has a list of people they’d like to take a DNA test, either from an earlier generation or from a different branch of the family who could help them prove a relationship.

Companies like AncestryDNA, FamilyTreeDNA, and MyHeritage provide detailed insights into heritage and family connections. I recommend testing at AncestryDNA, because they have the largest database. Plus, you can transfer your raw DNA from Ancestry to FamilyTreeDNA or MyHeritage, and increase your match list even more. If you’re looking to specifically test for your maternal or paternal side, turn to FamilyTreeDNA.

Ancestry DNA MyHeritageDNA FamilyTreeDNA

Price Range: $40–$60.00 for an autosomal DNA test at holiday sale prices.

2. Online Course or Workshop: Sharpen Research Skills

Give the gift of knowledge with an online course or workshop focused on genealogy research. A number of platforms offer courses for all skill levels (like the National Genealogical Society). But my favorite on-line learning platform is Legacy Family Tree Webinars. Hands-down, it offers the widest variety of topics and presenters. Many webinars are available for free for a limited time, but subscribers get access to the entire catalog on demand.

Price Range: $50.00

3. Genealogy Conference or Institute

If your genealogist is ready to take their education to the next level, consider gifting a genealogy conference or institute. Many conferences are now offered on-demand, virtually, or a combination. If physically getting away isn’t possible, look for the many virtual or on-demand options. Prices for these vary, from free for Roots Tech (virtual), to $99 for in-person, to several hundred dollars for a week-long in-person institute. This is probably a gift that is not best given as a surprise. Check to see what travel and logistics may have an impact, and then review the number of conferences and institutes available.

Price Range: Free–$1,000

4. Gift a Genealogical/Historical Society Membership: Expand the Search

Many genealogy enthusiasts crave access to specific records or databases, many of which are available only to members. Gifting a membership to a local society in a location where your genealogist does a lot of research is a great idea. You could also consider regional, state societies, or even the National Genealogical Society. Each society offers member benefits, often including newsletters, members-only content and education, and the ability to connect with other researchers with similar interests, allowing them to explore new resources and unearth even more family history gems.

5. Subscription to a Genealogy Library: Stay Informed

OK, I love books. I love collecting books. But the fact is, they take up a lot of space and the ability to access a digital and text-searchable copy any time I need it has a lot of benefits. So, this is something that I am personally going to ask for this Christmas.

The Genealogy Publishing Company now offers My GPC Library. This is a subscription-based service giving access to over 800 digital genealogy books. For a limited time, National Genealogical Society members can save even more on My GPC Library.

Price Range: $45+

6. Genealogy Software: Organize and Explore

Most serious genealogists have a subscription to genealogy a genealogy website, like Ancestry.com or MyHeritage. These sites allow genealogists to organize data, access vast databases, and collaborate with others. They’re the perfect tool to streamline research and build a comprehensive family tree. However, they can be expensive!

You can buy your genealogist a gift subscription to Ancestry.com, at a significant discount. Even if they already have a subscription, I’ve heard people have success transferring their existing subscription to a gift subscription, without losing their tree or any attached records. The same email login has to be used, and the timing of the gift subscription start date has to line up with the existing renewal, so you may want to call the company for support (or check out Facebook genealogy forums for current discussions for detailed instructions).

Another option is to purchase genealogy software. Personally, I use Roots Magic. I can download my online tree and all of the attached documents, and create my own backup. Plus, it offers a lot of features, like maps, charts, and reports that just aren’t available from a subscription service.

Price Range: $40–$400.00

7. Archival Storage Solutions: Preserve the Past

Many genealogists are also the “keepers” of the family records (aka hoarders). Help your genealogist keep their precious finds in pristine condition with archival storage boxes and folders. These acid-free containers protect photographs, letters, and other documents from deterioration over time. I have ordered from Gaylord Archival in the past and had a very good experience.

I don’t see that they offer a gift card on their website, what about offering a bonus gift? Offer to spend some time with your genealogist to review their collection and determine what archival storage solutions best fit their needs.

Price Range: $10.00–$300.00+

8. Tech Tools

Almost as much as genealogists love education, we also love new tools to make our research and organization simpler. My top tech recommendation is a portable hard drive, at least 2 terabytes. I recommend that you backup your tree and all of the documents on a cloud-based server (I use Google Drive), but I also have a physical backup on my external hard drive. I admit that I put this on my calendar to physically back up once a month. I’m on top of my game if I do this quarterly.

If your genealogist does a lot of family history writing primarily on a laptop, they may appreciate a wireless keyboard with a number/calculator pad. Several word-processing shortcuts are much simpler when you have the number pad (en-dash and em-dashes, anyone!).

Finally, a portable scanner may be a beneficial tech tool. But, honestly, my iPhone has a better camera now than most of the scanners on the market. I use a free scanning app and it does a fantastic job.

9. Customized Family History Book: Document the Journey

Often, people think genealogy is about collecting names and dates of dead people. But genealogists know that it is so much more than that. It’s about telling our ancestors’ stories through the facts we can collect. There are a lot of ways to compile these facts and stretch your creative side. Companies like Legacy Books or Mixbook allow you to design a custom family history book that can be cherished for generations.

Or, if your genealogist is not so creative, like me, they may enjoy starting with pre-made notebook pages. I recently met Carly from Family Tree Notebooks. She creates beautiful digital forms that you can download to create your family book. She offers just about every type of notebook page imaginable!

Price Range: $10+

10. Research Trip Gift Card: Explore Ancestral Homelands

Finally, the ultimate goal for most genealogists is to visit archives, libraries, and historical sites in person. We love to actually set foot in the places their ancestors did. You can help fuel the spirit of adventure by contributing to your genealogist’s research trip fund. Whether it’s traveling to visit a library, explore local archives, or visit ancestral homelands, travel gift cards will make their journey even more memorable. Consider gas, airline, hotel, Air B&B, or VRBO gift cards.

This holiday season, surprise the genealogist in your life with a gift that celebrates their passion. These gifts are sure to make their eyes light up. Happy holidays and happy researching!

What other ideas do you have for the genealogist in your life?