7 ways to preserve your family legacy for the next generation

2-3 minute read

By Niall Cullen | December 19, 2019

Meaningful ideas for leaving a legacy your children and grandchildren will cherish forever.

Creating a legacy that will last for generations doesn't have to be extravagant or expensive. We've compiled a list of quick and easy ways you can get started on preserving your family legacy right now. Your younger relatives will be forever grateful.

1. Build your family tree

Keep your family story intact forever by storing it on a family tree. Your tree documents all the members of your family in one place, making it great for sharing with other relatives. Our online family tree builder is really easy-to-use and it's completely free to get started.

Grow your family tree

Begin by adding the information you already know and our clever hints will instantly help grow your tree outwards and backwards by providing clues to family records. Then, why not go a step further and have your tree printed and framed to make a treasured keepsake for your family?

2. Take a DNA test

Equip your family for the future by giving them an insight into their past with an ancestry DNA test. Taking a DNA test requires very little effort (just a quick saliva sample) but the results can give you and your family a valuable understanding of your origins.

3. Chronicle your family history

Gather all of your family records, letters and heirlooms together and have them ready to pass down through the generations. Billions of genealogy records are now searchable online, including here at Findmypast, making it easier than ever to unearth details of your family's most important milestones.

If you want to turn your findings into a meaningful memento, display them in a scrapbook or family album. Companies like Story Terrace can add a professional touch by interviewing you, compiling your family archives and presenting the finished product in your very own storybook to keep forever.

4. Bury a time capsule

Time capsules are a fun and engaging way to preserve family memories. Fill a container with anything you deem worthwhile (the artefacts we've already listed would be suitable) and bury it somewhere that will be accessible for years to come.

Photo © Tom Richardson (cc-by-sa/2.0)

Then, leave your descendants instructions, explaining when the capsule should be opened and its purpose. Not only will it act as a poignant reminder of your legacy long after you've gone, it could also prove to be a fascinating slice of social history for future family members.

5. Record audio or video

One of the most powerful keepsakes your loved ones can have of you after you're gone is a video or audio recording. You could record a bespoke message or create a compilation from existing family footage you've gathered over time.

Websites and apps like Once I've Gone, RecordMeNow and Safe Beyond are designed to make the process as straightforward as possible.

6. Create a timeline

Similar to a family tree, a timeline plots your most treasured family moments and milestones through the years. Creating your timeline digitally will mean it's accessible by your family forever.

Twile's timeline of Women's rights in Britain

WithTwile, you can add photos and events and easily share your timeline with other relatives.

7. Write a will

Perhaps the first thing you'll consider when preparing to leave your legacy is writing your last will and testament. If you need help on that front, your ancestors could be an unexpected source of inspiration.

An extract from our collection of Irish Original Will Registers, 1858-1920

Find out what your forebears bequeathed in our extensive collection of wills and probate records.

As you grow older, you inevitably start thinking of how you'll be remembered. What legacy will you leave behind? Share your thoughts with the Findmypast Community on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.