Searching for your ancestors ...

The basic definition, as found online in The Free Dicitonary,

ge·ne·al·o·gy (jn-l-j, -l-, jn-)
n. pl. ge·ne·al·o·gies
1. A record or table of the descent of a person, family, or group from an ancestor or ancestors; a family tree.
2. Direct descent from an ancestor; lineage or pedigree.
3. The study or investigation of ancestry and family histories.

Genealogy begins with identifying facts about your parents. From a few basic details, such as date of birth, city of birth, date of death or place of death, public records can yield much more information about where you came from and how your parents grew up. The search for one's hertiage can be the greatest mystery, but be the most rewarding. Beyond parents - grandparents, great grandparents and children lead to a family treasure.

A few websites that can help you get started include: www.ancestry.com and www.familysearch.org.