Have you hit a brick wall in your family history research? The answer might not lie in searching again for your ancestor, but in looking at the people around them.
The FFANs method is short for Family, Friends, Associates and Neighbours. It broadens your focus beyond your direct line. By researching the people your ancestors knew, lived near, or interacted with, you can uncover new clues, solve genealogy research problems and add depth to their stories.
What is the FFANs method in genealogy research?
The FFANs method is a genealogy research technique that involves researching people who had something in common with your family. FFANs could be people who:
- participated in the same events
- shared the same parents or grandparents
- lived in the same or similar locations, or
- had similar experiences.
This kind of research can help you uncover valuable information and overcome research roadblocks. The method is also referred to as ‘collateral research’, but I like the term FFAN because it symbolises opening or broadening your search.
Why expanding your search beyond the direct line works
One of the traps to fall into with family history research is narrowing the target too much. It is tempting to focus on just our direct ancestral line – parents, grandparents, great grandparents and so on. This feels more manageable and lets us focus on the people who mean the most to us.
However, a broader search will increase the information you collect. This information will help you reach stronger and more accurate conclusions, and help you tell more interesting stories about your family history.
It’s not just that your ancestors interacted with these people. It’s that sources about FFANs often contain information about your ancestors. For example, a parent’s death certificate may list all children, or a neighbour’s land record might provide information about your ancestor’s residence.
There are two main types of FFANs – each plays a different role in your research. Here’s what they are and how they work in practice.
Types of FFANs and how they help
There are basically two types of FFANs:
- direct and specific FFANs
- contextual or representational FFANs.
Direct and specific FFANs
These are people who may have sources that mention your ancestor or contain the information you’re looking for in your genealogy research.
For example, the birth certificate of my great grandfather, James Hend, does not state the surname of his mother. However, the birth certificates of his sister Emma and brother Samuel do state her surname. These sources provide specific information about my ancestor, James, that I would not have found if I did not broaden my search to include the wider family.
Contextual or representational FFANs
These are people who have sources that may not specifically mention your person, but are still relevant to their lives.
A good example is my 5x great grandmother, Elizabeth Pulley, a First Fleet convict. She didn’t leave behind a diary or letters, so I can’t learn about her life directly. But I can learn about the experiences of women convicts through sources such as the journal of Ralph Clark. He was Second Lieutenant of Marines on the ship the Friendship – the same ship that Elizabeth was transported on. This is an example of contextual or representational information, provided by a FFAN.
If you’d like to read some First Fleet journals, they are held by the State Library of New South Wales.
Where to find your ancestor’s FFANs
FFANs may appear in the same sources as your ancestor — in censuses, certificates, newspaper articles, land records, probate files.
They may be informants, sponsors, beneficiaries, or simply recorded nearby.
For direct FFANs, start by looking at:
- witnesses listed on certificates
- names mentioned in legal documents
- neighbours recorded near your ancestor in census returns or on parish maps
- family friends who appear in photos or letters.
For contextual FFANs, explore:
- local histories
- libraries for common experiences, such as ship arrivals.
These indirect sources can offer essential clues, especially when your ancestor’s own records are sparse.
Start with a broad list of potential FFANs. Then refine your list based on which FFANs are most likely to help answer your genealogy research questions.
How to apply the FFANs method in genealogy
Next time you’re stuck in your research, remember: the answers might not be in your ancestor’s sources, but in the sources of those around them. Use the FFANs method to broaden your search and deepen your understanding.
Make a list of the people who crossed paths with your ancestor and see where it leads.
Research FFANs, step by step:
- Start with a person of interest
- List their FFANs
- Search for records about those people
- Compare timelines, places, and details
- Look for overlapping evidence
Want help researching FFANs?
‘5 reasons not to limit your research to your direct line’ argues the benefits of FFANs research and how to get started
‘Researching FFANs: How to research beyond your direct line’ digs into who to research and how to find them, and examines a range of applications of the method, such as one-name studies
‘Finding answers in a broader search’ illustrates how the FFANs method helps you solve research problems, with the example of my 5x great grandfather, Captain John Townson
‘Researching FFANs: How should you document a broader search?’ discusses options for recording your FFANs research
For more of my articles about research methods for family history, go to the Research Methods page.
More of my articles about planning your family history are on the Plan page.
For more of my articles about analysing sources, go to the Analyse page.
Read more about improving the quality of your family history in my book, The Good Genealogist.
Post last updated 27 May 2025
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