Ancestry.com

Ancestry.com LLC
Company type	Private
Industry	Genealogy, Genetic testing
Founded	1983
Headquarters	Lehi, Utah, United States
Area served	Worldwide (including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Sweden, United Kingdom)
Key people	Howard Hochhauser (President & CEO from February 1, 2025), Deb Liu (CEO until 2025)
Products	Ancestry.com, AncestryDNA, Archives.com, Find a Grave, Fold3 (Forces War Records UK), Newspapers.com, Rootsweb, AncestryProGenealogists, Geneanet, Know Your Pet DNA
Owner	The Blackstone Group
Number of employees	1400 (2022)
Website	www.ancestry.com

Ancestry.com LLC stands as a prominent American enterprise specializing in genealogy, with its main office situated in Lehi, Utah. Recognized as the world's largest commercial genealogy firm, it manages an extensive international network of websites dedicated to genealogical data, historical archives, and genetic ancestry. Since December 2020, Ancestry.com has been under the ownership of The Blackstone Group, following a $4.7 billion purchase, solidifying its influential position within the genealogy and DNA testing sectors.

By 2022, the company expanded its repository to include 30 billion historical records, marking a threefold increase from the 10 billion records available in 2018. As of 2018, Ancestry reported having 3 million subscribers paying for access and had distributed 18 million DNA testing kits. By 2023, it had grown into the leading global provider of consumer DNA testing services, boasting over 25 million users and offering genetic testing across 128 nations.

Ancestry’s operational framework encompasses its flagship website alongside localized platforms tailored for markets such as Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. Its broad array of offerings includes Ancestry.com, Ancestry DNA, Archives.com, Find a Grave, Fold3, Newspapers.com, Rootsweb, AncestryProGenealogists, Forces War Records UK, Geneanet, and Know Your Pet DNA.

Employing close to 1,400 staff members and generating revenues surpassing $1 billion in 2022, Ancestry continues to expand its global footprint and market leadership through strategic management and acquisitions within the genealogy and genetic testing industries.

1983

Ancestry Publishing was established in 1983 with a focus on producing printed genealogical materials. Its early portfolio included more than 40 family history magazines and various genealogy reference publications.

1990–1999

In 1990, Paul Brent Allen and Dan Taggart—graduates of Brigham Young University—founded Infobases to distribute Latter-day Saints (LDS) literature via floppy disks. Starting by selling their products directly from their vehicle, Infobases experienced rapid growth and was listed among Inc. magazine’s 500 fastest-growing companies by 1994. Their initial CD release was the LDS Collectors Edition in 1995 priced at $299.95; an online version followed that same year. The official launch of Ancestry.com occurred in 1996.

On January 1, 1997, Western Standard Publishing under CEO Joseph A. Cannon acquired Ancestry, Inc., which published Ancestry magazine and genealogy books. Later that year in July, Allen and Taggart repurchased Western Standard's stake in Ancestry, Inc., appointing Brad Pelo as president and CEO. During this period, Ancestry, Inc. also acquired Bookcraft, Inc., a publisher specializing in works by LDS Church leaders—broadening its offerings in both CD-based and online formats. Alan Ashton—the founder of WordPerfect—served as chairman.

From July 1997 onward, Allen and Taggart operated Ancestry, Inc. independently from Infobases and developed one of the largest subscription-based online genealogy databases.

In April 1999, Infobases sold the Bookcraft brand along with its print catalog to competitor Deseret Book to concentrate on its internet ventures: Ancestry.com and MyFamily.com. Deseret Book integrated Bookcraft’s LDS Collectors Library into its own GospeLink product line.

MyFamily.com was launched in December 1998 and rapidly achieved one million registered users within just 140 days. The company secured over $90 million in venture capital funding and rebranded from Ancestry.com, Inc. to MyFamily.com, Inc. by November 1999. The organization then operated three genealogy sites: Ancestry.com, FamilyHistory.com, and MyFamily.com. Reported revenues were approximately $62 million in 2002 and rose to $99 million by 2003.

2000–2009

In March 2004, the company broadened its call center capacity by inaugurating a new site in Provo, Utah, designed to support roughly 700 agents. Heritage Makers was acquired by MyFamily.com in September 2005. On November 5, 2009, Ancestry.com debuted on the NASDAQ stock exchange under the ticker ACOM, offering 7.4 million shares at $13.50 each through an initial public offering backed by leading financial firms such as Morgan Stanley and Bank of America.

2010–2019

In 2010, Ancestry divested its book publishing division to Turner Publishing Company and established a San Francisco office dedicated to engineering, product innovation, and marketing for advanced technology initiatives. The company introduced mobile applications for both Android and iOS platforms in 2011.

Due to concerns related to identity theft, Ancestry limited access to the Social Security Death Index in December 2011. In March 2012, it expanded its genetic services by acquiring DNA-related assets from GeneTree.

September 2012 saw the launch of Ancestry’s European headquarters in Dublin, Ireland, which included a call center along with product development, marketing, and engineering teams. In October of the same year, a private equity group consisting of Permira Advisers LLP and Spectrum Equity purchased Ancestry.com for an estimated $1.6 billion; simultaneously, Ancestry acquired the photo digitization platform 1000Memories.

The company took ownership of Find a Grave in 2013 and reintroduced the service in 2017. On July 16, 2015, AncestryHealth was unveiled with Cathy A. Petti named as Chief Health Officer. That year also marked a collaboration with Google’s Calico to investigate human longevity.

In April 2016, equity stakes in Ancestry.com were acquired by GIC Private Limited and Silver Lake Partners, with the company’s valuation surpassing $3 billion by 2017. By June 2017, all applications and data were migrated to Amazon Web Services (AWS) to improve scalability and operational efficiency.

An advertisement featuring an interracial couple from the slavery era sparked controversy in Utah; it was subsequently withdrawn with an official apology in April 2019. By November 2018, Ancestry had amassed over 10 billion digitized records and boasted more than three million subscribers.

After law enforcement used GEDmatch data to solve the Golden State Killer case in late 2018, both Ancestry.com and 23andMe implemented policies restricting police access without proper legal warrants to safeguard user privacy. In 2021, data from Ancestry.com played a role in identifying remains linked to the George Seitz murder investigation.

2020–present

In August 2020, The Blackstone Group announced its acquisition of Ancestry for $4.7 billion, a transaction finalized in December of that year.

February 2021 brought a leadership change as Deb Liu, formerly of Facebook, was appointed CEO effective March 1, signaling a strategic focus on expanding business growth.

Ancestry extended its international footprint by acquiring French genealogy firm Geneanet in November 2021, strengthening its position within the European market.

In March 2023, Ancestry secured a contract to digitize more than three million British Army service records scheduled for release between 2024 and 2029. This initiative supports the Ministry of Defence’s largest transfer of military archives to The National Archives UK and enhances Ancestry’s competitive edge in historical record services.

The Board has chosen CFO and COO Howard Hochhauser to assume the role of President & CEO starting February 1, 2025; he will remain on the board while the search for a new CFO is underway.

AncestryDNA

AncestryDNA, operating as a division of Ancestry LLC, provides direct-to-consumer genetic testing focused on genealogy. Clients submit DNA samples which are analyzed to determine familial connections and ancestral origins, complementing the company’s suite of products and services.

Previously, the company offered tests targeting paternal Y-chromosome and maternal mitochondrial DNA, which were discontinued in June 2014. Currently, AncestryDNA emphasizes autosomal DNA testing supported by scientific publications that explain its methodologies. By mid-2020, the database had grown to encompass 18 million processed DNA kits, highlighting its substantial expansion and influence within the consumer genetics sector.

The platform is frequently utilized by individuals conceived via donors to locate biological family members, thereby adding a social dimension to its business approach. Laboratory testing is performed by Quest Diagnostics, ensuring adherence to professional quality standards.

AncestryDNA also invites users to participate in the Human Diversity Project, a research collaboration aimed at advancing knowledge about population history and health—demonstrating the strategic use of genetic data for research partnerships.

Additional fee-based services include reports on DNA traits related to physical attributes and some health-related information, broadening revenue opportunities within the genetic testing industry.

Know Your Pet DNA

Starting in 2023, Ancestry expanded its genetic testing offerings to include pets, initially focusing on dogs. This service compares pet DNA against a database of over 400 breeds, enhancing the company's portfolio in the consumer genetics market.

Find a Grave

On September 30, 2013, Ancestry.com acquired Find a Grave, a platform that provides burial records important for genealogical research. This acquisition fits within Ancestry’s strategy to expand its historical records collection. To improve user experience and engagement, a dedicated mobile application was launched in March 2014.

Fold3

Fold3 is a subscription-based service specializing in military genealogy, granting access to extensive military documents including personal narratives and photographs. In April 2023, it was renamed Forces War Records for the British & Commonwealth markets as part of Ancestry’s regional branding efforts. The site also features unique archival content such as the Guion Miller Roll, an Eastern Cherokee tribal census.

Footnote

In 2010, Ancestry.com acquired iArchives, Inc., along with its Footnote.com service, integrating valuable digitization technology into its offerings. The Footnote brand was transitioned to Fold3 in 2011 to unify military record services under one brand, enhancing market position and operational efficiency.

Geneanet

On August 31, 2021, Ancestry.com completed the acquisition of Geneanet after unsuccessful negotiations with Filae, an emerging competitor. Geneanet.org continues operating independently but now provides access to numerous databases indexed by Ancestry through Premium subscriptions, thereby expanding its service range and market penetration.

Archives.com

In 2012, Ancestry acquired Archives.com for $100 million. This platform, focusing on census and vital records, reported possessing 11.8 billion images including photographs, newspapers, census data, and vital records as of November 2023, thereby enhancing Ancestry’s genealogical data offerings.

Newspapers.com

Ancestry introduced Newspapers.com in 2012 as an independent service dedicated to digitized newspapers. By 2024, it provided searchable access to more than 25,000 newspapers spanning ten countries. Its primary rival, NewspaperArchive, boasts over 16,000 newspapers dating back to 1607. Both services expand their archives through collaborations with libraries, publishers, and historical institutions, enabling efficient digitization outside slower government initiatives and solidifying their positions in the digital newspaper archive sector.

RootsWeb

Acquired by Ancestry in June 2000, RootsWeb is a complimentary genealogy community offering forums, mailing lists, and various family history tools. Users can upload GEDCOM files to WorldConnect, which are searchable on both RootsWeb and Ancestry platforms.

A data breach in December 2017 compromised 300,000 RootsWeb user credentials, including 55,000 linked to Ancestry.com accounts. By 2024, RootsWeb transitioned to a read-only mode, disabling user login capabilities.

We Remember

Launched by Ancestry in November 2017, We Remember is a no-cost online memorial service that allows users to commemorate loved ones by sharing photos and videos.

Forces War Records

Ancestry acquired Forces War Records on May 24, 2021. This UK-focused military genealogy specialist provides transcribed records from British sources. Despite previous criticism regarding transparency and subscription models, the acquisition aimed to broaden Ancestry’s UK military record offerings.

Previously perceived as primarily US-focused through Fold3, Ancestry utilized Forces War Records to strengthen its presence in the UK market. Since April 2023, Forces War Records has incorporated Fold3’s datasets and infrastructure under its own brand name, delivering subscribers access to both transcriptions and original document images for the first time.

This relaunch established Forces War Records as a leading premium military genealogy portal. The addition of 500,000 records in July 2023 further enhanced its competitive standing in the military records domain.

Past products

Family Origins was initially licensed to Parsons Technology and passed through several owners before Genealogy.com discontinued it in 2003.
Family Tree Maker was sold to Software MacKiev in 2016 and continues as an active genealogy software product.
Genealogy.com, a genealogy research site, was acquired by MyFamily.com in 2003.
Generations Family Tree (originally called "Reunion for Windows") expanded the company’s genealogy software lineup.
MyFamily.com allowed users to create private family websites but closed its Bellevue development office in 2010 and was ultimately shut down by Ancestry in 2014 due to unresolved data download issues.
The ROOTS software series developed by CommSoft ran from the 1980s until 1997 and was an early pioneer in genealogy software with versions for HDOS, CP/M, MS-DOS, and Windows platforms.
Ultimate Family Tree (UFT) was another genealogy software product that contributed to the company’s portfolio.

External links

Official Ancestry Corporate Website | https://www.ancestry.com/corporate