What is an Ancestral File Number?

An Ancestral File Number (AFN) is a unique identifier for everyone who has a record in Ancestral File. AFN's consist of 4 capital letters or numbers, a dash, and then 2 or 3 more capital letters or numbers. An AFN does not contain any vowels (A, E, I, O, U, or Y). An example is 1BS3-9X1

Where do I get my Ancestral File Number?

A program called FamilySearch uses the Ancestral File, and can be used to find an AFN. Two places where FamilySearch is available are online at www.familysearch.org and at an LDS Family History Center.

A Family History center will likely have an MS-Dos version of FamilySearch, whereas familysearch.org has a more user-friendly version. This page will discuss how to use both the online and the MS-Dos versions of FamilySearch. Both of these should have the same version of Ancestral File (Digital Roots has version 4.19).


Using FamilySearch Online

Note:For privacy reasons, Family Search will give little or no information about someone currently living or recently deceased. Because of this, you may need to visit a Family History Center to get the information you need.

  1. Go to www.familysearch.org.
  2. Click on "Search for Ancestors"
  3. Click on "Ancestral File" to the left.
  4. Enter as much information about the person as possible. Remember to use maiden names where applicable.
  5. Click on "Search"

Clicking on any of the matches found will bring up a page with information about that peron.
The AFN will appear next to the name of the person:
Name with AFN

Any spouses and parents that are in Ancestral file will be listed on the same page. There may be links to the right of an individual saying "Family" or "Pedigree". Clicking on "Family" will open a page showing their family and any children that may be listed. Clicking on "Pedigree" will open up a pedigree of that person.

Any person listed that is still living will be shown as a link saying "Living"

Using MS-Dos FamilySearch

  1. Hit enter at the FamilySearch Title
  2. Choose Ancestral File as your Resource Files
  3. Hit F4 to begin a search
  4. Choose to search by Similar name or exact name
  5. Enter your information (first and last name, with optional birth year).
  6. Hit Enter or F12

An index of possible matches will appear. Use the arrow keys to select the correct person. Hitting Enter will show a brief record of the person. Hit Enter again to show a more complete record. Both records will list the AFN on the upper right side of the record.

Hitting F5 will return you to the index of matches. F6 will bring up a Family Record of the selected person, and F7 will bring up a pedigree of the selected person. At any of these you can use the arrow keys to move or select someone else