The 4-Part AI Prompt Approach Every Family Historian Needs to Know

Are you using AI tools for genealogy research but getting mediocre results? You’re not alone. When I first started incorporating AI into my family history research, I struggled to get helpful responses. The problem wasn’t the AI—it was how I communicated with it.

After experimenting and refining my approach, I’ve developed a four-part strategy that consistently produces valuable insights for breaking through genealogy brick walls. Here’s my method for creating effective AI prompts that turns an AI platform into a genealogy research assistant.

Why Your AI Prompts Matter in Genealogy Research

AI platforms like ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity can be powerful allies in your genealogy toolkit—but only if you know how to “speak their language.” Think of working with AI as having a conversation with a genealogy colleague who needs clear context to help you.

The quality of information you receive directly correlates to the quality of your prompts. A vague request yields vague answers, while a strategic prompt delivers actionable insights.

4 Steps to Create Effective AI Prompts for Genealogy Research

Are you using AI tools for genealogy research but getting mediocre results? You’re not alone. When I first started incorporating AI into my family history research, I struggled to get helpful responses. The problem wasn’t the AI—it was how I communicated with it.

After experimenting and refining my approach, I’ve developed a four-part strategy that consistently produces valuable insights for breaking through genealogy brick walls. Here’s my method for creating effective AI prompts that will transform your family history research.

The 4-Part Strategy for Crafting Effective Genealogy AI Prompts

Let me walk you through my approach using a real example from my research on my third great-grandmother, Joanna Barrett, who remains one of my most challenging brick walls.

1. Define the AI’s Role

Start by telling the AI exactly what role you want it to play in your research including the level of expertise you need it to adopt. This sets the foundation for all subsequent interactions.

Example: “Act as an expert-level genealogy researcher with 20+ years of experience to help me research my third great-grandmother born in Ireland.”

You can make this even more specific by requesting expertise in a particular region, time period, or research methodology:

• “Act as an expert-level North Carolina genealogy researcher….”
• “Act as an expert in 19th-century Irish immigration records…”
• “Act as an expert genealogist specializing in female ancestor research…”

This role definition helps the AI understand the perspective from which it should analyze your information and form its responses.

2. Provide Thorough Context

Next, share what you already know (or think you know) about your ancestor(s). The more relevant details you provide, the better equipped the AI is to help you.

For my example with Joanna Barrett, I included:

• Born in Ireland around 1824
• Immigrated to America between 1849-1851
• Port of entry unknown
• Had a daughter named Joanna born in 1851 (likely in Virginia or DC)
• By 1855, married to WR Wilmouth and living in Surry County, North Carolina
• Was the only Irish immigrant in that county

Don’t worry about overwhelming the AI with information—these tools can handle extensive context. Include names, dates, locations, family connections, and any conflicting information or research gaps you’ve identified.

3. Make Specific Requests

After establishing the role and context, clearly state what you want the AI to do. Be precise about the output you’re seeking.

Examples:

• “Create a research plan to investigate Joanna’s earlier life in Ireland”
• “Identify the most likely Irish counties of origin based on this information”
• “Analyze potential reasons why she might have settled in Surry County with no other Irish immigrants”

The more specific your request, the more targeted and useful the response will be. Vague questions like “Help me with my research” will yield generic advice.

4. Layer Your Prompts

This is where the conversation aspect mentioned earlier becomes crucial. Once you receive an initial response, build upon it with follow-up prompts that dig deeper into specific aspects of the AI’s suggestions.

My Follow-up Examples:

• “Let’s focus on those immigration records first. What was the most likely port of entry for that time period? Please list specific databases with URLs that might contain these records and note which record collections have survived.”
• “Regarding your suggestion about possible connections in Surry County: please give me theories on how and why Joanna ended up in North Carolina with no Irish population nearby.”

Each layer adds depth to your research while building on the context you’ve already established. This approach is far more effective than starting a new conversation for each question.

A Real-World Example: Breaking Down My Joanna Barrett Brick Wall

Here’s how I applied this strategy to research my third great-grandmother, Joanna Barrett:

Initial Prompt: “Act as an expert-level genealogy researcher to help me research my third great-grandmother. Here’s what I know: Her name was Joanna, possibly Barrett (maiden name unknown). She was born in Ireland around 1824 and immigrated to America between 1849-1851. Her port of entry is unknown. Her daughter, also named Joanna, was born in 1851, probably in Virginia or DC. By 1855, elder Joanna was married to WR Wilmouth and living in Surry County, North Carolina, where no other Irish immigrants are found. Please create a research plan to investigate her earlier life and immigration path.”

The AI responded with a detailed, step-by-step research plan that included:

• Strategies for identifying her port of entry
• Techniques for tracking her movements from arrival to North Carolina
• Approaches for researching her origins in Ireland

Follow-up Prompt: “This is great. Let’s focus on those immigration records first. What was the most likely port of entry for Irish immigrants during 1849-1851? Please list specific databases with their URLs that might contain these records and note which record collections have survived from this period.”

The AI provided an analysis of potential ports, survival rates of various record collections, and specific databases to search, complete with links.

Next Layer: “One key question is how Joanna ended up in Surry County, North Carolina, as the only Irish-born resident. Please give me theories on how and why an Irish immigrant woman might settle in a location with no Irish population in the 1850s.”

With this last prompt, AI generated several hypotheses about employment opportunities, family connections, religious affiliations, and other factors that might explain her unusual migration pattern.

Tips for Maximizing Your AI Genealogy Research

Based on my experience, here are some additional tips for getting the most from AI in your genealogy work:

• Tell it what you know and don’t know) – Including uncertainties helps the AI understand the limitations of your current research.
• Use AI to generate multiple perspectives – If you’re stuck, ask for different approaches or alternative interpretations of your evidence. I frequently use AI to brainstorm in this manner.
• Request prioritization – Ask the AI to rank research strategies based on likelihood of success or resource availability.
• Save your conversations – These platforms allow you to save or export your conversations for future reference.
• Verify AI suggestions – Always cross-check information and strategies against reliable genealogy sources.

AI Limitations for Genealogists

Remember, as I discussed AI Won’t Find Your Great-Grandmother’s Maiden Name—But Here Are 4 Ways It Will Improve Your Family Research, these tools have specific limitations:

• AI acts as your research assistant or strategist, not your researcher—you’ll still need to access the genealogy databases yourself.
• Your expertise in evaluating contradictory evidence remains essential. AI cannot replace YOU.
• The human connection to your ancestors’ stories can’t be replicated.

AI serves best as your research assistant, helping you plan and strategize while you maintain control of the actual detective work.

Start Creating Better AI Prompts Today

The difference between mediocre and excellent AI assistance comes down to how you structure your prompts. By defining the AI’s role, providing thorough context, making specific requests, and layering your prompts, you’ll transform these tools into valuable genealogy research companions.

Try this four-part approach with your current brick wall ancestor. You might be surprised by the fresh perspectives and research strategies you discover.

What genealogy challenge will you tackle with AI? I’d love to hear about your experiences in the comments below.