Welcome to Māori Ancestry

Māori Ancestry is a research-based website created to help people explore historical Māori names recorded in land, court, and archival sources.

This site brings together thousands of tūpuna names from historical records to support whakapapa research, family enquiries, and personal investigation. It is designed as a starting point for research, not a final authority on identity or whakapapa.

What This Website Is (and Is Not)
What it is
  • A searchable database of historical  tūpuna names

  • A research tool to help identify possible connections

  • A way to locate names that appear in documented records

What it is not
  • It does not confirm identity or whakapapa

  • It does not determine iwi, hapū, or whānau membership

  • It is not a replacement for whānau knowledge or formal records

All information should be verified through your own research, family discussions, and official sources.

Who This Site Is For

This website is intended for:

  • People researching their Māori ancestry

  • Descendants seeking historical name references

  • Researchers, students, and whānau members supporting their research

  • Those beginning their whakapapa journey later in life

No prior research experience is required.

Respect and Responsibility

The names shown on this site come from historically evidentiary New Zealand Parliamentary and Maori Land Court records created in specific legal and social contexts. 

They are shared here for research and educational purposes only.

Users are encouraged to approach this information with care, respect, and an understanding that written records may be incomplete, inconsistent, or context-dependent.