The Search For FAMILY HISTORY Begins With Names

What’s in a name? For anyone, a name defines who a person is. It is how one is addressed, how one signs, and the central feature that differentiates one from the other person. To the family history searcher, one’s name is a concrete marker that tells of the place where one comes from, a bit of history across time.

Names are important because it points to the general direction of the origins of the owners. Constructing a family tree becomes a tad easier because now it has a place to start – the family name.

A broad understanding of the origins, characteristics, and nature of names and name-giving is needed to undertake the search for your family history.

History of names

Until about a thousand years ago, people got by with just one name. And that was all one actually needed in those times where only a few ventured more than a few miles away from their homes. Even members of the royalty did not complain about having only one name each.

Later, as the population grew, people began the practice of further distinguishing a person from his friends and neighbors. “Paul the son of Robert” is called such because he is different from “Paul the farmer”. “John the smith” is called to distinguish him from “John the son of Thomas”. Around the year 1500, most surnames (the affiliation to the first name) became inherited and the practice is thankfully still used today.

For the people who come from Europe, most of their surnames drew meanings from their occupations, their father’s name, the place where they came from, or some descriptive words.

Names from occupations

Someone named MILLER essentially worked in a place where they ground grains to flour. BISHOP could be somebody working for the Bishop, and CARTER could be a maker or a driver of carts. Today, however, it is hard to accurately pinpoint names and their meanings because of changes in pronunciation or spelling.

Names from the fathers

Different countries have different variations on how the father’s name is inherited by the sons. The Irish “O”, the Gaelic “Mac”, the Norman “Fitz” are some of them. Examples are Johnson (the son of John), MacDonald (the son of Donald), Fitzgerald (the son of Gerald), and O’Connor (the son of Connor).

Names from places 

Ancient people usually named newcomers with the name of the place where they came from. A guy who came from the east had EASTWOOD for a surname. CHURCHILL came from a place near a church on a hill. BROOKS is someone who lived near a creek or brook.

Nicknames

Sometime in the Middle Ages, people created pet names for their neighbors and friends based on personality or looks. These names evolved and later became surnames. Examples are Michael ARMSTRONG, John GOODMAN, and Peter WHITE.

Wrong spelling 

It should not surprise a family historian going over old records to find errors in spelling and other inconsistencies in the names. Such problems certainly make the job of a family historian difficult, but not impossible.

There were many reasons for these problems. First, spellings were not standardized before. Anyone could spell their names every which way they wanted or how they heard them.

Sometimes, the problem was in pronunciation. Or it could be in the handwriting where the ornate old style had some different letters looking the same. (Capital letters L and S used to be written the same way and the old writing of letters A, O and U were almost identical.)

Importance of names

Surnames are usually given more attention because it is inherited. Even if it may be altered and corrupted in many ways through the passage of time, some original form is retained somehow.

Given names are also important in a way that they were given intentionally by the parents and represent their special thoughts and feelings for the individual. While they may not have the same weight of attention given to surnames, they still merit careful study because they can have in them valuable intimations about your family history.

---

---

Finding Your Roots: African American GENEALOGY

It's always fun finding out who you really are and the internet is one of the best tools available to do this. Although you may consider that you already know about yourself, the internet can be a very useful tool to let you find out a little bit of history about your family. You have to consider that it's a great thing to know about your family's past and know about relatives you didn’t even know existed.

The internet has numerous genealogy websites that you can use to find out about your family, who you were related to, and what kind of person you are. Some people use these websites for many reasons. Some say to find out about themselves and some even find out about their family just for fun. Whatever your reasons are, you have to consider that finding out about where you came from can be quite a thrilling experience. Just imagine, you may be related to Martin Luther King Jr. and you and your family don't even know about it.

Or, it can also be quite a surprise if you find out that you are a distant cousin of a famous African American superstar athlete, such as Kobe Bryant or Tiger Woods.

You have to consider that traces of your family ancestry can be lost in time. There are a lot of reasons why a family's history die out. Some were affected by quarrels inside the family circle and others were affected by historical events that separated them from other members of the family. This is why some people retrace their ancestry in order to find out what happened to their long lost relatives. 

Although the internet doesn’t contain all the necessary information about your family and the essential records, you have to consider that it is a useful tool to use in order to point you to the right direction. This will save you a lot of time finding those different vital records, such as marriage, death, and birth records.

African Americans have played a vital role in the United States of America's history. They suffered from slavery, years of war and some migrated from Africa. If you are an African American and you wish to know more about your family's history, you should try and find it on the internet. It will point you to where you should find the essential documents and guide you in obtaining seemingly unobtainable documents.

Although it is a fact that the path to your family's history may seem like a rough path, you have to consider that knowing about your past will give you that sense of pride in knowing about your proud family history.

As you can see, it is always fun to know about your family's ancestry. It will not only give you detailed reports on what happened to all your lost relatives all these years but it will also tell you who they are and what they achieved in life. Who knows, maybe you are a distant relative of a world-famous African American.

---

---

Waving Errors Off in FAMILY HISTORY Search

Census taker visits a family living in a caravan, Netherlands 1925

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Census is one of the many resources you can utilize in having your family history search. For those who are not thoroughly familiar with a census, basically, it is a list containing all the population members of a certain area or locality. Apart from the actual account of the number of inhabitants census also indicates vital records which include names, citizenship status, and age.

It should be made clear that census offers one of the crystal clear looks of family background. But it is not a perfect mechanism as errors may sweep in the midst of counting and documenting. Here are some tips on how to ward off certain errors in family history search involving census.

In order to combat errors, you must first know why such things take place. When it comes to the census there are two aspects revolving around errors. One of which has something to do with the takers of the census themselves who are labeled as enumerators. The other one can be attributed to transcribers’ errors. Name spellings can be done through the use of phonetics, initials, and abbreviations. In this manner, errors occurred due to the fact that they get misheard. Present transcribers are trained to be well-versed in terms of past handwriting styles but mistakes do still occur.

There are a lot of means of getting passed through the roadblocks that errors build in front of your search. You can start by doing your searches in variations. How can this be done? Well, use abbreviations, phonetic spellings, foreign translations, or even nicknames that were fondly used during the past. You can also have initials to trigger off your searches. This is how enumerators commonly record. Play with the names by interchanging the first and last names. Different enumerators have different ways of writing the complete name.

Other ways of waving off errors during your search include narrowing your search by specific parameters such as the location and the birth or death date of the person. You can also try your luck by doing the search involving other family members. You just have to be savvy in your search and learn all sorts of mechanisms involved in the recording of a census in the past.

There are also times when transcribers get mixed up on how certain letters were written by their past counterparts. You should be wary of such letters which include s and l; t, f, j, and i; p, k, and r; o and q; and u and w. Another search technique that is commonly utilized is by using a wildcard search. This involves the characters asterisk and question mark. The asterisk can be used to represent up to six characters while the question mark is for only one. One method that can be time-consuming but offers accuracy and reliability is by looking at the page of locality and town accounts page by page.

Whatever the error may be you just have to know how to ward it off and manipulate it to your advantage. Enumerators and transcribers are only human. No matter how good they are in their work mistakes can really take place. In order to make the lives of other researchers that may follow you, make sure that you submit a correction of the mistranscribed name to the proper agencies concerned.

Accuracy is very important in a family history search. It takes wit and diligence in order to wave off errors that can deal your search to a temporary halt.

---

---

The Success of GENEALOGY Research Lies on DNA TESTINGS

The structure of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA),
the picture shows the monomers being
put together.
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

There are about 60,000 billion cells found in the human body. It includes muscle cells, cheek cells, and white blood cells. Each cell contains the whole genetic information which is the DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid). The nucleus inside the cell holds the DNA or chromosomal DNA that consists of Y chromosomal DNA, X chromosomal DNA, and autosomal DNA. The external part of the nucleus holds mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). The autosomal DNA comes from both the mother and the father, Y chromosomes are inherited by a son from his father, and mtDNA comes from the mother only.

There are advancements made in testing DNA to meet various areas of interests. For example, the most common uses of DNA are related to finding criminals and proving paternity. But today, genealogy research also uses DNA testing.

For so many years, genealogy has become an important element of society and a favorite hobby of some enthusiasts. Although this is more rewarding, somehow it brings frustrations even to expert genealogists. It can be very time consuming when doing paper research. More often, it can lead to illegible and damaged documents. But, DNA testing provides quick results without questioning its authenticity or quality. Moreover, the genetic genealogy results can endure the tests of time.

1. Mitochondrial testing is utilized for tracing the maternal heritage of a person. The mtDNA testing is very important since genealogists are mostly females. When they marry, maternal lines are often lost because of changing their surnames. In this manner, they can learn and trace their maternal ancestry.

There are advances made in understanding genetics and using laboratory techniques in helping a person to identify maternal lineage through mtDNA tracing services. The distinct mtDNA of person is analyzed and compared to the databases of other samples of mtDNA worldwide, revealing information about the lost ancestry.  

The mtDNA remains nearly unchanged even for so many years. You can share the same type of mtDNA with your mother, maternal grandmother, and maternal great-grandmother. The same exact mtDNA code can track your direct maternal lineage way back from the time where mtDNA code's natural mutation occurred.

Women who are living today can trace their origins 150 thousand years ago through natural mutations or mitochondrial eve.  In connection with matrilineal descent, eve is the common ancestor. But it doesn't necessarily imply that eve is the only woman who lived in that era. There were also other women alive but only the lineage of eve has survived.

2. Y chromosomal DNA testing is the most commonly used form of genetic genealogy testing. Some people can even trace if a deceased man is related to them by conducting this test.

Like mtDNA, Y chromosomes can be also traced back from one prehistoric father, Adam. The DNA mutation of the first Y chromosomes naturally occurs over many generations. Determining the present Y chromosomes can trace your paternal lineage through searching the Y database worldwide.

Moreover, genealogists can find out if two people are related because they have similar surnames through Y chromosomes testing. It is not impossible since, in most cultures, surnames or family names are inherited by children from their fathers like the Y chromosomal DNA.

A successful genealogy research lies on DNA testing because its usefulness is proven as time has passed by.

---

---

Easy GENEALOGY Search with the Right Tools

Ahnentafel von Herzog Ludwig (1568-1593) Holzschnitt Württembergisches Landesmuseum, Stuttgart
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Your ancestors play a significant role in why you exist today. There are some individuals who give high regards to their ancestors which led to the birth of genealogy. Aside from paying respects to your ancestors because of who you are today, there are more advantages genealogy can bring into your life.  

Interest and fun are the two most important key considerations why people are into genealogy search. With genealogy, you will be able to identify which part of the country or even in the world you have relatives with. Moreover, you will also be able to know the specific meaning of the names of your relatives.  Most importantly, it is with studying genealogy that will help you be familiar with the possible health conditions that may run in your family which you ancestors had before. 

To be successful with your genealogy search, there are helpful tools which can aid you to find your ancestors.  

By Word of Mouth

Story-telling from immediate family members and relatives is the most common step one undertakes when doing a genealogy search. Oral history is the appropriate term for this in genealogy studies. 

The memories of an individual are evidence you can gather to track your lineage. Face-to-face interaction is not the only means of communication you can assume when doing oral history. You can also opt to send a letter by post indicating your motive. Phone interviews can also be done. 

It is best to prepare a set of questions when doing an interview, may it be formal or informal, to avoid repetitions.  

Through the Internet

With the advent of technology, you can now enjoy a hassle-free genealogy search through the internet. The internet offers different genealogy search website. You can choose a paid or free service to help you with your search. 

There are several information you can gather on the internet such as your ancestor's surname. Different documents can also be obtained via the internet such as papers concerning your ancestor's birth, marriage, and death. In some sites, the location and type of employment can also be viewed.  

Through DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) 

DNA testing is a medical technology utilized to determine and establish proof of the existing relationship of one person to the other. There are two types of DNA testing which can be done to help you with your genealogy search:  

1. Y-line Test – this type of DNA test is extremely helpful to genealogists due to its distinctive features. Y-chromosome is only present with male individuals which are passed on from father to son.  Additionally, the said chromosome is the only chromosome that breaks out in the repeated rearrangement of the parental genes. 

2. mtDNA Test – mtDNA Test is the short term for mitochondrial DNA test. This type of DNA test is also known as the "maternal lineage test."  The test determines if the individuals have the same maternal lineage.  

DNA Testing is the common last resort option of those who study genealogists. You need to exhaust all the possibilities of knowing who's who in your family line through oral history and via the internet. 

---

---

Derailed FAMILY HISTORY Search

Pennants of family history societies (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The importance of family is given emphasis wherever you go. This group of people is the one mainly responsible for giving you the form and being that you are right now. Family history search may be a laborious task but the rewards that can be reaped after the long and winding research endeavors are truly worth the pain and sacrifices. Along the way, it is inevitable that certain issues and events may derail you from your historical quest back to the roots of your ancestors. Let’s take a look and investigate further in order to get a better analysis. 

There are common misconceptions revolving around the field of genealogy. Don’t be fooled and lose your focus on what you are set to accomplish. The first on the list is that your family heraldry as symbolized by a crest can be easily purchased. Certain family items and commodities are widely available stores everywhere and throughout online shops. But to say that families have crest is untrue. Individuals are the ones that have the right and privilege to be given crests. In most cases, these coat of arms is merely granted. How can you do this? Well if you believe that you are qualified as a descendant of a male line who can be granted with a crest then you just have to prove it and the crest is yours.

If you’re from an American descent or root then this is an issue for you. It is said that the 1890 census was voluntarily burnt to the ground. This has been opposed by genealogists. It is said that after the fire that broke down the records were soaked in water and were left in a storage facility without efforts or plans of having it restored.

Another one of the rumors circling around the family history search area is that you can easily and readily find your whole family’s record online within the comforts of the internet’s technology. This is a dream come true for those researchers and historians who don’t give emphasis on hard work and self-reliance.

In fact, there are lots of records available online such as those coming from the census, the military, immigration, and other collection resources. But errors are also abundant throughout online facilities. In order for you to really get accurate results, you have to spend actual research time within the four corners of a local or large library.

Along the way, you may come across a data stating that you are part of a family related to some historically acclaimed personnel such as one of the presidents of even one who is a member of a royal clan. Legends are easily formed by mouth and eventually in written form. So before you jump into conclusion and you spread the word about your famous ancestry take time to prove the acuity level of such information. Remember even if you have the same surname with a proven celebrity that doesn’t mean you are actually related.

After the courthouse came down because of a fire all the records were gone. This is not entirely true as some of the records may have been salvaged or copies were done and sent to other offices and agencies.

Do not be easily derailed by certain misconceptions about genealogy. Family history search really entails hard work and common sense. You just have to learn to work your way and come on top of the entire information overload that may occur.

---

---

---

The Two Basic Genealogy Form

In some countries, many people believe that in order to achieve all the things that you want in life, you must know your roots. People who don’t look back to where they came from can't reach their destination. Well, it's up to you if belief in such sayings.

For many individuals, life is more enriched if they know their roots and who they really are; and your ancestry is not just about names. This is your family's bloodline passed on to many generations. Because of this knowledgeable fact, millions of individuals are trying to trace their family's roots through genealogy.

When you're trying to make your own family tree, it would be much easier to have genealogy forms. Genealogists use two basic forms to record all their ancestral information and these are family group sheets and pedigree charts. These forms help people like you in keeping track of all information that you find regarding your family's history in a standard format that can be easily read and understood. The forms are recognized by all genealogists around the globe. The software programs of genealogy forms are all standard.

Pedigree Chart

Most people use a pedigree chart. This form starts with you. It then branches out back to display your direct ancestral line. Most of the pedigree charts that you can find cover about four generations with spaces included so that you can enter important dates, marriage, place or birth, and death.

The standard format of a pedigree chart is only eight and a half by eleven inches. There are people who want larger forms and it is also possible to obtain such large forms. These are called ancestral charts, and you can enter more than four generations. However, this kind of form is often not used.

If you want to do more than four generations, you can still make use of the standard form; just make sure that you put reference numbers so that it will be easier for you to follow your family tree.

Family Group Sheet

Another common genealogy form is called the family group sheet. This kind of form focuses more on the family as a single unit. The sheet also has spaces for the name of the couple, their children (if any), and fields to write down the birth, marriage, death, and even burial places of the family members. Lines are included for the children's spouses if they get married, along with sections for sources and comments.

This form is one of the most important tools in genealogy because there is room for your ancestor's children and their spouses. The collateral lines are very important when you're tracing a family tree.

These forms will work best if they are used together. Once you include a marriage on the pedigree chart, you must enter it on the family sheet. The first form only offers a quick glance-look of your tree, but the latter offers further details for each generation of ancestors.

Tracing your roots has never been this easy. If you want to start with your own family adventure, do so now and don’t forget to get both the forms mentioned earlier. These are necessary to make your family tree easier and more specific. Get a copy of the forms on the net and happy tracing.

---

---

Ancestry.com: The Best Website to Learn About Your Genealogy

Field laborers of Japanese ancestry - Photo: Wikimedia

Many people try and trace their ancestry for a lot of reasons. Some do it for medical reasons to find out about a mysterious disease that their family is suffering from, others do it for honoring their dead relatives, and there are people who find it as an interesting hobby and find it fun to do so. It is a fact that it's always interesting to know about facts about your family's past. You never know, maybe your great-great-great-great-great grandfather was a famous person back in the old days.

These are some of the reasons why you should learn about your genealogy. Maybe if you find out enough about your family, there might be an illegitimate child that gave birth to the great-great-great grandfather of the President of the United States which makes you and the president very distant relatives. It is always fun and also a bit surprising finding out about your past.

However, you have to consider that as time progresses, some pasts are forgotten in the mists of time. It is very important that you should consider that finding out about one's past is very difficult especially if you don’t know about your great-grandfather for some reasons. You also have to consider past historical events, such as war, the Great Depression, and migration. In the United States, you have to consider that this country is composed of different races. There are people living here who have different traces of ancestry. There are Germans, Africans, Russians, Latin, and others. Some people don’t even know that they had foreign ancestry and you also have to consider that some last names have been Americanized.

These are some of the reasons why it can be difficult to trace your genealogy or your ancestry. However, technology can make it easier for you to find out about your past. There are available websites today that specializes in genealogy. One of these websites that are considered to be reputable and can definitely help you find long-lost relatives is the Ancestry.com. Ancestry.com is a genealogy website that can help you find out about your family's past.

---

---

There are professionals here that can help you gather documents, such as birth, immigration, death, marriage documents, medical records, and other vital documents about your family. You need to realize that these documents are very hard to find and will require you to pay a fee for the professionals working with Ancestry.com to find it for you. Today, there are more than four billion names in Ancestry.com database. If you know the complete name of your grandparents or great-great grandparents, you can start your search for your ancestors from here.

Ancestry.com offers the best services at a very reasonable cost. You have to consider that knowing about your family's past is priceless. Who knows, maybe you are the great-great-great-great-great-grandchild of a famous Native American or a famous European who migrated in the United States.

So, if you want to know about your genealogy the easy way, you should get the services of Ancestry.com. Here, you can start your very own family tree and show it to the members of your family and friends about your proud past.

Tracing One's Roots Via Family History GENEALOGY

The family has always been considered as the strongest force in the society. Known as the most fundamental civilization in the world, it defines the rise and fall of every community and group. In whatever culture, the family has always played a major role in unifying the people of its race. Even in today’s modern era when the limits of socialization are starting to get shattered and the boundaries of communication are slowly disappearing, the family remains basic in every human life. Nobody is so independent and free as to be able to exist without a family.

The Genealogy of Abraham according to the Bible (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Today’s world is one which is highly characterized by individualism and eccentricity. Many people are concerned with moving on into the future and the majority is actually living for tomorrow. You may think it just usual for today’s generation to bother less about their origin, about who they really are, where they come from, and issues concerning the past. Ironically, however, there is a growing interest about the search for people’s ancestors. Family history genealogy is gaining more and more attention from those who are after their past life and relatives.

Genealogy can be considered as the science of relationships, simply because this field deals with the tracing of a particular person’s family and relatives, both in the past and in the present, alive or dead. People venture out in the search for their families because of various reasons. Some may want to find a kin who has been lost due to circumstances beyond their control. Concrete examples were those involved in the World War who were forced to leave their homes for safety and spent the rest of their life wandering in foreign lands. Others, on the other hand, engage in this endeavor because of the desire for material possessions and power. Believing that they may be perhaps connected to someone of great influence, they risk the chance for the hope of something good in return.

Genealogy and the search for one’s history may vary in depth. This can be as simple as tracing the names of people related to you, forming a family tree, and indicating to which specific family in your clan a particular person belongs. Or, this can also be as deep as researching and finding out the personal life of each family member that you are able to find. 

Modern technology has made family history genealogy more interesting and has opened a wider door for those people who are serious about their family search. The science of heredity and the study about DNA have made it even more possible for two persons to determine if they belong to the same line of ancestry. Various online sites are also available now to aid people find practically anybody with just the entry of simple facts. There are even computer programs which have been specifically designed for this purpose.  

The search for one’s family, history, and past can be a whole lot of fun. Starting one is easy, and this can be done using different means. The experience is like a treasure hunt that will lead you to unknown and exciting places, and you will never know what you will discover and what treasures await you at the end of your adventure.

---

---

FAMILY HISTORY Search – A Beginner’s Guide

Searching for one’s family history and constructing the family tree is not as hard as it used to be. In the past, the tedious process begins by interviewing so many people, some of which may have unreliable memories.

Photo: Wikipedia

With the advent of the Internet, one can now use a number of tools and databases to dig your facts and dates. Most people make it a point to make the Internet their first stop in mining for information about their ancestors.

However, things are not that simple. There is no single database yet where you can find all the information about your ancestors and download them.

You need therefore how to use the many tools and databases available. More important, you must also explore other places aside from the Internet and be able to piece together your family history.

The following is a rough road map you need in your search.

Obituaries

Obituary notices are good places where you have a load of information on the family –spouses, siblings, parents, in-laws, even cousins dead or alive. They are also concrete leads to living relatives who are reliable sources of more information.

Death Indexes

Due to money and privacy issues, not all death records are available online. Those that are available are maintained by volunteer or official sources. If you are looking for American ancestors, the SSDI (Social Security Death Index) contains records since 1962. You may try a Google search for a death record specifying counties and states where they lived.

Cemetery databases

Thanks to the volunteers who personally gathered burial data from thousands of cemeteries in the past, we have online cemetery burial records now. Other public cemeteries also have their own burial transcripts already. You can do your search using your family’s surname, the cemetery, and the location in your favorite search engine. RootsWeb is one good source for links to online cemetery databases.

Census records

Many countries now have their census records available online. In the US, the most recent is from the year 1930. Working back through the years, you can start tracing your family roots and add a few generations to your family history records.

Specific locations

Depending on the country or countries you are led into, the next stop would be WorldGenWeb. From here, there will be concrete links to specific locations. Newspaper reports, biographies, or other records specific to your family or ancestor may be had. Other researchers sometimes leave their own posts for the benefit of others.

Online libraries

Using the specific localities you discovered, you can then visit historical or genealogical societies around (http://genealogy.about.com/od/libraries/). Look for “genealogy” or “family history” links. From these, you can search for more resources and other pertinent records.

Message Boards

Message boards, groups and other organizations that have links to your surnames and interests may bring in some other pieces of information not found in other traditional places. However, these groups (Yahoo or Google groups) have to be searched manually and may require membership before you can dig into their archives.

Other related resources

Based on your materials, you can then go forward and check out other specific resources based on your ancestors’ interests or occupation: military service, schools, church, fraternities, civic organizations, etc. You might discover a surprise cache of information.

Related family trees

Many family trees are also published online. Before incorporating those related to yours, bear in mind that these family histories might be incomplete and worse, maybe incorrect. Verify their sources in case they conflict with yours.

Subscription sites

These are the last recourse sites in case your records are still incomplete. They all require a subscription for unlimited access, though. Some sites, however, charge on a pay-per-download basis. They may have some free trial offers that you can use to check out how extensive their databases are.

Other tips

One good habit to develop in researching is to log everything you find – the sites and places where you had been, the information you found, the cross references you may discover and where they came from and lead to, etc. This will eliminate incidents where you are led back inadvertently to the same site.

Doing your family history search is usually fun and exciting. Sometimes, they can be an emotional journey. Having some kind of a road map takes away most of the tedious and boring details.

---

---

Family History Search Resources to Revisit the Glorious Past

Surely one would really want to know about how family trees or genealogies play key roles in determining a good family ancestry and one could surely make good use of a family history search resources to revisit the glorious past.

Ahnentafel von Herzog Ludwig (1568-1593) Holzschnitt Württembergisches Landesmuseum, Stuttgart
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

With the current advancement in computers, information technology and database resources, gaining access to any form of information is now as easy as a push of a keyboard button or the click of a  computer mouse button.

There are quite a number of good things things one can do to make good use of family history search engines over the world wide web or the Internet, with a long range of valuable family –related information that may not have been available in the past, with limitations ranging from an extensive linked network to merging of information closely related with one another, which was virtually unheard of in the past, say, even about 10 to 15 years ago.

Getting started is actually very simple and uncomplicated, as some may disagree with, most especially if modern research techniques are applied, compared to the manual and nerve –wracking process of digging through voluminous public and private documents or antiquated files that have collected dust throughout the years.

In the olden times, establishing family history data was such an unthinkable and insurmountable task that discourages people from pursuing such an endeavor, where people usually commissioned researchers or groups of people to do the research for them, especially looking for those industrious enough to dig through tons of paperwork, public and private documents and mountains of information database sources.

Nowadays, it is as easy and as fun as discovering new things, even make the activity more fun and enjoyable.You can actually get started by doing the traditional investigative work and making sure that you have prepared well by organizing your outline and here are some tips that would help you get on your way.

Firstly, ask around from family members or direct relatives for possible linkages to family names, ancestral places of residence and collect as many names as possible, no matter how funny, weird or trivial it may be.

You may also search through public or census records, since it does provide valuable clues that could lead to better results in getting access to legal case historiesmn\, obituaries, tax records and other important data that you may relate with the your quest for your genealogy.

Make very good use of internet search engines to find the information you need, especially when searching through the internet using family names or key words you wish to look into.There are also free and fee –based online family search applications you can use and each one presents unique features that can help you track down any information you may need to start working on setting up your genealogy record or family tree.

Although free online search applications are useful resources, however, fee –based applications offer better tools or features that could not just speed up your search process, but also provide broader access to online databases and other advanced features.Never be too ashamed to ask for help. Be it from a close family member or you could even ask around from online subject forums and there are numerous online sources that you are not aware that could provide you with the key to getting that important family information that you need.

But don’t be too hasty in jumping to an immediate conclusion without verifying your information or validating the information that was provided to you, this is so because some information that may be provided may be too tempting to ignore or one that you may find to be a vital component to completing that family tree.

Another useful source of information such as these would be cemeteries, like those names and dates etched in tombstones that can provide you with important clues to establishing that missing link to your family tree information or genealogy.

---

---

It may sound a bit morbid, but it does help a lot in sometimes providing you with the missing link to the information you need, especially with your family history or background.

Another common practice that could use would be that families and close relative usually make it a common practice to bury their dead next to other deceased family members.

These processes may take a considerable period of time, but surely the discoveries made during a family history search to revisit the glorious past is well worth the effort.

---

---

Search FAMILY HISTORY

Many people go through such lengths to search family history. For some, it might be quite a daunting task considering the many past records, documents and other related information that need to be gathered, collected and analyzed in order to build an extensive family tree chart. How fast the tasks can be finished and done with depend on how efficient you can be in finding the information that you need. 

A chart illustrating the different types of cousins, including genetic kinship marked within boxes in red which shows the actual genetic degree of relationship (gene share) with 'self' in percentage (%).
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Here are some tips to help you find the right information that you need to build up your family tree.

Search Obituaries

Most family history searches usually start from the present and work its way back to the past. Information concerning present members of the family tree is usually the easiest to gather and collect. It is the information of past relatives that may prove challenging.

The obituaries provide a good means to look for relatives and members of the family tree who may have already passed away.  Not only would it provide information of a relative that has passed away including the date of birth, the date of passing as well as the place of burial. Not only that, other information that obituaries may provide include information about surviving relatives who might be contacted to provide additional details to the family tree.

Census Records

Aside from the obituaries, census records may also provide a wealth of information when building a family tree and information about long gone relatives and family members are required. Census records usually are kept dating back into the 1930's which may provide a wealth of clues concerning some of your ancestors. When the earliest census record of a known relative is found, other information pertaining to family members as well as location may also be found. Subsequent yearly census records would yield clues as to the time when another generation into the family tree may be added.

On Location Data Gathering

Once you have discovered a certain locale where previous ancestors may have lived, you might obtain more valuable information if you try to go on location to gather more data there. A known location may be a good place to source out more detailed information about a certain portion of the family tree. You might need to dig even deeper this time around in order to get more resources to determine a more accurate means of placing people in your family tree.

Research Previous Family Trees

There may be a good chance that you are not the only one in your long line of forebears who wanted to establish a family tree. Chances are there might have been other past relatives before you who may have gone to the extent of starting their own research into building the family tree. You may want to take a close look at this and use the information to sort out and add into the research that you may have already done.

Consider also that such family trees, especially those that may be found online or otherwise, are also mostly works in progress. They might also contain certain blanks tat may need to be filled out. You can use the information to put two and two together and search for clues as to how the previous family trees may fit into the one that you are trying to make.

---

---

The FAMILY TREE: Primer of Genealogy

Who’s who is the most common query when relatives get together. Each and everyone start to identify the connection of every individual in the so-called family circle. A family tree serves as a guide for an individual to distinguish the family connection between persons.

Ahnentafel von Herzog Ludwig (1568-1593)  (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

To show the relationship among relatives, there are important factors that should be incorporated in your family tree:

?    Name of the person

?    Date of birth

?    Other pertinent information such as the physical address and employment 

You will have to distinguish the relationship through:

1.    Marriage

2.    Extra-marital Unions

3.    Progeniture

If it involves your own family, a family tree is a trouble-free task. However, if it involves identifying your ancestors, you will need to devote some time in order for you to be familiar with your roots.

An understanding of the family structure is needed so that you will properly determine your roots to come up with a well-developed family tree. 

It is with a mated pair where a family has begun. However, according to genealogy studies there are two main bases for the emergence of complication in a family structure. 

The first main source of complication in the family structure is whenever a man takes more than one spouse. Such identification of family tree may become arduous with this case since there are many lineages to trace. 

An extended family is considered as a source of complexity concerning family structure. On a positive note, it is helpful in genealogy. With a close-knit family, you will have higher chances to easily complete a family tree. 

Once you have found out what type of family structure you have, then it is time to undertake your task – begin your quest to come up with a well-researched family tree.

Start with the basic. Start with your own family. It is from older family members that you can obtain relevant information about your roots. They can give you a lead on where to move next.

Every encounter with any relatives should be documented.  Journal, tape recorders, cameras or video cams are handy. All relevant information should be entered in your family tree chart or can be filled out in a genealogical form. These days, there is no need for you to sketch your own family tree since there are several family tree charts and forms available in the market. 

On your family tree journey, there are a lot of surnames that will come up. With this regard, it is best to choose what surname to find lineage first. By being surname-focused, you are most likely to finish your task faster and easier. After you have exhausted all information with a surname and you think that the lineage is complete, then you can now move on to another surname. 

Interviewing family members may sometimes be insufficient. There are other sources which you can track your relatives such as the internet, Family History Center in your locality, documents (which includes birth, marriage and death certificates), and places such as a church, cemetery or even a court house. 

Establishing a family tree is an important undertaking for you to be able to know your roots and identify your own identity.

---

---

Images of FAMILY HISTORY Search

YBIERNAS' Family Name History & Coat of Arms
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Making a very deep connection with one another is a key factor in maintaining close family ties. Reunions and get-togethers, say in barbecues and camping are some of the means in which family accomplish revitalized union and communication. Certain programs, fun games, and gift giving are common happenings during family activities. In this growing world of technology and innovation come and take advantage of a unique way to embody your family’s integrity and solidarity. Learn how you can make images out of your very own family history search. 

Family history books are now very common items within the family. You can find lots of stuff in the internet that can help you boost up your plan of making one of your own which you can share with relatives and friends. Show off to your family members in a very good way. By making your very own family history books, you can have the opportunity to not only tell how much family means but you can also let them visualize how having important it is to have a group you can always rely on especially during rough stages on the road.

Books are not only ones that you can make. You can delight the crowd composed of close relatives and of course your loved ones by putting up your very own family poster. Here you can slate up to nine generations of your family’s rich culture and heritage. 

Start a project that is not only appealing to the eye but also to the heart. Upon completion of your family history search and your family tree with the help of friends and relatives you can display your family’s unrelenting history in and out your home. Share not only with family but to the world inspiring stories on how a certain groups of people made their ranks into the world. Take advantage of the internet’s technology and browse through different internet sites wherein you can create your very own account and navigate through user-friendly tools to come with the best family history project you can. 

If you think this project will cost you then you’re having wrong thoughts. This is actually literally priceless when it comes to owning a free online account. And on top of it all you will make surely make your relatives and family members feel good upon seeing the rich heritage. You are the captain of the ship as you choose form different stylish and notable designs and formats. But don’t forget you still need the facts from your family history search.

At this point let’s head on basics of creating a visual of your family’s background. Once you have created your very own account on the internet, you can have your way in decorating each page of your book or the whole canvas of your poster. It’s quite easy to load up those photos from a neighboring internet site or even directly from your computer.

The digital age has really made things easy and reliable for all of us. Place all sorts of stories, maps, designs, and wallpapers to make a family member’s glimpse at your creation magical and worthwhile. Whenever you get lost throughout the process you can rely on easy to follow tool tips within the program. 

The added visuals in the family history search have really made it more interesting and enjoying. Now you can load up images to connect the past with the present and possibly in futures to come. 

---

---

Why an Online FAMILY HISTORY Search Program?

Shrewsbury - Family Research Centre
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This is a question that if asked from someone ten years ago would balk at the idea of replacing the traditional research process to that of an innovative, study from home approach.

Nowadays, with the advent of technology and the internet, the prospect of having an online family history search program is becoming one of the fastest growing segment of the global research system- one that is cost-efficient and widely-encompassing.Practically, online research is particularly well-suited to people doing research but whose circumstances either prevent them from doing so in a traditional research setting or those seeking for a variety of family history search program programs catered to their specific needs.

Often those interested in further research training wouldn't be able to manage a traditional research schedule, thus, the option to take an online family history search program right at the comfort of their own homes, or the convenience of pursuing a family history search program by adjusting to their individual schedules.

The beauty of online career research is that it allows professionals with full time jobs, full-time parents and aspiring students who cannot afford to move to a different territory to conduct a research about their family history, provide them with the opportunity to earn a family history search program without having to take a step out of their front home porches. 

Most online family history search program programs offer a variety of information, , which is one consideration an aspiring researcher must weigh to find the program that best fit their needs. 

On the other hand, an online career research can be a great way to advance an individual’s field of endeavor. 

Many people seek training within a field in which they already work, focused primarily on getting a step promotion or aspire for a higher position within the company they’re working for and would need a higher level of research for the post.By pursuing their career training online, they do not need to leave their current position in order to pursue further certification, and can pursue their studies during time off work.

Working researchers who are currently endeavoring within a field while they are pursuing often feel that their ability to immediately apply lessons they have learned in their online family history search programs and work better at more advanced processes that make them get more out of their research. 

Truth be told, there are a myriad reasons why someone would need to choose an online family history search program rather than traditional and conventional ways of higher research. 

Nowadays, in the face of a competitive and demanding market, most online family history search programs are now seen as high quality research programs. Here are some common motivations for people to choose online family history search programs :

1. Online family history search programs make it possible to study for people who live far away, especially for people living in isolated communities or far from the nearest source of information.

2. Online family history search programs also allow very busy people, full-time parents and company executives to choose the timing and schedule of their studies, not having to spend all the time doing research.

3. Online family history search programs also offer accessibility and convenience for people who did not have the luxury of time to achieve a formal family history search program exposure when they were younger, and whether they are at home, the office, and at the desired pace without compromising work or family schedules, they now have the opportunity to complete their research.

Online family history search programs can be mobile, no matter where you are. Whether you are in the jungles of Africa, taking a vacation on a first -class resort or taking a road trip, the versatility of online family history search programs provide that sense of freedom and not getting tied down to your research responsibilities like conventional research processes.

So ask yourself again, why an online family history search program? Why not?

---

---