- Trace Ancestors Through a Family Tree - Penny Pislaan
A family has a lot of history behind it – sometimes good, sometimes not so good, but all linked together. Tracing your family tree gives you the opportunity to learn about the people who are responsible for your very existence but whom, oftentimes, you know absolutely nothing about. So, where to begin this exciting journey back through your family roots?
Talk to Family Members
Your parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, even your brothers and sisters are a veritable font of information when beginning your genealogy search. Grab a pad of paper and a pen and interview your relatives. Some of the questions you may want to ask are:
- Do you know the names of your grandparents and great-grandparents?
- Do you know the dates of their birth and death?
- Do you know where they were born and died?
- Do you know dates and places of any marriages?
- Have you heard any stories that have been passed down?
- Do you know of any ancestors being born in different countries?
Sometimes one person won’t be able to remember specifics but other family members will. And sometimes there are stories that have been passed down through the generations. That’s why it’s a good idea to interview as many relatives as possible. Every new piece of information may open the door to a more detailed accounting of your family’s history.
Genealogy and the Internet
Years ago, if you wanted to trace your family tree you would have to spend countless hours going through documents at an archive. Today, everything is on the internet. Genealogy websites such as Ancestry.com and Familysearch.org are quick and easy and have just about all the information that used to be found only in archives. From the comfort of your own home, you can find your ancestors.
The more information you have, the easier your ancestors are to find, of course, so dates are important. Dates can distinguish your ancestor from someone with the same name who was born years before or years after. Even without dates it is still possible to find who you are looking for, it just may take a bit more research. Always try to verify names and dates whenever possible so that you don’t accidentally take your family tree off onto a branch that is not yours. Also, spellings change through the generations so check alternate spellings for the surnames.
You can also try using a search engine – just type in your name and see what comes up. A distant relative may have already begun an online tree for your family name and you can borrow information they may have and offer what you have in return. This will help reduce some of the research that’s needed.
Keeping Information Organized
Once you start gathering information, it’s important to keep it organized. There are family tree templates available online – just fill in the names and dates as you get them. Make copies of important documents such as birth and death certificates and marriage licenses. Some of these documents can be ordered online for a fee. Keep everything together in one place so nothing gets lost.
You can also put all your names, dates, pictures, and documents into book form. There are several websites that offer this service – prices vary so you’ll need to do some research here as well. Just type “family history books” or something similar into the search engine and it will pop up with plenty of sites to choose from.
Tracing your family’s roots can be fun – and frustrating – but is exciting nonetheless. It is interesting to see who your ancestors were, where they came from, and the lives they lived. The names may be familiar and you may be surprised at who is part of your family tree. Who knows? Your family may be descendants of kings and queens.
Source:
www.Ancestry.com, *"How to Search" (accessed May 05, 2010)
www.Familysearch.org, *"How to Locate Your Ancestor in the United States" (accessed May 05, 2010)
Penny Pislaan - I am new to Suite 101 and very excited to be writing articles here. I have been writing since I was about 10 years old. I love to write ...
