By Michael Tait
Genealogy ResearchThe genealogy research process uses intricate methods to demonstrate kinship and can use historical records and at times even genetic analysis. The success of the genealogy research will depend on the quality of the sources used and the information within these sources.

The first step that a genealogist takes is to compile all family documents, records, and knowledge from living relatives. Genealogy research starts with the present and works backward in time.

Names and Dates

Special care must be taken with names, dates, and places. Family names are one of the most important pieces of information for genealogy research. However, they are often a source of considerable confusion for many researchers.

Names – The name of a person refers to the family to which they belong. This is called the family name, last name, or surname. On the other hand, patronymics are names that identify a person based on the father’s name. Many countries used patronymics before surnames were used. As an example, in Scotland, Mac is used to form a patronym – MacDonald – son of Donald.

First names or given names can sometimes cause confusion as well. As an example, Liz, Lizzie, Beth, or Betty are all common nicknames or abbreviations for Elizabeth.

Dates – You should take great caution with dates. You need to establish whether a date was recorded at the time of the event or at a later date. Dates of birth in birth certificates and dates in church records at baptism are normally accurate as they should have been recorded at the time of the event. Another source of dates can be found in family bibles but could have been written from memory long after the event.

Local Genealogy Communities

If you get stuck with your genealogical research, you could find other genealogy enthusiasts in your area. Often, amateur genealogists have formed local groups where they can offer classes, get together to share ideas, and help each other with their individual family trees.

Some local genealogy communities are devoted to searching local family histories, which includes property records, historical records, town and county records, and other records that give resources to genealogists.

The Computer and the Internet

Nowadays, with personal computers and a connection to the Internet, information is easier to locate. That is why so many people have become interested in genealogy research. Researching family roots, family histories, tracing ancestors, and building a family tree have become popular pastimes.

Of course, the Internet is just a tool to aid genealogists; the same care has to be taken to acquire accurate information as it was in the past. However, family history buffs have found that they are not alone in cyberspace. You will find that there are numerous genealogy communities and groups that are helping budding genealogists come together to share advice and tips.

Religious or Nationality Communities

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is recognized for constantly researching, collecting, and updating genealogy records. They are also very approachable not only to church members, but to anyone researching family history records.

Their website is at: www.familysearch.org.

People of Jewish faith also have communities in which they can help each other with genealogy research. At www.jewishgen.org or www.jewishgenealogysearch.com, you can search through Jewish heritage databases and records, in addition to obtaining help and assistance in carrying out your ancestry search.

International Genealogy Communities

If you are from the U.S., your search for family history will frequently lead to other countries from which your ancestors emigrated. You may find that to complete a family tree, you must attempt to search in Scotland, Ireland, England, Italy, Greece, Japan, China, or even numerous countries all over the world.

To help you with international genealogy research, there are international genealogy communities that can make available the resources to locate the documents, data, or records that you require. A great website where you can find an international community is at:

http://www.worldvitalrecords.com/InternationalPages.aspx.

Genealogy Societies

If you want to become part of a larger community, then you will find genealogy societies that are available to join. Through societies like the National Genealogy Society, which can be found at www.ngsgenealogy.org, you can publish your own family history records or family tree, participate in organized events and conferences, and take genealogy courses as a society member.

The NGS were established to help conserve genealogy records, in addition to providing training and education to its members. Normally, membership subscriptions to a genealogy society are quite reasonable, and they offer you great benefits, such as access to database resources, publication archives, research resources, and access to free training only available to members.

Genealogy Research Websites

You also can become part of a community by joining popular genealogy membership sites. Websites like Archives.com, MyFamily.com, Genealogy.com, Ancestry.com, and many others can put you in touch with other genealogy enthusiasts from all over the world.

Additionally, you can get expert advice from professional genealogists and have access to integrated search and family tree tools to help you build and save your family tree.

Whether you are a hobbyist, genealogy buff, or expert, joining an online genealogy community can give you many great benefits.

 

Records in Genealogical Research

Finally, no matter how you go about your genealogy research, you will need to use an extensive assortment of records for your research. Some of the records used in genealogy research include:

  • Vital records – birth, death (funeral home, obituaries, tombstones, cemetery), marriage, divorce, and adoption records
  • Census records
  • Church records – baptism, christening, confirmation
  • Emigration, immigration, naturalization records, and Ship passenger lists
  • Court records, criminal records, civil records
  • Wills and probate records
  • Land and property records (deeds, titles)
  • Diaries, personal letters, family bibles, biographies and biographical profiles
  • Medical records
  • Tax records
  • Voter registration records
  • Military and conscription records
  • School and alumni association records
  • Social Security (US) and pension records
  • Plus other records and resources

Keep in mind though, that record keeping is a fairly recent development; if you want to trace your ancestors back further than 500 years or so, you will find less and less records and data. In many European countries, for example, record keeping started with parish registers in the 16th century.

Throughout the following Centuries, more and more of the population was recorded, until there were sufficient records to follow a family history. Major life events, like births, marriages, and deaths, were documented with a license, permit, or certificate.

Summary of the Process for Genealogy Research

If you are thinking about starting your own genealogy research project, then you have seen that it can be a daunting task. However, it is now a lot easier than it was a few decades ago; just remember that the Internet is a great research tool but not all the information you find online is accurate or correct.

You still have to substantiate much of the data, but it is still a big time-saver to have access to online vital records, newspaper archives, documents, photos, and family tree software. Good luck with your genealogy research!

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