Genealogy: How To Find Where You Came From

Believe it or not, the best source as to where one could find the origin of one's family or family name is simple: start with your family. The following are the basic steps anyone could take to be able to start the search for one's genealogy.

Take down family notes

It is important that you take note and write all names, surnames, middle names of all members of your family from your father's side and from your mother's side. To make everything easy, start first with your name and then try to go back to the names of your parents, and later on to the names of your parents' parents.

Look at the certificates of your birth

Do not forget to check the certificate of your birth. These forms contain the name and date of your parents. Also, communicate with your parents and try to ask for their help regarding the other names of your relatives as well as their dates of birth. Doing this could help you discover those people whom you may not have personally known or heard but - in some way - were an important part of your childhood experience or your parents.

It is also important that you ask first for the permission of your parents before searching through legal family records such as certificates or birth, death, records in the military, etc. Make sure that these records be photocopied and the original files be returned to a place that is safe.

Look at photographs and memories

It is also helpful to look at photo family albums and check at any writings at the back of the photos or below. Photographs that are framed may also be a good source of information since there may be obit notices written or that are stored at the back of a photograph or a picture frame.

Read and look through journals

It is best that any journals a family or a family member has, that these be also looked through. There may be little notes or papers inserted between its pages that could add information that could help in establishing the family genealogy. These diaries or journals are usually found in old attics or in bookshelves.

Refer to relatives

Sometimes, conferring with relatives is a great way to gather as much oral information as well as historical records. Visit them or at least call them. Tell your relatives what it is you are doing as well as any information that you may have discovered along the course of your search. They may want to add any names that may be a missing link or dates.

Try - as much as possible - to gather relevant stories from your relatives about the family and any of its members. Any information, however trivial they may be, could be added as an annotation or little notes about this or that ancestor. Sometimes, it is through little known stories that convert a standard genealogy into works of art or relevant pieces of history.

Gather all the family

A reunion could be organized to help gather all family members. This reunion could be organized during the start of the search for the family genealogy or it could be after. This way, any new family members may be discovered.

Be open-minded also to accept that there may be members in the family which do not like to share any family information. Respect their decision, no matter what, the decision and welfare of the living are practically more important than those of the dead.

Do not forget to record and store

Of course, all these information gathered may not serve a purpose in the long run unless these data are stored or recorded. Any relevant info may be manually written down and kept. However, there are software programs and packages that are actually custom-fit to store, record and organize genealogical records. These packages also offer free on-line trials which could be downloaded through their web sites.

Be free to experiment

Though keeping the bare information such as birth dates, blood lines, geographic info, is what a standard genealogical records is, you may also include any hobbies, dislikes, likes your ancestors may have had. Remember, they are people too who just happened to have lived long before you did. Also, such information could also be of help to any future family members you may have, that could aid them in their search as well.

In summary, finding one's genealogy may also be a way to know why you are the way you are now, and probably why some family members are the way they are now. It is an effective way to open one's mind as to the possibilities of your self, your family and your family's future.

The Genealogy Source.com is a web site dedicated to bringing you the latest tips about researching your ancestral past!

Using Computer Software to Streamline Your Genealogy

Computer software can make your family tree research a breeze, relatively speaking - pun intended, of course. Using family tree software allows the creation of online data bases to sort records; the storage of digital photos with other documents, scanning of old records, easy sharing with other researchers, and a world of information at your fingertips through the Internet.

When looking for appropriate genealogy software, look for easy to use features that seem intuitive. Many programs will allow matching of information from various online data bases. Some have features that check various name combinations that are similar and rate connections according to probability. These features are quite handy. It is also helpful if the program allows you to input data from other genealogy programs or data bases and spreadsheets like Microsoft Access and Excel.

The software you choose should be well organized and easy to read, displaying needed information on the screen in an easy to follow format. Many allow you to click on name tabs of a child or a parent and view the personal data, which can include the name of spouse, place and date of birth, marriage, death and of burial. Good software will also allow you to tie in other lineage information, such as adoption records, step children, biographies, descendant charts, and other information you will find helpful. Some deluxe software programs go a step further and offer extra features. These can include a county verifier for counties in the US, allowing the user to view all of the counties in a state with their founding dates to hunt for discrepancies. All genealogists who have tried to find a location in a county that has been dissolved or reorganized can appreciate this feature. Another nice added feature in some deluxe software is the ability to search for a location by various means: county, state, country, town, city or province.

Some software even has a potential problems report, this will highlight dates the genealogist should double check. Another nice feature is the reformatting of inconsistently formatted data bases to make sure that records match. And another deluxe feature is web site creation. Some programs will allow the user to make their own genealogy web sites without knowing HTML or other computer code. By creating web sites a user is able to share work easily with other genealogists without having to retype information, make photo copies or spend a bundle on postage. And think of the time that is saved.

Before personal computers became popular genealogists had to spend many hours in libraries and research centers. The tool of choice was the micro film reader. Photo copy machines received a workout. Handwritten notes were extensive, and subject to misinterpretation. Today's computers, with good software and the internet provide a world of opportunity for the genealogist that would have seemed like magic only thirty years ago. Additionally the need to visit libraries in many cases is now no longer necessary. While there are times when information is still only available on microfilm, many libraries have converted their microfilm to digital format and have made it available online, allowing a person to do research from the comfort of their own home. Imagine doing your genealogy research in your pyjamas, at 4 a.m. if that is the time you prefer. Good genealogy software makes it possible.

When looking at software, remember that most of the best companies have enough faith in their programs to offer a 30 day free trial period. You can try the software out, use it for a month and make sure that it truly fits your needs and desires. Then if you choose to buy, paying online with a credit card allows you to keep using the software permanently without having to reinstall. This is another improvement over the past, and certainly an improvement no one complains about.

Whether you use Windows 95, 98, ME, 2000, NT or XP, there are many good programs on the market for genealogists. And it doesn't matter if you are a beginner, intermediate or an expert. All researchers can benefit from good genealogy software, so give it a try and you'll certainly be glad you did.

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Genealogy-Searching and Knowing Our Ancestors

Genealogy is the study and tracing of family pedigrees. This involves collecting the names of relatives, both living and deceased, and establishing the relationships between them based on primary, secondary and/or circumstantial evidence or documentation, thus building up a cohesive family tree. Genealogy is sometimes also referred to as family history, although these terms may be used distinctly: the former being the basic study of who is related to whom; the latter involving more "fleshing out" of the life and family histories of the individuals involved.

One way to find the family lineage is with the use of the genealogical method. It is a well-established ethnographic technique. The early ethnographers developed symbols that covered the issue of kinship, descent, and marriage. Studying one's genealogy is important in terms of social organization, especially where people live and work with their kin everyday. It plays a very important role in understanding the current social relations and reconstructing the history. Marriage is also looked at because it is important in creating alliances amongst tribes, clans and villages.

In this article, the terms genealogist, researcher, and family historian refer to every participant, from the inexperienced hobbyist to the professional.

Humans have always been interested in where they came from and their family history (genealogy.) The Bible is replete with genealogies of biblical personalities. Many cultures passed their genealogies orally through the ages. The nobility of Europe kept detailed genealogies. The current Queen of Denmark claims to be able to trace her linage back to King Gorm who lived around 800 CE. The Chinese out do all other cultures in genealogy. Chinese genealogy records, Jia Pu in Chinese, have been kept since at least 1500 BCE.

Today genealogy is popular hobby among people of all walks of life. Some claim it is the second most popular use of the Internet. Almost every European country and every State in the U.S. has a genealogical society.

If you are just beginning to research your genealogy here are some basic records that are important.

Vital Records: These are probably the most important records to genealogy research. They include birth records, christening records, marriage records, and death certificates and records. After family records it's a good idea to start your genealogy research looking for vital records.

Census Records: Census records can lead you to other types of records. Generally census records list families living as groups giving ages and place or residence. They can help you narrow down what localities you might want to search for vital records.

Emigration and Immigration Records: These records can give you clues to where your origin of your ancestors. Often they list country and town from which the person immigrated.

Other useful records in helping trace your genealogy are military records, land records, probate records, court records, commercial records, and cemetery records.

Jake Paterson - visit http://www.backgroundcheckunlimited.com to find more about birth certificates and death certificates and other public records and vital records.