Whether you are an avid family history researcher who is hoping to use DNA to improve your research and build on your family tree, or you just took a test out of passing curiosity, here are some things you should and shouldn’t do with your results.
We all have those ancestors who make us want to pull our hair out. You know, the ones we just can’t find key pieces of information about – like a birth or death date? Locating a date of birth can be especially difficult because oftentimes only ages are listed on old records. And even on records that usually do list a birth date this detail is sometimes left blank because the informant didn’t have the needed information (this is common on death certificates). But finding an actual date of birth (rather than an estimated year) is important to your research. This article will go over a few common places to find birth dates and then jump into several sources that are often overlooked by researchers.
Beating your head against a wall trying to find missing information about your mysterious ancestor? It’s time to get a fresh perspective and try some new tactics. Have you done everything on this list?
There are literally billions and billions of genealogical records now available online. From the huge databases of paid subscription sites like Ancestry and MyHeritage, to the varied collections of FamilySearch and other free initiatives – details about our ancestors’ lives are more accessible than ever. And every single one of the these collections is vitally important and needs to be preserved – whether the database contains one record or a billion. But have you ever wondered what the largest collections on the web are, and who holds them? This article will show you.
If you have German ancestors, chances are you’ve encountered some challenges trying to track them down. Changes in jurisdiction and borders, lack of central record keeping, foreign language websites and Old German script are just a few areas that trip up many family historians. This guide will help you overcome these hurdles and discover free resources.
Ready to take an ancestry DNA test to better understand your family’s past, but aren’t sure which one to choose? You’re not alone. Several excellent DNA tests for genealogy are now available for a reasonable cost, but picking the right one for you can be very confusing. What are the differences between each DNA test …
Which Genealogy DNA Test is the Best? A Detailed Comparison Guide to Help You Decide Read More »
The story of Chinese immigrants in America is one of hardship, struggle, perseverance, and solidarity. Although a good deal of Chinese immigration to the US has taken place more recently, it can be traced all the way back to the 1820s. This guide to researching your Chinese ancestry will help you gain an understanding of the history of this migration and discover techniques and free resources for exploring your own family’s past.
If you’ve been hoping to gather your family (or distant genetic cousins) together for a reunion, now’s the time. The majority of family reunions, 65.8% in fact, are held in the summer when vacation time, outdoor venues and easier travel make the process simpler for everyone. But planning a family reunion can seem like a truly monumental task. This simple guide will help you break down the steps and arrange your get together in just one week. Get ready for an adventure!
Ancestry.com is famous for its hints – those little green leaves in your family tree that give you fact suggestions from records and other family trees. These hints are such an important part of research on Ancestry that people become members just to take advantage of them.
Although this information may seem simple, it is not always obvious to beginners how this process works. Kimberly Tucker has taken the time to go over how to download your tree from the big three subscription sites – Ancestry, MyHeritage and FindMyPast – and has also provided links to some additional instructions for other programs.