You want to know where your last name came from. You want to know what secrets it may hold about your family, about your ancestors’ lives or at least where they lived. You can certainly find out much interesting information about your ancestors from tracing the origin of your surname. There is a good chance your surname indicates where your family originally lived. Or it may tell you what one of your male ancestor’s names was. It may also tell you what your ancestor did for a living. However, it is not as straightforward as it sounds. There are many pitfalls to encounter when tracing the origin of your surname. First, the spelling of surnames... 

When we think of tracing our family history, very often surnames are what come to mind first. We tend to think of our last name and wonder what kind of a history our family had with that surname, where it came from. It is certainly true that surnames are surrounded with history and maybe a little mystery. Surnames were first used by those people who gathered in large numbers to engage in trade because there was a need for more specific identification. Over time, the use of surnames filtered down to the agricultural communities, which had less of a need for such extensive identification of their people. Surnames generally stem from one of four... 

Do you know where your ancestors lived? Do you know how your family came to be where they are? Have they lived in the same place for a long time? What kind of a life did your ancestors lead? These are all questions most of us have asked ourselves at one time or another. These questions stem from our need to feel a sense of history and a sense of where we have come from, a sense of who we are. While tracing your family tree is a hobby, it is possibly the most meaningful hobby in which you will ever engage. It is not an inexpensive hobby. Although there are free resources that you can take advantage of to accomplish the goal of tracing your family... 

Yes, court records can hold valuable information for the person on the genealogical quest. Court records do not necessarily mean that your relatives or ancestors actually had to attend criminal court. It merely means that there are certain proceedings that must be signed by a judge. There are four types of court documentation that is relevant to a genealogical search. These are: 1. Adoption records – These records are very difficult to access, although useful if you can gain that access. They contain the full name of the adoptee, the names of the birth parents, and the names of the adopting parents. This gives an adopted person two families... 

If it has been filled out properly, a birth certificate can contain an incredible amount of information. Even if you think you already know everything you need to know about an individual, it is still wise to get a copy of the birth certificate. You may have gotten information about your grandfather second-hand from your aunt and there may be holes in what she knows. Maybe she knew your grandfather’s mother’s maiden name, but the spelling was wrong. The point is, it never hurts to at least verify the information you have been given. There are generally three types of birth certificates: 1. Original – this is the record filed at the time... 

While the marriage certificate is a great resource in order to verify the names of the bride and groom, who may be your great-grandparents, they may provide you with information you never expected to find. Marriage records can come in three different formats. These are: 1. Marriage License – This is the license the bride and groom obtained in order to be married in the town, county, district, or parish. The certificate is obtained from the proper civil authorities, generally the clerk in the court office. This is the most valuable record in which to find information as it usually contains the couple’s names, ages, residences, race,... 

This is a question many of us ask ourselves. Having a sense of history and belonging is important to people. Knowing where we came from, who our ancestors were, helps us get in touch with our own identity. You may find out that you came from a family of survivors. Maybe your family was once very wealthy, or part of nobility. Maybe your family led an honest life as simple peasants. Whatever the case, it is incredibly interesting to peak into the past and get a glimpse of the people who helped make us who we are today. How do you go about such a daunting task as researching your family tree? Oddly enough, to find out about the past you need to begin... 

Vital records are an invaluable source of information when you are on the genealogy journey. These records include birth, death, and marriage certificates and adoption records. While it may be tempting to start your records search with the birth of a family member, it is actually better to begin with the death certificate simply because it is the most recent record of that person and it may be the only record. There may not be any birth or marriage records for the ancestor you are researching. This means that it may be the most accessible and the most accurate document you can find for that person. You may also need a copy of the death certificate... 

You are researching your family tree and you have run up against a brick wall. You have spoken to everyone you can find in your family and have scoured photo albums, attics, and shoe boxes to find any documentation to be had about your family. Where do you look next? Your next most effective tool for tracking down your family history is through vital records, particularly birth certificates. Since birth certificates are very private documents, they can be difficult to obtain, but they can also contain a wealth of information if they were filled out properly so it is well worth the trouble of getting a copy of them. Whose birth certificate do you... 

There are two broad groupings of census information that you need to be aware of: census information taken between 1850 and 1930 and census information taking prior to 1850. If you are looking through census information taken between 1850 and 1930, then you are in luck. These censuses are extremely detailed and the head count is incredibly accurate. Unfortunately, prior to 1850, the censuses were not nearly as accurate. They only listed the name of the head of the household and the number of other people in the house in selected age groups. What information can you glean from a census report? If you begin with the 1930 census, you will very likely...