How Do I Find My Cherokee Ancestors?
Finding Cherokee ancestors requires homework. You will not find all of the answers in one place. Use as many resources as possible to search for your ancestors. This is the best way to gather accurate information.
Other People Are Reading
-
Census Rolls
-
To use Cherokee census rolls, you will need to know the names, time frames, and locations of your ancestors. Cherokee census rolls are available as far back as 1817 and extend to the 1920s (see References).
National Archives
-
The National Archives house a variety of documents on the Cherokee tribe, including documents from the Bureau of Indian Affairs, tribe enrollment records, and the Cherokee Indian Agency. Some records are available online, while others you can request by mail for a small fee.
-
Guidebooks
-
Guidebooks on Cherokee ancestry are available. These books provide easy-to-follow direction and often hold needed forms for record requests. A popular Cherokee guidebook is Thomas G. Mooney's "Exploring Your Cherokee Ancestry: A Basic Genealogical Research Guide," published in 1992.
-
References
More Like This
Comments
-
Teresa Susan Miller, sure, real through all this stuff. I just recgnized the "dawes rolls", that is what my grandfather was actually found on which means we are genuine Cherokee. You have to be at least 1/16th and I think either I was or I was 1/8 and my kids are 1/16. I think that is where you start, if your relatives are on that list, you are entitled to land or a house or something. It does take a while, we did get a letter from the Cherokee Nation saying we are on that list but haven't heard since then. Hey, I'll move to Oklahoma for free land or a free house, no problem, lol
-
Lona Collins Miller Thanks, Lona!
-
we have Cherokee ancestors on my mom's side. There is an actual list back when Jackson was President and if your family's name is on that list, you are entitled to land or something in Oklahoma. Our name was found on that list, that is all I know so far but I will find out how my sister found all this out for you. You have to be listed officially on the Cherokee records or they won't really recognize you as Cherokee even if you really are one. I"ll find out for you
-
Trying to go about finding Cherokee Ancestors, anyone know how or any suggestions about doing this it seems to be involved...
