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Genealogical research, preservation and assembling of family trees have been a part of humanity as long as civilized culture has existed and perhaps even beyond. Those interested in uncovering their family lines tend to pursue them out of a desire for self-awareness and nostalgia. more »
Genetic genealogy testing uses markers on a person's DNA to determine relationships and occasionally ethnic origins. more »
Genealogy, one of the most popular hobbies in North America, involves researching and documenting family trees. To begin, a researcher typically gathers information from living family members, such as parents, grandparents and aunts and uncles. After that point, research can cost money. Joining local genealogy societies and sites such... more »
Genealogy's popularity has increased with the advent of the Internet and the numerous online resources now available to help family historians track their ancestors. Before you can track your ancestors online, you will need to begin with old fashioned genealogy techniques that were in practice long before the Internet. more »
Finding dead relatives can be both exhausting and exhilarating. Sometimes the search for the a long dead family member is labor-intensive as you pore over old documents and spend hours staring at a computer screen. Once you find the person you are looking for, however, your tiredness gives way to excitement as you discover a new link... more »
Genealogy is the study of family lineage. By conducting historical research, you can...
Discovering your family history can be a fun and interesting way to learn about where you came...
Researching your family history is a fun way to find out where you came from. Did you come from...
We so rarely get a chance to sit down and enjoy time with our families. Instead, we’re often...
Genealogy is the study of family history and descent, and the tracing of lineages throughout history. Genealogy uses information obtained from... more »
Searching your family tree is very exciting. You will find information about your ancestors and find family members related to you in some way... more »
The first few steps in the search through a family's genealogy can be easier with the use of the Internet by ways of instant communication. Very... more »
Today's families are spread all over the world, making it harder to stay informed about ancestors than it was in the old days when everyone lived... more »
Taking a genealogical vacation is an enjoyable and productive way to learn about family history. Whether you want to retrace your family's... more »
Genealogy (from Greek: , , "generation"; and , , "knowledge") is the study of families and the tracing of their lineages and history. Genealogists use oral traditions, historical records, genetic analysis, and other records to obtain information about a family and to demonstrate kinship and pedigrees of its members. The results are often displayed in charts or written as narratives.
Some scholars differentiate between genealogy and family history, limiting genealogy to an account of kinship, while using "family history" to denote the provision of additional details about lives and historical context.
Overview
Hobbyist genealogists typically pursue their own ancestry and that of their spouses. Professional genealogists may also conduct research for others, publish books on genealogical methods, teach, or work for companies that provide software or online databases. Both try to understand not just where and when people lived, but also their lifestyles, biographies, and motivations. This often requires — or leads to — knowledge of antiquated laws, old political boundaries, migration trends, and historical social conditions.
Genealogists sometimes specialize in a particular group, e.g. a Scottish clan; a particular surname, such as in a one-name study; a small community, e.g. a single village or parish, such as in a one-place study; or a particular, often famous, person. Bloodlines of Salem is an example of a specialized family-history group. It welcomes members who are able to prove descent from a participant of the Salem Witch Trials or who choose simply to support the group.
Genealogists and family historians often join family history societies, where novices can learn from more experienced researchers. Such societies may also index records to make them more accessible, and engage in advocacy and other efforts to preserve public records and cemeteries.
Historical background
Historically, in Western societies the genealogical f read more at » http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genealogy
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