How to Trace Family Name History – 12 Resources

There are many reasons to trace family name history. Are you tracing family history to see if there is nobility in your family? Do you want to create a family tree? Are you looking for ancestors to uncover a family mystery? Here are 12 resources to begin to trace family name history.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

1. Genealogy Research Basics
   
   To keep your research organized the best way to trace your family history is with basic genealogy research and starting a family tree. Interview family members including grandparents, parents, aunts and uncles, close and distant cousins, and any other family members within the past two generations of the family. Call, email, or send a letter and ask about these criteria:
   • Complete names (married and maiden names) of individuals in their family.
   • Where they lived (with addresses if possible.)
   • Dates of birth and location.
   • Were they in the military, what branch, and when.
   • When they were married with location.
   • Death information about other members of the family including date and location.
   • Ask if they have access to pictures of their relatives since many have information written on the back.

2. Find Family History with Family Bibles
   
   In the past the family bible was passed down within the family and dates of births, weddings, and deaths were written on the front and back pages.

3. Family Ancestors Found in Old Letters
   
   Older generations valued and kept letters they received from lovers, friends, their soul mate in the service, etc. This information is fun to read, but also a great way to gather more information on your family ancestors. Make sure you write down the return address, also, since this may lead you to another family member.

4. Genealogy Research to Find Ancestors
   
   Go to government websites to find legal documents for the family members you have found. See the resource below for information about government websites to help with a genealogy search. Look for:
   • Deeds,
   • Wills,
   • Birth certificates,
   • Marriage license,
   • Voter registration, and
   • Adoption records.

5. Finding Family History Includes Association Research
   
   There are many associations and/or clubs past generations belonged to. Check out lodges, Masons, clubs (such as Lion’s Club), churches, and the VFW or other Veterans groups to get further information to trace family name history.

6. Include Genealogy Data in Your Research
   
   A genealogy search includes finding information from census data. The National Archives and Records Administration can be a resource to find age, place of birth, occupation, personal wealth, education, spouse, children, hired hands, and even immigration information for family members. (www.archives.gov.).

7. Trace Family History with Naturalizations Records
   
   Naturalizations for pre-1906 can be found in that state’s archives. For Naturalizations After 1906 go to the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). (www.archives.gov/genealogy/naturalization)

8. Find Ancestors at Grave Sites
   
   If you know where someone lived there is a good chance that is where they were buried. Go to the grave sites and the headstones will give important dates and additional family name information.

9. Family History Library Resources
   
   Visit your local library to go online to find books on local history, newspaper information, and different types of announcements including birth, marriage, obituaries, and divorce. There are two libraries where you may find additional family name history. The Allen County Public Library in Indiana has the second largest genealogical collection in the US and the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, UT.

10. Genealogy Message Boards
    
    Use your web browser and type in "genealogy message boards". There are an abundant number of these you can find and get a lot of information for your family history research.

11. Research Family History - Military Records.
    
    Use your web browser and type in ‘military records’ to look for records for your family. A good resource is NARA (www.archives.gov/st-louis/military-personnel).

12. Tracing Family History – Family Pedigrees
    
    Linked research on your family is a family pedigree. Access an individual's family group sheet and get access to all of the records that are linked to that individual at Kindred Connections (www.kindredkonnections.com/index.html) and the Family History Library (www.familysearch.org/Eng/Library/FHL/frameset_library.asp).

Tips & Warnings

• Use these genealogy resources when tracing family name history. These 12 research resources will provide an immense amount of information and lead to you to additional information. No matter why you are interested in your ancestors genealogy research is complicated, grows larger all the time, and is very interesting and rewarding.

Resources

• How to Access Government Genealogy Records
• How to Structure an Interview for Genealogy Research

[MrBB]

on 6/24/2009 Very in depth article. Thanks for sharing.

[Merriment]

on 6/15/2009 All are great resources for tracing family members and learning family heritage!

[gahazeleyes]

on 6/15/2009 Thanks for the information.

[Upon-Request]

on 6/15/2009 Great tips and resources for filling in the family tree! 5*

[jenicoe2001]

on 6/14/2009 great tips on tracing family name history using 12 resources! 5*