How to Find Out Where Your Family Originated
Everyone has ethnic ancestors. An ethnic group is one that has a socially distinct cultural heritage. To keep ethnic identities alive, certain cultural features are handed down from one generation to the next. Perhaps you are descended from several different ethnic groups. Many people who research their family history do so to discover who their immigrant ancestors were, determining which ancestors were first in the family line to come to America. By utilizing the abundance of genealogical resources and tools available today, it's fairly easy to find out where your family originated.
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Instructions
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Study your surname. Learning your surname's meaning may help point you to an ancestral homeland. Last names came about gradually as populations in different places increased to the point that a single surname was no longer a sufficient identifier. People then added a father's name (known as a patronymic), an occupation, a physical characteristic or a place or landmark (a habitational name) to distinguish themselves from others who shared the same first name.
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Explore family traditions. The language your grandparents spoke, holiday or religious customs or family recipes may provide clues to your ethnic origins. Relatives may be able answer questions about your heritage or why certain traditions have been passed down in the family. If these connections have been lost, consult books or Internet resources.
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Explore genealogical records from family sources, online, or in print to learn the name of your ancestral town or village.
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Pinpoint the location of your ancestral town or village using maps or gazetteers (geographical dictionaries), and study its history to learn more about the inhabitants, language and culture.
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Take a DNA test. DNA testing (once used just for proving paternity and solving crimes) is now a popular tool for genealogical research---primarily as a way of breaking through information barriers to confirm or disprove family legends once the paper trail grows cold.
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Tips & Warnings
Patronymic naming conventions vary, depending on the language and culture.
Consult genealogy magazines such as Family Tree Magazine, or Family Chronicle Magazine for articles on surnames and ethnic heritage.
If you're looking to identify a particular ancestry, such as African, American Indian, Cohanim (a Jewish tribe) or tribes of Britain (Celtic and Anglo-Saxon), check with DNA-testing companies for tests that include additional analysis to compare your results with those typical of a certain ethnicity.
Genetic genealogy complements traditional research. Don't use it as a substitute for talking to relatives or viewing official documents and records.
DNA testing can be pricey (ranging from $100 to $300 and up), so shop around for the best service that suits your needs.
