Genealogy: Bringing Your Family’s Past to the Present

By Linda Orlando

You don’t have to be a professional genealogist to know how to research your family’s history. There are professionals around who can be paid to unearth the secrets of your lineage, but doing the research yourself is where all the fun and excitement of genealogy comes into play. And it’s not hard to get started, if you know what questions to ask and how to find the information.

The first question a budding genealogist should have is how to begin. Obviously the starting point is the easiest part of the journey, because your family tree can start with you. Record the names of everyone in your immediate family, and as many names as you can in your extended family. Note each person’s major life events on ancestor charts. Fill in as much detail as you already know, then start talking to people. Interview your relatives—especially older ones—and ask them if they have any documents such as family Bibles or baby books that can provide you with information. Don’t forget to enjoy the interviews and visits in between making notes. What you learn about your heritage, especially from older people in your family, is more important than seeing how many generations back you can go.

Sometimes your last name can provide a little insight into where your family’s roots are. Although the same surname may originate in different places and have different meanings, it may be that your present surname is actually different from the original. Immigrants who came to America decades ago may have changed the spelling of their name to "anglicize" it and make it easier to understand. Surnames have existed for only about 1,000 years, and often were created to differentiate people according to their trade or the place they lived. Finding out the origins of your family name may be very eye-opening. There are many books and websites available that can help you in this quest.

Many people who are curious about their roots may think that the search will be relatively quick and that they will happen to find part or all of their family tree already done somewhere. That doesn’t usually happen. However, some public libraries have collections of local historical and genealogical societies that contain useful information. There are also many records available on the Internet that might offer you some insight. You can search through the Library of Congress and Family History Library catalogs to review published genealogies, but remember that most of them contain at least some inaccuracies because of the wealth of information from sometimes sketchy sources.

There are several excellent genealogy software packages available that can help you create a family tree and keep records of all the information you find along the way. Some of the best available are RootsMagic 3.0, The Master Genealogist, and Legacy Family Tree 6.0. Almost all family tree software does a good job of letting you enter your family data, organize it in a variety of ways, and print out the information in a wide variety of formats. The programs features and extras differ widely, and generally the more they cost, the more useful they are. Most genealogy software programs offer free trial versions or a money-back guarantee, so you can try before you buy.

The One-Stop Beginner’s Genealogy guide on About.com is a terrific place to start for budding genealogists who want to get up to speed quickly with the best advice and most useful tips. Go there and read enough to get you started, then start making notes and asking questions. Before you know it, your family tree will be in full bloom!