| Genealogy is the word we use to talk about the | | | | shed light on relatives' known locations. |
| study of tracking family lineage back into the | | | | To avoid any difficulties or misunderstandings, it is |
| obscurity of time. Because of this kind of study | | | | recommended that when starting your own |
| and through the research that goes along with it, | | | | family tree, location should be written in this order: |
| individuals are able to build connections to people | | | | from the smallest to the largest place, such that |
| around them that they may or may not know, | | | | towns come before counties, which are then |
| who are part of their extended family. | | | | followed by the state and then the country. This |
| But as the Latin root logy implies, Genealogy is a | | | | kind of attention to detail saves a lot of work and |
| study, which entails research-related work that | | | | trouble for the beginning genealogist. |
| includes gathering the names of relatives, both | | | | The next vital factor is given name. In the past, |
| living and deceased in order to complete the work | | | | given names or first names didn't figure |
| of genealogy. Apart from this, those who seek to | | | | prominently in the study of genealogy, but now it |
| delve into this extraordinarily complex task must | | | | seems to be an important factor because given |
| establish a relationship among members of the | | | | names reveal a certain pattern or preference that |
| family on primary, secondary or incidental facts. | | | | parents have when it comes to naming their |
| Genealogists, as we call those who have | | | | offspring. For example, parents sometimes name |
| dedicated their lives to this profession, must be | | | | their children after parents or grandparents, which |
| familiar with 5 key elements to tracing lineage in | | | | helps the genealogist affirm the linear relationship |
| order to arrive at a successful family tree | | | | among family members. |
| completion. | | | | The fourth factor is date. Dates in genealogical |
| The first important factor is one's family name. | | | | research vary but can be helpful in confirming |
| Your family name, otherwise known as your last | | | | relations. Dates may pertain to dates of birth, |
| name or surname, defines you as belonging to a | | | | death, marriage or baptism and can be found in |
| group of people bonded together by blood or | | | | documents from the church, census, military and |
| marriage - a family in short. Think of your last | | | | others. Social Security Death and International |
| name as a form of taxonomy. Family names are | | | | Genealogical Indexes may also prove helpful in |
| like species names - indicators that a certain | | | | providing dates for the research. |
| animal belongs to a group maintaining similarities, | | | | Lastly, there is the employment factor. This |
| the way our family names define our similarities | | | | enables genealogists to narrow down their search |
| with the rest of our family. | | | | by confirming ancestors' jobs or careers, |
| For most genealogists, this is an important step in | | | | especially if there is a choice between two names |
| research, as family names commonly originate | | | | that are exactly the same. Knowing what your |
| from the father, or a specific location (a place or | | | | ancestors did for a living can be a huge advantage |
| a hometown). It can also come from one's | | | | in the quest for a complete family tree. |
| profession, as most modern-day Bakers and | | | | To get employment information, birth, death and |
| Potters probably already know what their | | | | marriage records remain vital sources of data. |
| ancestors did for a living. | | | | Alternatives to these records include city |
| Documents necessary to trace family names are | | | | directories, obituary records, and the Social |
| birth, death and marriage certificates as well as | | | | Security Administration. |
| census records. | | | | These five factors give you the keys to unlocking |
| The second key to genealogy is location, which | | | | your family's past and tracing your ancestors to |
| helps genealogists trace relatives on the basis of | | | | gain full insight into yourself and into your family. |
| where they lived and came from. For this, land, | | | | By using these tools wisely, you'll be able to |
| court, probate and estate records need to be | | | | complete your journey of self-discovery |
| probed in order to reveal information that will | | | | successfully. |