| The word genealogy derives from the Greek | | | | as well as things like land sales and purchases. |
| "genea," meaning family or race, or "genos" | | | | Local newspapers maintain archives where you |
| meaning race. It is the study of lineage, tracing | | | | can search for your family members' names. |
| family roots as far as possible into the past. | | | | Another early step should be interviewing the |
| There was a time when your lineage dictated | | | | oldest family members. Get the names of their |
| your place in life, your future, and your possibilities. | | | | fathers, mothers, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and |
| In many parts of the world, this still holds true. In | | | | cousins. Perhaps more personally satisfying, listen |
| democratic societies, lineage may be important, | | | | to their memories and the stories they learned |
| but it does not dictate your future earnings or | | | | about your family from their oldest relatives. This |
| social position. | | | | should be an early step, as you can't know how |
| However, your ancestors bequeathed to you | | | | long they will be around. And the information you |
| your genetic make-up and a history of events | | | | gather from them will give you invaluable clues to |
| that do contribute a great deal to who you are. | | | | follow later. |
| Why should anyone want to attempt genealogical | | | | Conducting genealogical research, you become an |
| research? | | | | investigator. You find clues you don't even know |
| Today's world is busy and crowded. It's easy to | | | | are clues until you learn that one fact that puts it |
| lose touch with your personal roots. Understanding | | | | together. You find friends of friends of friends |
| your family's history helps you have a solid sense | | | | that can help. Like Sherlock Holmes or a crime |
| of who you are and where you're going. | | | | scene investigator, you find the evidence, analyze |
| Genealogical research strengthens your sense of | | | | it, and track down more leads. |
| self in a world of relative strangers. | | | | Using the internet as a source is both fun and |
| Genealogical research helps you re-connect with | | | | profitable. You'll find many websites dedicated to |
| long-lost relatives, discover and form relationships | | | | genealogical research that not only give you |
| with new ones, and bring your modern family | | | | access to national and international databases of |
| together with a common purpose. Learning about | | | | surnames, family branches, and nationalities but |
| your family's ancestors is a way to honor them | | | | that also offer tips and guides that will help you |
| and their contributions to your life. | | | | through your journey into the past. You can also |
| Solving the mystery of your family's history helps | | | | find public records online that contain information in |
| you learn about important historical events that | | | | places you can't afford to travel. |
| brought your family to where they are today. It | | | | Many families already have websites devoted to |
| lends understanding and appreciation for the | | | | their line. Scottish clans, for example, already have |
| hardships and victories that formed your family's | | | | a huge amount of research online. You may get |
| values, hopes, and fears. | | | | lucky and find that a distant relative has already |
| Genealogical research also turns up some very | | | | done much of the work for you. |
| unexpected surprises. People learn about | | | | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints |
| ancestors with colorful and interesting lives - from | | | | offers free to the public access to its Family |
| the illegitimate child who bore the father of | | | | History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, and over |
| royalty to the hero who saved a village to the | | | | 3,000 Family History Centers in 64 countries |
| villain who plundered it. People learn that their | | | | worldwide. While established and maintained to |
| ancestry includes different races and combines | | | | help Mormons trace their ancestry, the |
| different cultures. Some people even find long-lost | | | | information is available to everyone. |
| rich uncles and vast inheritances! | | | | If you enjoy your research project, you'll probably |
| In North America, where most people descend | | | | want to join online communities of genealogical |
| from immigrants, genealogical research helps you | | | | researchers like you. You can share your |
| locate far-away family branches. There's no | | | | problems and find solutions that others have |
| better reason to travel around the world than to | | | | already used. You can get hints and tips on where |
| meet "new" relatives, who are also a great | | | | and how to find information. You may even find a |
| source of interesting tales about your common | | | | distant relative who's engaged in the same pursuit. |
| ancestors. | | | | Most countries have organizations and associations |
| Sometimes, genealogical research can turn up | | | | devoted to genealogical research. Family History |
| information to help you understand some rare and | | | | Societies and governmental agencies have |
| mysterious medical condition that seems to plague | | | | archives and records about families in their |
| your family. What you learn might help you | | | | country and information on migration patterns and |
| identify both genetic and environmental causes | | | | times. |
| and solutions for the problem. In some cases, it | | | | Genealogical research is an interesting, exciting |
| might convince you to adopt rather than have | | | | project that will produce information about your |
| your children naturally. | | | | family and your ancestors to enrich your life and |
| Many people have gathered enough interesting, | | | | your relationships. It often becomes a family |
| entertaining information about their family to write | | | | project, bringing together relatives who hardly |
| a book, even a best-seller. Others keep it within | | | | speak. The more you learn, the more you want |
| the family and create an heirloom volume that | | | | to learn, and family friends will want to be part of |
| future generations will cherish. | | | | the adventure. |
| Okay. I want to learn about my ancestry. Where | | | | On a personal level, genealogical research can |
| do I start? | | | | enhance your sense of self, help you feel more |
| Before you begin, you should know that | | | | grounded in this world, and give you a new |
| genealogical research can be difficult, | | | | perspective on your life and future. Think of your |
| time-consuming, and frustrating. You'll run into | | | | reaction at learning you're related to a famous |
| dead-ends and go on wild goose chases. But the | | | | political figure or, on the other hand, an infamous |
| benefits well out-weigh the costs. | | | | villain. You might even be in a line of kings! |
| A good beginning for your genealogical research is | | | | You'll never know about your family history until |
| to search through public records in communities | | | | you take that first step on your journey into the |
| where your family has lived. Local governments | | | | past. |
| maintain records of births, marriages, and deaths | | | | |