| If you are just starting your Genealogical | | | | distant ancestors?How have these relatives |
| Research it can be puzzling how to start! These | | | | described their lives to you?What have you learnt |
| are questions which from working with members | | | | from them about their childhood, adolescence, |
| of our Genealogy Websites over the year we | | | | schooling, marriage, work, religion, political activity, |
| have discovered are an excellent starting point for | | | | recreation?Do they enjoy discussing their family |
| your research.If there is one piece of advice that | | | | history or their own past or are they reluctant |
| every genealogist should take to heart it is make | | | | to?Do their memories tend to cluster about |
| sure that you talk to the living members of your | | | | certain topics or time periods and avoid |
| family before they become your ancestors!Here | | | | others?Are there things in your family history that |
| are a whole range of questions that the you can | | | | you would like to know, but no one will tell |
| answer for yourself and may be able to use | | | | you?Do various relatives tell the same stories in |
| when "interviewing" family members. Part of the | | | | different ways and how do these versions |
| fascination of genealogy is not only finding out | | | | differ?Do you have a notorious, famous or indeed |
| "where we have come from" but also "what it | | | | infamous character in your family's past?Do you |
| was like" when our ancestors were alive and the | | | | relish stories about him/her?Do you feel that the |
| sort of lives they and their families lived.What do | | | | their fame or infamy may have grown as stories |
| you know about your family surname? Its | | | | passed down about him/her have become |
| origin?What do you know about the meaning of | | | | elaborated?How did your parents, grandparents, |
| your family names?Did the family name undergo | | | | and other relatives come to meet and marry?Are |
| change over the years and are there stories | | | | there family stories of lost love, jilted brides, |
| about the change?Are there any traditional first | | | | unusual courtships, arranged marriages, |
| names, middle names, or nicknames in your | | | | elopements, runaway lovers?Have your family |
| family?Is there a tradition in naming children? This | | | | played a part in the bigger historical picture?With |
| might be always giving the firstborn son the name | | | | the answers to these questions from various |
| of his paternal grandfather or a traditional family | | | | relatives and your own answers to them you |
| name as one of their first names?Can you | | | | have the start of a great Family History and a |
| determine if there are traditions in different | | | | very personal and living one!Paul is Head of |
| branches of your family?Does a specific | | | | Training for a major UK Charitable Organisation |
| ancestor's name reappear in many branches of | | | | with a wealth of experience in personal |
| your family?What stories have come down to | | | | development, management development, |
| you from or about your parents and/or | | | | e-learning and operational management. |
| Grandparents?Are there stories from more | | | | |