"Genealogy (from Ancient Greek γενεαλογία (genealogía) 'the making of a pedigree') is the study of families, family history, and the tracing of their lineages."
Creating a family tree and understanding how to document and organize information about ancestors, such as names, birth and death dates, and important life events.
Basic Terminology: Understanding common genealogy terms such as pedigree chart, ancestor, descendant, lineage, and others is essential for creating accurate and organized family trees.
Research Methods: Learning about genealogical research methods such as oral history interviews, census data, death records, marriage certificates, and more can help you collect information to build your family tree.
Pedigree Charts: Pedigree charts are the most common way of presenting genealogical information, and knowing how to read and create them is crucial for genealogical research.
Family Group Sheets: Family group sheets provide a detailed view of a family unit and are often used in conjunction with pedigree charts to create a more comprehensive family tree.
DNA Testing: DNA testing can be very useful in genealogy research, as it can provide information about ancestry and family relationships that might not be evident from traditional sources.
Immigration and Migration: Understanding immigration and migration patterns can help you trace your family's movements over time and across different locations.
Census Records: Census records can provide important demographic information about your ancestors, such as their occupation, age, birthplace, and more.
Geographic Information Systems (GIS): GIS is a tool that can help you visualize and analyze spatial data, which is useful for understanding geographic patterns in genealogical research.
Digital Tools and Software: There are a variety of digital tools and software programs available that can help you organize and analyze genealogical data more effectively.
Collaborative Research: Collaboration with other genealogists and researchers can help you broaden your knowledge and access new resources for your family tree creation project.
Pedigree Chart: A pedigree chart is the most common type of family tree. It is a diagram that depicts a family's genealogy over several generations, showing the direct ancestors of an individual.
Descendant Tree: A descendant tree or descending genealogy is a family tree that shows the descendants of a particular ancestor. This type of chart begins with one individual and branches out to show all of their descendants.
Ancestor Tree: An ancestor tree or ascending genealogy is a chart that shows the ancestors of a particular individual. This type of chart indicates the parents and grandparents, great-grandparents, and so on.
Fan Chart: A fan chart is a graphical representation of a family's genealogy in which the ancestral lines all radiate out from a central point. This type of chart is used to show relationships within several generations and is most appropriate for ten generations or fewer.
Hourglass Chart: An hourglass chart is a combination of a descendant tree chart and an ancestor tree chart. The chart shows genealogy starting with a single couple at the top and then has two child lines below that, each branching out to show their descendants.
Circular Chart: A circular chart is a genealogy chart that is arranged in a circular format. It helps to show the relationship among the family members and also works well for visualizing circular patterns, such as the twelve-year Chinese zodiac cycle.
Three-ring Binder/Ahnentafel: An Ahnentafel chart is a compact genealogical tree that begins with an individual as number one, followed by their parents and grandparents in a numerical sequence. It is also called a three-ring binder chart, as it fits well in a three-ring binder.
Ahnentafel with Sources: This type of chart combines an Ahnentafel chart with a source citation for each fact. It shows specific relationships and the sources behind those relationships.
Narrative Pedigree: A narrative pedigree is a textual recounting of a person's genealogy rather than a graphical representation. It describes an individual's ancestors and descendants, along with biographical details and events.
Genogram: A genogram is a tool used in family therapy and social work that maps family relationships, including family history and problems. It shows individuals, branches, and relationships, along with personality traits, medical histories, and patterns of behavior.
Visual Family Health History: A visual family health history chart identifies patterns of chronic disease and other health risks within a family. It is used in medical genetics to identify patterns of common diseases.
Photo Family Tree: A photo family tree contains photographs of ancestors, descendants and even spouses. It helps to match face and names for present and future generations.
"Genealogists use oral interviews, historical records, genetic analysis, and other records to obtain information about a family."
"The record of genealogical work may be presented as a 'genealogy', a 'family history', or a 'family tree'."
"The field of family history is broader than genealogy, and covers not just lineage but also family and community history and biography."
"A family history may include additional biographical information, family traditions, and the like."
"The pursuit of family history and origins tends to be shaped by several motives, including the desire to carve out a place for one's family in the larger historical picture, a sense of responsibility to preserve the past for future generations, and self-satisfaction in accurate storytelling."
"Genealogy research is also performed for scholarly or forensic purposes, or to trace legal next of kin to inherit under intestacy laws."
"Genealogists use oral interviews, historical records, genetic analysis, and other records to obtain information about a family and to demonstrate kinship and pedigrees of its members."
"Genealogists use oral interviews, historical records, genetic analysis, and other records to obtain information about a family."
"The results are often displayed in charts or written as narratives."
"In the narrow sense, a 'genealogy' or a 'family tree' traces the descendants of one person."
"A family history traces the ancestors of one person."
"The terms 'genealogy' and 'family history' are often used interchangeably."
"The field of family history is broader than genealogy, and covers not just lineage but also family and community history and biography."
"...including the desire to carve out a place for one's family in the larger historical picture, a sense of responsibility to preserve the past for future generations, and self-satisfaction in accurate storytelling."
"A family history may include additional biographical information, family traditions, and the like."
"The pursuit of family history and origins tends to be shaped by several motives, including the desire to carve out a place for one's family in the larger historical picture..."
"Genealogy research is also performed for scholarly or forensic purposes, or to trace legal next of kin to inherit under intestacy laws."
"Genealogists use...records to...demonstrate kinship and pedigrees of its members."
"Genealogy research is also performed for scholarly or forensic purposes, or to trace legal next of kin to inherit under intestacy laws."