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What is Genealogy?

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So What Is Genealogy?

Let's consider exactly What Is Genealogy and why you might be interested in it? Genealogy is the study of a family's ancestry. It comes from the Greek word "generation" and it can be a great way to connect to your family, history and genetic records all the way back to the beginnings of record keeping.

Starting a genealogy project begins by speaking with your family members. It's often the best way to learn about your family history and can give you a direction to go once their information stops. From there, you can dig into municipal documents like birth, death and wedding certificates. You can also look into census information and property information. Genealogy is a combination of detective work and careful record keeping.

Genealogy is a great way to connect to the world around you. It provides a sense of history and connection. Interested in learning more about your family tree? Start with your living relatives, give them a call and learn where you come from.

Contents at a Glance

Best Selling Geenalogy Books
What Information Do Genealogists Use?
How is Genealogy Information Presented?
What Is Genealogy - Basic Genealogy Guid...
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What Information Do Genealogists Use?

Genealogists use a wide variety of resources to find genealogy information. Before people started recording information using written documents, they used storytelling. In fact, much of your family history is still handed down from generation to generation via storytelling. This means one of the best sources of genealogy information comes from talking directly to family members.

That being said, record keeping is also a reliable source of information for genealogists. Many families have what's called a family bible which is essentially a bible passed down from generation to generation. The information about who's possessed the bible is usually documented in the front and this can be a valuable source of information. Additionally, birth certificates, obituaries, wedding announcements, and census information can all be quite useful.

How is Genealogy Information Presented?

The most common presentation for a family's lineage is the family tree. This is essentially a flow-chart which starts with the ancestors traced back the farthest at the top. Their children, marriages and so on are then branches on the family tree, which extend downward.

A child friendly family tree is often presented as a tree, the trunk being the family core and each branch and leaves are extension of that family.

In addition to the family tree, a family's lineage can be documented in a book, by using a software program or a spreadsheet.