I have been doing genealogy research as a hobby for several years now and a common question I am asked is “What is Genealogy?” 

Over time this became so much of a pattern that I learned to immediately explain what genealogy is from the start.

Saying the phrase “you know, like Ancestry Research” is usually followed by an “aahhh!” 

It’s funny how a ‘big’ word can make things more complicated.

So let’s jump into this article, answering Frequently Asked Questions!

(Disclaimer: Throughout this article are product link recommendations. RLS Photogenic is an Amazon Associate and earns a small commission from qualifying purchases. There is no extra cost to the buyer. )

What is the meaning of Genealogy? 

Well the definition from Oxford Languages is: pronunciation – ge·ne·al·o·gy, “a line of descent traced continuously from an ancestor. The study and tracing of lines of descent or development. (and also) A plant’s or animal’s line of evolutionary development from earlier forms.” 

Now just to share a fun fact, the term Pedigree is used to describe “the record of descent of an animal, showing it to be purebred.” I once got this trivia answer right at a social gathering, so you never know when this info may come in handy LOL 

So of all this fancy terminology, genealogy is Family History Research

(Sharing this book I own and enjoy for documenting my ancestors, available on amazon)

Our Family Tree from Peter Pauper Press*

Seeking information about the ancestors (parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, etc.), or descendants (children, grandchildren, etc.) 

All of this information together creates a Family Tree. All the branches of relatives that come before, follow after you, and how they are all connected.

That brings us to the next question! 

Can your DNA be different from your story and family history?

The short answer is Yes. This is a challenging aspect when doing genealogy research.

DNA

DNA is the biological genetics that you inherit from your parents. 

The scientific definition from Oxford Languages is “a self-replicating material that is present in nearly all living organisms as the main constituent of chromosomes. It is the carrier of genetic information.”

Your DNA is what connects you to your “blood relatives” so to speak. 

| Related Article | DNA Tests

To order a DNA Kit click here:

Ancestry DNA Kit

Family History

Whereas Family History is the people in your life and relatives that make up your family tree and background. This could be either factual, or what you believe to be true / accept.

That is where things can get complicated. 

It all depends on the scenario. Some families are aware and share information regarding who is biologically related, versus those that are not. But depending on the situation, that information is not always discussed.  

(This is a sweet book for grandparents to bond with their grandchildren. Or to write out stories for when the child is old enough to read it on their own. Also a great gift!)

Memories for my Grandchild

This can lead to secrets that no one ever finds out about. 

Or until the genealogist in your family discovers information, or an unknown relative through either research or DNA testing.

and in turn it can all impact what you believe is/was your family history. Your family will always be your family, but the DNA may not match.  

Why is Genealogy so Important?

So this easily ties back to the previous question, but with more details. 

It is important for a number of reasons. 

It provides an opportunity to learn more about the past and those that came before you. While also providing historical information. Depending on your situation it is also an opportunity for closure, or discovering new relatives.

Here’s a quick list of all the insight genealogy can provide:

• Discover Your Ancestors – This goes without saying but, you wouldn’t be here without them. So why not learn who they were, what they were like, and maybe even how you are similar. 

• Learn More About Yourself. I often think of Nature versus Nurture. Did my grandfather and I absolutely love desserts because our ancestor worked for a candy company? Maybe! Who knows?! But it’s fun to think about.

• Medical Information – Okay so this isn’t exactly joyful but having health information from your ancestors can help to be more aware of medical conditions you may be susceptible to

• Uncover Past Family Secrets – Who doesn’t love a good mystery to solve? Think of yourself as- Nancy Drew or the Bobbsey Twins on the case!

• Connect With New Relatives – This can be scary and intimidating but also so rewarding. I once connected with the daughter of an Uncle that my grandmother never knew she had. Because he stayed in Poland instead of coming to America. 

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• Find Photographs -This has been one of my favorites! I love discovering new pictures that I have never seen before. It’s such an incredible moment to go from just documents to seeing who they were. 

• Have The Opportunity to Share – Family research can be a great conversation and journey to share with family and friends too!

• Lastly, a very important factor to many who start their genealogy research for a specific purpose. Closure. It may not come in the way you expect it, but working towards the answers may be able to provide some peace. The concept of ‘unknowing’ can be a struggle to carry. 

| Related Article: Tips for Organizing Family Paperwork

What are the Best Genealogy Sites?

I primarily use three main websites for my genealogy research. They each provide different types of content and information but work well together. 

Sharing a short video showing how to search for a 1950 census for free:

Ancestry.com 

The Ancestry website is a helpful resource for both genealogy records but also DNA kits. I have tried out other family tree websites before but I prefer this one.

The record collections to browse through are: 

• census
• voter lists
• birth
• marriage 
• death 
• immigration
• travel
• military
• card catalogs
• public member trees

There is also an option to do DNA testing. The results provide insight for places your ancestors were from, ethnicities, and matched by parental side. To learn more about this visit: ancestry.com/dna/ 

(January 2023) Ancestry provides a 14 day free trail. After that there are sign up options ranging from $24.99 to $59.99 per month. Ancestry DNA kits are $99, with an add on option of Traits for $119.

If you’re interested, here is a blog article I wrote about the Risks & Rewards of DNA Testing:

| Related Article: DNA Tests Risks and Rewards

Newspapers.com

I truly love Newspapers.com, I have such a fun time sorting through old news pages seeing the difference between things then and now. 

It is a great resource for finding important pieces of information such as obituaries, announcements for engagements, weddings, and births, work notices, community involvement, school graduations, and so many other news clippings.

You’d be surprised at some of the things you can find! 

I remember discovering little articles like “Mr.and Mrs. Smith were in town visiting their son for the weekend” How cool is that!? To experience little moments of their lives but also helpful facts.

Clearly I get a little excited about this company LOL

(January 2023) Newspapers.com offers a 7 day free trail. Sign up options are Basic $7.95 per month or $44.95 for 6 months Publisher Extra $19.90 per month or $74.60 for 6 Months. 

FindAGrave.com

Okay now FindAGrave.com is an overlooked favorite gem of mine! It is a completely free genealogy website resource all about cemetery and memorial records. 

While that is not the happiest topic to discuss, it is a wealth of information that volunteers assist with. 

I have a separate article all about Find A Grave, so I will share a link here:

| Related Article: Cemeteries Help Family Tree Research

This book is a very helpful guide for understanding the designs and symbols on your loved ones memorials. The imagery tells a story of who that person was beyond just a name and date.

Stories in Stone Book

Extra Genealogy Resources

• Archives.gov
• Ebay
• Google Earth

If you are looking for a gift for a serious genealogist in your life, this book is well detailed on the importance of properly sourcing research:

Genealogy Standards Book

I could go on and on but I will wrap this up for now!

I hope this blog article was able to help explain what genealogy is and the exciting opportunities it offers!

Stay tuned for more articles going into greater detail about these websites. Sign up for my email newsletter so you don’t miss anything! I send one message out every Sunday.

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