August 01, 2003Genealogy Blog Archives |
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Origins of Italian SurnamesDid you know that COLOMBO means dove keeper? Or that FERRARI is basically the Italian version of SMITH? Learn how to uncover the origin of your Italian surname!08:31 PM # Sticky PicturesA question I receive quite frequently from my readers regards the seemingly impossible task of removing precious family photos from old photo albums. Have you ever tried dental floss or the microwave? Forum members also share their tips on deacidifying the pictures once you do get them out of the album.09:11 AM # Ancestor ABCsSince my oldest child is starting 5th grade next week, we've been starting to get ready for the new school year. This, of course, got me thinking about what school was like for my grandparents and great-grandparents. Did you know that many school and alumni records have been preserved and include fascination details and statistics about your ancestors?11:11 AM # Top 100 Scottish SurnamesANDERSON, CAMPBELL, MCDONALD, SCOTT, SMITH, STEWART... Are you one of the millions of people sporting one of these common Scottish last names? If so, then don't miss this list of the most commonly occurring surnames in Scotland, including details on each name's origin, meaning, and alternate spellings.Related Resources: Researching Your Scottish Roots 07:21 AM # Father of Popular GenealogyConsidered by many as the father of the popular genealogy movement, Alexander Murphy Palmer Haley was born on August 11, 1921 in Ithaca, New York. Alex Haley's quest to learn more about his family history and his African American ancestor, Kunta Kinte, resulted in his writing the Pulitzer Prize-winning book "Roots." The book, published in 37 languages, was adapted into the first week-long television mini-series, viewed by an estimated 130 million people and generating a widespread interest in genealogy.Related Resources: African American Genealogy 101 Family Trees of Famous African Americans 10:23 AM # Genealogy - State By StateDiscover a wealth of genealogical resources for each U.S. state - including free online databases, state libraries, archives, and historical societies - and learn how to access these treasures from home.09:15 PM # New Google Search FeatureGoogle introduced a new advanced search feature today that allows users to search not only for a particular keyword, but also for its synonyms. To use this feature, just place a ~ character directly in front of the relevant keyword in the search box. For example, a search for "happ ~genealogy" would not only bring up sites that include 'happ and genealogy," but also "happ and family tree," "happ and family history," and even "happ and surname." Try it for yourself!Related Resource: More Google Search Tips for Genealogists 06:07 PM # Is Your Hair Loss Hereditary?If you're over 20 and your hair is starting to thin, the culprit is probably hidden in your family tree. Approximately 95 percent of men and 70 percent of women with thinning hair can attribute it to a hereditary condition called Androgenetic Alopecia. Hereditary hair loss affects all ethnicities and can be inherited from either the mother's or father's side of the family. Because baldness is determined by a number of genetic factors, it may or may not skip generations.Marked by a progressive miniaturization of hair follicles, hereditary hair loss is caused by a shortening of the hair's growth cycle. As the growth phase shortens, the hair becomes thinner and shorter until, eventually, there is no growth at all. Male-pattern and female-pattern androgenetic alopecia are not only very common, they are very treatable. Both surgical and medical hair loss treatments have high rates of success. One treatment involves applying a lotion, minoxidil, to the scalp twice a day. Another hair loss treatment for men is a daily pill containing finasteride, a drug that blocks the formation of the active male hormone in the hair follicle. Because hereditary hair loss is gradual, the sooner treatment is started, the better the chances of results. Checking your family tree to see if you have a possible genetic predisposition to hair loss might help you recognize the symptoms early enough to slow the progression. Related Resources: Tracing Your Family Health History Determining Your Ancestry Through DNA 04:08 PM # Man Arrested for Internet Genealogy Scams!Elias Abodeely II of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the man behind several genealogy Web site scams, has been arrested and charged with 1st degree theft, identity theft, money laundering, and ongoing criminal conduct according to local NBC affiliate KWWL. Over the past three years, Elias Abodeely has taken advantage of hundreds of unsuspecting genealogists with Web sites such as FamilyDiscovery.com, Genseekers.com, and GenealogyGiants.com. His Web sites not only tried to make money by charging for links to information that had been freely posted on the Web by magnanimous volunteers on sites such as Rootsweb.com, but also billed people's credit cards after not allowing them to cancel their free trial memberships. Investigators claim that Abodeely's three-year genealogy scam netted at least $14,000, according to an article by Christoph Trappe in the Cedar Rapids Gazette.Discuss this in the About Genealogy forum 06:12 PM # |
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