Genealogy Learning & Guidance
By Kimberly Powell, About.com Guide to Genealogy
Diving into your family history can be an amazing adventure - one in which the learning never ends. Whether you're a genealogy novice just looking to learn a little bit more about your ancestors or the meaning of your last name, or a more experienced researcher wanting to explore new horizons, you'll find a wide variety of lessons, tutorials, case studies and other guidance to help you on your way.
- Get Started
- Choose a Genealogy Software Program
- Organize and Record Your Research
- Analyze & Evaluate What You've Found
Get Started
Learn the basics of family history research, how to make sense of what you discover, how to organize and record the data you collect, and how to use the Internet to discover more about your ancestors. Plus, advice on those beginner mistakes you'll want to avoid.
- The Basics: Begin Tracing Your Family Tree
- 10 First Steps for Finding Your Roots
- Common Genealogy Questions & Answers
Choose a Genealogy Software Program
Many family history enthusiasts find that a software program can be an excellent tool for organizing and saving their family history. A good genealogy program also makes printing reports and family history books, and exchanging family history information with your relatives much easier. I offer guidance on choosing the right genealogy software for you, along with ratings and reviews of the popular family tree software programs.
- Which Genealogy Software is Best?
- Family Tree Software Roundup - Reviews & Ratings
- Family Tree Software for Windows
- Family Tree Software for Macintosh
- Web-Based or Online Software & Family Tree Tools
- Family Tree Tools & Utilities
Organize and Record Your Research
Genealogists use a variety of charts, forms, systems and standards in an effort to organize and record the piles of data that seem to accumulate during the course of their research. Learn how to use these tools to help you keep track of your own family tree.
- How to Fill Out Genealogy Charts
- Download & Print Free Genealogy Charts & Forms
- Binders, Notebooks or Folders? Organize Your Paper Files
Analyze & Evaluate What You've Found
How do you know if the Ernie Powell you found in the 1900 census is really your great grandpa? Did your ancestors come from Poland or Ukraine since the records conflict? Now that you've pulled together names, dates, naturalization records, marriage certificates and family photos, it's time to analyze the bits and pieces and pull them together into a family tree.
Skills, Strategies & Techniques
As with most hobbies and professions, genealogy research requires a special set of skills and research strategies.
- How to Read & Understand Old Handwriting
- Abstracting & Transcribing Genealogical Documents
- How to Request Information & Documents by Postal Mail
- Cluster Genealogy - A Research Technique
Surnames & Heraldry
Have you ever wondered what your last name means? Why the spelling of your family's surname has changed over time? If there's a coat of arms or family crest in your family's past? The last names we bear play a very important role in the history of our family.
- How to Find the Origin of Your Surname
- Glossary of Surname Meanings & Origins
- Why Your Ancestor May Have Changed Their Name
- 10 Tips for Finding Alternate Surname Spellings & Variations
- Searching for Smiths: Strategies for Common Names
- Naming Patterns
- 10 Top Places to Locate Maiden Names
- 100 Most Common U.S. Surnames & Their Meanings
- More Surname Meanings (German, Polish, Spanish...)
How to Trace Your Family Tree in...
Once you trace your family tree back several generations it's likely that your research will take you to a new country. While the basic research strategies remain the same, each country has its own individual records, resources and history.
