Just like with any new project beginning genealogical research can be daunting. The biggest question as you sit down is most likely where should I start? Should you start with a person, a particular branch of your family tree, or gathering sources? I would like to remind you to take a deep breath first. Although it’s wonderful to begin with a narrowed goal, such as researching a particular family member, it’s easiest to begin on a topic area that is narrowed but can be explored broadly. Personally, I would suggest beginning with a particular person on your tree. This is a topic area that can be broadly explored due to the many different relations you could discover as you track the person across time unlike narrowed and perhaps frustrating care you would have to take in researching an individual ancestor on your tree.
Even after you have decided to explore one person on your tree you may still find that the research process feels overwhelming. Again, that it is ok, remember not to be too hard on yourself. It’s your first time after all! Remember to look at “vital sources,” wedding certificates, birth certificates, etc. These sources might help you track the journey of the person. If you still find that you are having trouble tracking the person or have hit a wall in discovering sources to help trace the person you may want to consider alterations to the name that have occurred throughout time.
Alterations that you may observe as you research a person will most likely come across in records as an Americanization, alternate aliases or (AKAs) that an individual ancestor went by, and or phonetic spellings and pronunciations. Out of this list of possible alternatives, you may be the most unfamiliar with what Americanization is. It is a process where an ancestor who immigrated will change their name to match American values, beliefs, and or customs of society. Including making their name more easily comprehensible or pronounceable in America. You may also find Phonetic spellings and pronunciations recorded in sources due to record keepers’ abilities to understand and spell the surname of your ancestors, or a lack of full literacy on the part of your ancestors. The only other type of alteration you might notice as you research the names is abbreviation. However, if you are beginning your research by tracking a person it is unlikely that you find it abbreviated. In later research activities as you track an individual ancestor’s records it should be noted that abbreviations of first names can sometimes be written down instead of their full legal name.
I hope that this small post has provided you with at least a starters pack of ideas to help jumpstart your first genealogical research project! In later blog posts I will be discussing how to organize your research findings. If you at all are still struggling, I urge you to check out my longer form explanations in the form of my webinars, also located on this website under the webinars tab. If you need any further help, please don’t hesitate to contact me. My contact information is listed at the top of the website. Thank you for reading my genealogy friends and good luck as you continue your journey to build your family trees’!
Winona I Laird
The Genealogy Granny
