You never met them, but without
them you wouldn't be here. They're your ancestors; those long-forgotten people
whose lives were so different, yet so similar, to yours today. Why study these
people who are long gone and buried? Well, think about it. If just one of the
thousands of your direct ancestors didn't exist, you wouldn't either. If your
great-great-great-great-great-grandmother never met your
great-great-great-great-great-grandfather, your significant other would never
have met you because, well, you wouldn't be alive.
Besides honoring the significance of your ancestors, studying your family's
genealogy can just be plain fascinating. There are so many things you can learn,
such as why you or your parents grew up on one location or another. For example,
if one of your ancestors was a Hessian soldier used by the British to fight the
American colonists, you might find some relatives living in Pennsylvania, which
had a large population of German-Americans, many of them Hessian soldiers who
deserted the British and later fought for the Americans. Many of their
descendants later moved to Ohio.
You can also learn why certain
first names pop up in your family tree or even your family's original surname
before it was Americanized. Many names were not easy to pronounce by immigration
officials, who changed surnames on documents as immigrants were processed.
Finding your true surname can also be a clue as to your ancestors' occupations,
as many surnames were taken according to the person's livelihood, such as
Tanner, Baker, etc.
Learning about your family's genealogy can also aid in learning about medical
conditions which may be passed on genetically. Did your ancestors have heart
conditions? Were they prone to cancer? Was there a large incidence of
auto-immune disorders in your distant past? How can you learn about medical
conditions of those long past? Sometimes stories are passed through generations,
but, in the absence of that, you can research death notices in old papers, which
often times detailed the cause of death. Knowing the cause of death of your
ancestors can help you make decisions about your health today. If there is a
preponderance of certain cancers in your family's past, you might want to be
more mindful of your eating or smoking habits. Perhaps this knowledge would
compel you to participate in genetic testing.
How do you get started in genealogy research? Luckily there are numerous avenues
on which to begin. If your community has a genealogy library or association, you
could start by joining a group or visiting their offices. Often times genealogy
associations have numerous research materials to aid in your search. Southern
California has an excellent genealogy group, the Southern California
Genealogical Society, located in Burbank (818-843-7247). You can visit their
library, as well as attend the yearly "Genealogy Jamboree" sponsored by them. In
fact, if you go to your favorite search engine and put in "genealogy jamboree"
you'll find other genealogy jamborees located around the country. The Jamborees
are great because you can discover different genealogy groups in your area, as
well as purchase the latest genealogy publications and software.
The internet, of course, is also a place where genealogy enthusiasts can find a
treasure trove of information, either through access to research materials, or
through connecting with distant relatives through genealogy forums. Ancestry DNA
is also a tool which can help the budding genealogist. Ancestry DNA, or genetic
genealogy, is simply discovering your ancestor's origins by testing your DNA,
which is performed with a cotton swab inside your cheek. With these tests you
can discover what part of Africa from which your ancestors originated; what
Irish clan your ancestors belonged to; if you have any Native American ancestry.
Once you get started with genealogy research you will get hooked. Not only will
you be able to discover things about your ancestors, but you may find you can
discover more about yourself as well.
About the Author
Shari Hearn is a writer and ceator of DNA Paternity Tests, where you can learn
more about
Genetic Genealogy
