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How to Find Tricky & Common Ancestor Names in Newspapers
Introduction: Mary Harrell-Sesniak is a genealogist, author and editor with a strong technology background. In this guest blog post, Mary provides some tips and tricks to find ancestors that are...
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Guide to Ancestor Middle Name Research for Genealogy
Introduction: Duncan Kuehn is a professional genealogist with over eight years of client experience. She has worked on several well-known projects, such as “Who Do You Think You Are?” and researching...
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Ancestral Name Searches: 4 Tips for Tracing Surname Spellings
Introduction: Mary Harrell-Sesniak is a genealogist, author and editor with a strong technology background. In this guest blog post, Mary explains that ancestral surnames may have been spelled...
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Are You Sure That Is How to Spell Your Ancestor’s Name?
Portraits of my Starbird ancestors hang on our wall on the landing at the top of the staircase. Over the years I have chained the family back from Martha Jane (Starbird) Richmond (1836-1905) to Robert...
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Genealogy Mystery: Where’s Her Brother Tom?
I was reviewing old family correspondence to make sure all of this family data had been properly recorded, and the correspondence scanned and added to the family’s online archive. I came across this...
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Genealogy Tip: What’s His Name Again?
Genealogists pay careful attention to names, searching diligently to find the complete names of every relative. But sometimes those names have been changed. Recently actor David Hasselhoff changed his...
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Genealogy Tips: Searching for Your Ancestors Using Nicknames
Introduction: Gena Philibert-Ortega is a genealogist and author of the book “From the Family Kitchen.” In this blog article, Gena shows how expanding your name searches to include nicknames can...
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Finding Bion Whitehouse: How Initials Can Help Your Ancestry Search
I have been looking at my Whitehouse cousins of Keene, New Hampshire, this week and was wrapping up the details of Bion Huntley Whitehouse (1858-1929) and his wife Mabel Medora (Wilder) Whitehouse...
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Do You Have Relatives Named after Famous People?
I hear from distant cousins every week. This week I was contacted by a “new” Sawyer family cousin that wrote me to compare notes on our mutual family history. Photo: Elbridge Gerry and Julia Clifford...
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8 Genealogy Tips for Tracing Female Ancestry
Introduction: Mary Harrell-Sesniak is a genealogist, author and editor with a strong technology background. In this guest blog post, to celebrate March being National Women’s History Month, Mary...
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Pitoni: ‘What’s In a Name’?
Ven Pitoni (1912-1999) had a long-running syndicated column “What’s In a Name?” that gives good insights for family historians. Source: GenealogyBank.com, Seattle Daily Times (Seattle, Washington), 9...
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Most Common U.S. Last Names: Finding Nemo – and Every Smith, Miller and Buckner
Whether you’re looking for William Nemo who was “shot and instantly killed about 10 o’clock last night” in Anaconda, Montana, as reported in the 24 June 1903 Anaconda Standard… …or Boyd C. Buckner who...
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Genealogy Tips: How Popular Is That First Name?
Introduction: In this article, Gena Philibert-Ortega writes about the most popular first names in the U.S. over the past century, decade by decade. Gena is a genealogist and author of the book “From...
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U.S. Census Bureau: The Most Popular Surnames
Introduction: In this article, Gena Philibert-Ortega examines records from the U.S. Census Bureau to see what are the most popular surnames in the United States. Gena is a genealogist and author of the...
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A Genealogist Has Fun with Names & Mistaken Identities
Introduction: In this article, Mary Harrell-Sesniak shares some of the newspaper articles she’s found that report on “name doppelgangers.” Mary is a genealogist, author and editor with a strong...
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Using Search Variations to Find Missing Information about a Relative
My cousin Henry Hamilton Starbird was born in Gray, Cumberland, Maine, in February 1816, and he married Hope P. Cobb on 30 November 1845 in Westbrook, Cumberland, Maine. I recently wrote about my...
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‘Sniffen’ Out My Cousins in Westchester County, New York
Occasionally, I like to pick a name from my family tree that I don’t have a lot of information on and see what I can find in GenealogyBank. Today, I picked the name of my great-great uncle Merwin...
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Genealogy 101: Think about Your Census Search Differently
Introduction: In this article, Gena Philibert-Ortega provides search tips for finding your ancestor’s name in the U.S. Census. Gena is a genealogist and author of the book “From the Family Kitchen.” As...
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Genealogy 101: Newspaper Articles That Reveal Her Maiden Name
Introduction: In this article – to celebrate Women’s History Month – Gena Philibert-Ortega shows how newspaper articles can help break through a brick wall common in researching female ancestors:...
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Genealogy Humor: Unusual & Funny Names of People (Part III)
Introduction: In this article, Mary Harrell-Sesniak searches old newspapers to find more curious or amusing names our ancestors once used. Mary is a genealogist, author and editor with a strong...
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How to Find Your Ancestors’ Name Abbreviations & More
Introduction: In this article, Mary Harrell-Sesniak tackles a problem many genealogists encounter: how to find newspaper articles about your ancestors when editors often abbreviated or hyphenated your...
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How to Find Ancestors with Common Surnames (like ‘Bacon’)
Introduction: In this article, Gena Philibert-Ortega provides search tips for finding an ancestor whose surname is a common noun or verb. Gena is a genealogist and author of the book “From the Family...
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Irish Last Names & Their Meanings
Irish Americans proudly display their heritage in their last names. The Kelly’s, the Murphy’s, the O’Connor’s and the Byrne’s – such names bring to mind the clans of old, the heady days of warring...
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Spanish Last Names & Their Meanings
Spanish last names are common around the world and have a vibrant history. They can be traced back to the days of ancient Rome, Visigothic invasions, and the Spanish Inquisition. Here are some of the...
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Italian Last Names & Their Meanings
More than 15.7 million people identify as Italian American, making them the fourth largest group in America of European descent. Learn more about where your Italian ancestors came from and your family...
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Common German Last Names & Their Meanings
You may be surprised to learn that German Americans are the largest ethnic group in the country.* Almost 50 million people in the U.S. claim German ancestry. From hot dogs to hamburgers, Oktoberfest,...
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Jewish Last Names & Their Meanings
Shalom! We’re tracing the roots of some of the most common Jewish last names found in the world today. Learn more about your Jewish heritage by tracing the meaning and origin of your Jewish last name....
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Your Immigrant Ancestors & Ellis Island Name Changes – Fact or Fiction?
It is very likely that you or someone you know has heard an old story passed down through generations that goes like this: An immigrant ancestor arrived in New York with nothing but a bag, a determined...
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I Can’t Find His Obituary
I was looking for the obituary of Garcelon Chandler Wright (1826-1900) – and did not find him under the name Garcelon Wright. I knew he was born in Maine and died in Greeley, Nebraska – so I searched...
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Common French Last Names & Their Meanings
France is one of the oldest countries in the world, and French last names reflect this long history. Tracing your last name can help you uncover a rich and detailed family history. Photo: Paris,...
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Old English Last Names & Their Meanings
To the history fanatic, the curious mind, or anyone with an affinity for learning their roots, discovering the meaning behind surnames can quickly shapeshift from pastime to serious pursuit. One of the...
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Cajun Last Names & Their Meanings
If you’re from Louisiana, there’s a chance your last name has a Cajun origin. And if your name is Cajun, your ancestry may be partially or completely French. Although factors like lost male heirs or...
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Parent Pranksters: Funny Names Recorded on the U.S. Federal Census
Introduction: In this article, Mary Harrell-Sesniak searches the U.S. Federal Census to find funny names that parents have given their children. Mary is a genealogist, author and editor with a strong...
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Common African American Last Names & Their Meanings
Have you ever wondered what the most common African American last names are? If so, it might fascinate you to know that Washington, the last name of our first president, is currently one of the most...
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Common French Last Names & Their Meanings, Part II
In the mid-11th Century AD, last names began emerging throughout Europe as a way to help differentiate between people with the same first name. French surnames often trace back to a history as rich as...
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Hawaiian Last Names and Their Meanings
Throughout its history, the Hawaiian Islands have preserved a unique cultural heritage that can be witnessed in its distinct language. Hawaiian is one of the oldest languages still spoken today....
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Exploring the European History of My Surname
Introduction: David M. Delo, an artist and writer, has spent years researching his family surname, resulting in a detailed report which he will send free to anyone interested. For our blog readers, he...
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Genealogy Challenge: Your Ancestor’s Name Change
Introduction: In this article, Mary Harrell-Sesniak gives tips for a challenging genealogy problem: researching an ancestor’s name change. Mary is a genealogist, author and editor with a strong...
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Genealogy Tip: Spelling Variations for Your Ancestor’s Name
Introduction: In this article, Gena Philibert-Ortega gives tips for using name variations and nicknames for better results searching your ancestor’s name. Gena is a genealogist and author of the book...
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The Story behind an Ancestor’s Unusual Name: Truecross Davenport
Introduction: In this article, Melissa Davenport Berry searches old newspapers to find the story behind the unusual name of a woman in colonial America: Truecross. Melissa is a genealogist who has a...
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Female Ancestors: The Benefit of Searching by Her Husband’s Name
Introduction: In this article, Gena Philibert-Ortega gives a great genealogy tip for finding your female ancestor’s elusive maiden name. Gena is a genealogist and author of the book “From the Family...
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Genealogy Tip: Correct Spelling Isn’t Everything
Introduction: In this article, Gena Philibert-Ortega writes about the time she misspelled her ancestor’s name in her search – and the great benefits of making that “mistake.” Gena is a genealogist and...
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Meanings of Family Surnames: Exploring Origins of Last Names
Introduction: In this article, Mary Harrell-Sesniak discusses the origins and meanings of various family surnames, and shows how including the origins of your family surnames in your genealogy research...
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Genealogy Tip: Researching Puerto Rican Ancestors
Introduction: In this article – to help celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month – Gena Philibert-Ortega gives tips for Puerto Rican genealogy, especially explaining the Latin American tradition of...
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Genealogy Tips: How Do You Search a Name?
Introduction: In this article – the second in a new series presenting genealogy tips – Gena Philibert-Ortega shows various approaches to searching on an ancestor’s name. Gena is a genealogist and...
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Genealogy Humor: Unusual & Funny Names of People
Introduction: In this article, Mary Harrell-Sesniak shares some of the odd and humorous names she’s run across while researching family history in old newspapers. Mary is a genealogist, author and...
View ArticleGenealogy Tips: Problems with Personal Names, Place Names, Dates &...
Introduction: In this first installment of a two-part article, Jessica Edwards gives tips for dealing with challenging personal and place names in your family history research. Jessica has had a...
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How to Find Someone’s Maiden Name: A Comprehensive Guide
Seeking out information about your family from generations past is challenging. One of the biggest hurdles to overcome is how to find someone’s maiden name. Without the maiden names from the women in...
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