Understanding Basic Vocabulary for Beginners
Are you just starting your journey into family history research? Welcome to the fascinating world of genealogy! As you begin exploring your family’s past, you’ll encounter various terms that might seem confusing at first. Don’t worry – we’re here to help you navigate this new language of family history. This guide will introduce you to the most common genealogical terms, giving you a solid foundation for your research.
Why Understanding Genealogical Terms Matters
Understanding genealogical terms is essential for anyone doing family history research.
Learning these terms helps you:
1. Navigate resources more efficiently, saving time and uncovering records you might otherwise miss.
2. Interpret historical documents and records accurately, avoiding misunderstandings that could lead your research astray.
3. Communicate clearly with other genealogists, whether online, at conferences, or in local societies.
4. Develop critical thinking skills for evaluating evidence and drawing sound conclusions about your family history.
5. Build confidence in your research abilities and the accuracy of your findings.
6. Access and understand advanced genealogical resources and courses.
7. Document your family history in a standardized way that future generations can easily interpret and build upon.
By investing time in learning this specialized language, you’re equipping yourself with powerful tools that will enhance every aspect of your family history research.
A Glossary of Basic Genealogy Vocabulary for Beginners
Ancestor
An ancestor is a person from whom you are directly descended, such as your parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, and so on.
Archive
An archive is a place where important historical documents, records, and other materials are stored and preserved. Archives can be physical places, like a library or museum, or digital collections you can access online.
Birth Certificate
A birth certificate is an official document that records the details of a person’s birth, such as their full name, date of birth, place of birth, and the names of their parents.
Brick Wall
A brick wall in family history is a term used to describe a situation where you can’t find any more information about an ancestor or a specific part of your family tree. It’s like hitting a dead end in your research. This can happen when records are missing, names are common, or there’s limited information available. Overcoming a brick wall often requires creativity, persistence, and sometimes, looking for clues in unexpected places.
Cemetery Records
Cemetery records are documents that provide important information about the people buried in a cemetery. These records often include names, birth and death dates, and sometimes details about family members or inscriptions on gravestones. In addition to these records, cemetery maps show the layout of the cemetery and where specific graves are located, while burial registers list the names of people buried there, often along with dates and plot numbers.
Census
A census is an official count of the population that collects information about people, such as their names, ages, occupations, and where they live.
Collateral Line
A collateral line refers to family members who are not your direct ancestors, but are still related to you, such as siblings, cousins, aunts, and uncles of your ancestors. Collateral relatives can often be found in records that also mention your direct ancestors, helping you to piece together a more complete picture of your family’s history.
Common Ancestor
A common ancestor is a person from your family tree who is shared by two or more people as a direct ancestor. This means that you and someone else, like a cousin, both descend from the same person, such as a shared grandparent or great-grandparent. It is a key concept in building and understanding family trees, as it shows the point where two family lines come together.
Cousin
A cousin is a relative who shares a common ancestor with you but is not your sibling. Cousins are typically the children of your aunts and uncles, and they are part of the collateral line. Cousins are classified by degree, such as first cousins, second cousins, etc.
Death Certificate
A death certificate is an official document that records the details of a person’s death, including their name, date of death, place of death, and often the cause of death.
Descendant
A descendant is someone who comes from an earlier family member, like a child, grandchild, or great-grandchild.
DNA Testing
DNA testing is a scientific method used to learn about your family history by analyzing your genetic makeup. In family history, DNA testing can help you discover your ancestors, find distant relatives, and understand your ethnic background. The test usually involves sending a small sample, like saliva, to a lab, where they compare your DNA with others to find matches. DNA testing can reveal connections that might not be found in traditional records, making it a powerful tool for building your family tree.
Extended Family
Extended family refers to relatives beyond your immediate family, such as grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and sometimes even more distant relatives like great-aunts and second cousins.
Family Group Sheet
A family group sheet is a form used to record detailed information about a family, usually focusing on parents and their children. A family group sheet helps you organize important facts like names, birth dates, marriage details, and death dates for each family member.
Family Tree
A family tree is a diagram that shows how different members of a family are related to each other. The tree usually starts with one person at the bottom and branches out to include parents, grandparents, and so on.
GEDCOM
GEDCOM stands for Genealogical Data Communication. It is a computer file format used to store and share family history information. A GEDCOM file helps you organize and transfer your family tree data between different genealogy software programs. It includes details like names, dates, places, and relationships, making it easy to share your research with others or back up your work.
Genealogical Records
Genealogical records are documents that provide information about people and their family relationships, helping you trace your family history. Examples of genealogical records include birth certificates, marriage licenses, death certificates, census records, and church records.
Genealogist
A genealogist is a person who studies and researches family histories.
Genealogy
Genealogy is the study of family history and the tracing of family trees.
Generation
A generation is a group of people in a family who are born and live around the same time. In family history, a generation usually refers to the people at a similar level in a family tree, like parents, children, or grandparents.
Given Name
A given name is the first name a person is given at birth.
Immigration
Immigration is the process of moving from one country to another to live permanently.
Immigration Records
Immigration records are documents that provide information about people who have moved from one country to another to live permanently. Examples of immigration records include passenger lists from ships, naturalization papers (which show when someone became a citizen), border crossing records, and visa applications. These records often include details like names, ages, places of origin, and dates of arrival.
Lineage
Lineage is the line of ancestors or descendants that connects you to your family through generations.
Lineage Society
Lineage societies are organizations for people who can prove they are descended from a specific ancestor or group of ancestors. Examples of lineage societies include the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), which is for women who can trace their ancestry to someone who fought in the American Revolution, the Sons of the Confederacy, for descendants of those who served in the Confederate military, and the Mayflower Society, for people who can prove they are descended from passengers on the Mayflower.
Maiden Name
A maiden name is the last name a woman has before she gets married. Knowing an ancestor’s maiden name can be key to finding records about her early life, her family, and her connections before she became part of a new family line.
Marriage Certificate
A marriage certificate is an official document that records the details of a marriage, such as the names of the bride and groom, the date of the marriage, and the place where it took place.
Maternal Line
A maternal line is the line of ancestry that traces through your mother, her mother, and so on, going back through the women in your family.
mtDNA
mtDNA, or mitochondrial DNA, is a type of DNA that is passed down from mother to child, unchanged, through the maternal line.
Naturalization
Naturalization is the process by which a person who was born in another country becomes a citizen of a new country. Naturalization records are important because they provide information about your ancestors who immigrated and chose to become citizens in their new homeland. They often include details like names, birthplaces, dates of arrival, and sometimes personal descriptions or the names of family members.
Oral History
Oral history is a collection of stories and traditions passed down verbally through generations.
Paternal Line
A paternal line is the line of ancestry that traces through your father, his father, and so on, going back through the men in your family.
Pedigree Chart
A pedigree chart is a diagram that shows your family tree, displaying your direct ancestors in a clear, organized way.
Primary Source
A primary source is an original document or record created at the time an event occurred, providing firsthand evidence about a person, place, or event. Examples of primary sources include birth certificates, marriage licenses, diaries, letters, and photographs.
Probate Records
Probate records are legal documents created after a person’s death to manage and distribute their estate. These records often include wills, estate inventories, letters of administration, and guardianship papers.
Research Log
A research log is a tool used to keep track of the steps you take and the sources you consult while researching your family history. A research log typically includes details like the date of your research, the sources you used (like books, websites, or archives), and what you discovered.
Secondary Source
A secondary source is a record or document created after an event by someone who wasn’t there when it happened. Secondary sources are based on information from other sources rather than firsthand knowledge. Examples of secondary sources include family histories written by later generations, published genealogies, online family trees, historical books about a time period or location, and newspaper articles written after an event.
Sibling
A sibling is a person who shares one or both parents with you, such as a brother or sister.
Source Citation
A source citation is a detailed reference that shows where you found specific information in your family history research.
Spouse
A spouse is a person’s husband or wife, their partner in marriage.
Surname
A surname is a family name passed down from generation to generation, usually used as the last name.
Tombstone
A tombstone is a marker placed at a grave that displays important information about the person buried there, such as their name, birth date, and death date. It can sometimes include additional information like a spouse’s name, an epitaph, or religious symbols.
Transcription
A transcription is a written copy of information taken from an original document, often used when the original is difficult to read or access. A transcription should be an exact copy of the original text, including any errors or unusual spellings, to preserve the accuracy of the information.
Vital Records
Vital records are official documents that record important life events, such as births, marriages, and deaths. Examples of vital records include birth certificates, marriage licenses, death certificates, and divorce records.
Y-DNA
Y-DNA is a type of DNA that is passed down from father to son, unchanged, through the paternal line.
Want a printable version of our 40+ genealogy terms for beginners? You can find it on the Education page of the Storied Resource Center HERE.
Abbreviations Commonly Used in Genealogy
As you work with genealogical records and communications, you’ll often encounter abbreviations. Here are some of the most common:
- b. – born
- d. – died
- m. – married
- div. – divorced
- bur. – buried
- bap. or bapt. – baptized
- c. or ca. – circa (approximately)
- abt. – about
- yrs – years
- mo. – month(s)
- wid. – widow(er)
- dau. – daughter
- Sr. – Senior
- Jr. – Junior
- unk. – unknown
- BMD – birth, marriage, death
- NARA – National Archives and Records Administration
- w. (wife)
- h. (husband)
Some Practical Tips
- Create a Glossary: As you encounter new terms, write them down with their definitions for easy reference.
- Join a Genealogy Group: Interacting with other genealogists can help reinforce your understanding of terms .
- Be Patient: It takes time to become familiar with all these terms. Don’t try to memorize everything at once.
Conclusion
Understanding these basic genealogical terms is your first step into the wider world of family history research. While it might seem overwhelming at first, remember that every experienced genealogist was once a beginner like you. Take your time, refer back to this guide as needed, and don’t be afraid to ask questions as you continue your journey.
As you become more comfortable with these basics, you’ll find your research becoming more efficient and rewarding. You’ll be able to read family trees with ease, understand genealogical records more clearly, and communicate your findings effectively.
So, armed with this new knowledge, take the next step in your genealogical journey. Start drawing your own family tree, explore some records, or join a genealogy forum. Before you know it, you’ll be using these terms with confidence, unlocking the fascinating stories of your family’s past.