6 common genealogy mistakes to avoid when tracing family roots
Genealogy is a branch of science in which people study families and family history by tracing lineages. Tracing family roots offers many benefits, including fostering a connection to one’s heritage and a deeper understanding of one’s family traditions. However, mistakes can happen during the process due to incomplete or inaccurate data or errors in historical records. Such mistakes can lead to inaccurate conclusions regarding one’s family history, negatively affecting one’s understanding of one’s lineage.
Jumping to conclusions way early
While checking if a particular record matches the details of one’s ancestor, don’t assume it is them right away just because they share the same name or live in the same location. Jumping to conclusions quickly might lead to misinformation regarding one’s ancestors. Instead, always look at the details carefully. For better clarity, one can check for facts like-
- Parent’s name
- Spouse’s name
- Occupations
- Children’s name
- Specific places of origin
Always do thorough research when determining if a record matches one’s ancestor. Look for differences between people who share the same name to avoid confusion.
Not asking one’s family or extended family about what they know
Not interacting with close relatives or extended family members can lead to missing out on connections, helpful insights, and even important details that might help one accurately understand one’s family history. When people delay communicating with such family members, they lose valuable memories if the member passes away or develops memory issues. To avoid this, prepare a list of people one wants to interview and compile questions one plans to ask them. But don’t restrict the list to immediate family members; have everyone on the radar. One may end up being surprised by the people who have fascinating stories to share or family treasures that one does not know of.
Start by reaching out to one’s uncles, aunts, cousins, and even distant relatives like second cousins, great-aunts, etc. Include long-time family members and friends on this list. It is common to feel intimidated when speaking to distant relatives or family friends. However, there is always the option of asking another family member who knows them well to help with an introduction. It will make it easier to connect with them.
Assuming everything needed for research is available online
While it is easy to find a good chunk of information online, not everything is available online. While many records used in genealogy research are currently available online, not every tool necessary to research one’s lineage thoroughly can be found on the web. Relying only on the internet leaves one missing out on valuable local archives and other historical sources like courthouses. So, ensure one also uses such offline records to compile well-rounded and reliable information.
Taking everything at face value
When delving into one’s family, it is important to remember that just because something is available in print does not necessarily mean it is true. This is especially true in the case of family stories that are passed down through generations. The more extraordinary a story sounds, the more likely it is to have some inaccuracies. The same applies to what one finds in books or websites dedicated to genealogy, such as MyHeritage, FamilySearch, or Ancestry. While one might find the information available on such platforms valuable, it is important to remember that each source has its strengths and weaknesses.
Remember, family records and family trees are different things. While other people’s family trees may be useful references, they may not be entirely accurate. Adding information to one’s family tree only because one found it on another person’s family tree can lead to unnecessary confusion and unreliable results. If there is a mistake in the other person’s family tree, like misidentifying a family member or connecting unrelated individuals, it can cause inaccuracies in one’s entire research. To avoid this, verify information thoroughly to ensure accuracy in one’s family tree.
Ruling people out based on ages and dates in records
Sometimes, when looking into one’s family tree, one may come across records of individuals that may seem close to what one has been searching for, but the information may not match up correctly. For example, details like the person’s name, city, and partner’s name may all match, but their birthdate might differ, for example, by a month, year, or two. In such cases, do not dismiss such records because these may still be one’s ancestor’s records. Record-keeping standards may vary, or people may lie about details like their age. So, before ruling out an individual just because their age or birthdate doesn’t match, consider other factors and see if they match up.
Ignoring the siblings of one’s ancestors
It is one of the most common mistakes people make in genealogy. Often, individuals do not account for their ancestors’ siblings while researching family history. By focusing only on direct ancestors, one will miss out on understanding key details related to their entire family. To avoid this, consider the siblings of one’s ancestors to gain valuable insights into familial dynamics, shared character traits, and branches of the family tree that may offer useful information.
