Janette Silverman grew up believing she might never uncover the stories of her Jewish ancestors. Due to the diaspora and the horrific events of World War II, finding Jewish families who had lived in Europe before the 20th century was nearly impossible. At least, that’s what she had been told. It was common knowledge, a Read More
A hike to an old stone barn on a sheep farm in the country. A walk through a graveyard. An 11-day bus ride with 22 complete strangers. This may not immediately sound like the description of a dream vacation. But talk to California resident Vicki Stuber for two minutes, and you’ll be convinced that Read More
January is a time to take stock of the past year and make plans for the new one ahead. In addition to resolutions about food and exercise, it’s the perfect time to set some goals related to family history. Not sure where to start? Two Ancestry professional genealogists recently shared the pet projects they plan Read More
Maybe you have thought about hiring a professional genealogist to help tackle a nagging research question or build out your family tree, but the cost has kept you from moving forward. You’re not alone. Just like hiring an expert in any field, accessing the experience and knowledge of a trained genealogist can be expensive. If Read More
Few journeys in the world of genealogy are as poignant and challenging as an individual searching for his or her biological family. While all people who pursue genealogy experience some sense of self-discovery and emotion, researchers solving “unknown parentage” questions produce even more passion. With the world of genetic genealogy exploding in popularity over the Read More
AncestryDNA kits make perfect holiday gifts. They’re unique, interactive, personal, and fun. However, when your friends or family members first unwrap their kits, they might be a bit underwhelmed by receiving what appears to be a box with a plastic tube in it. While the excitement that will come with their results is sure to Read More
In the not too distant past, “many people of Mexican descent only thought about researching their ancestry on the Day of the Dead,” according to Evan Christensen, a genealogist at AncestryProGenealogists. But that wasn’t due to a lack of interest in their rich family histories. In fact, AncestryProGenealogists research team manager Joseph Shumway believes that Read More
Genealogical research in America’s Deep South can be challenging under the best of circumstances, but the task can be even more daunting for an African American family looking to fill in gaps in their family tree. While some families have had remarkable success in tracing their ancestors through the period of slavery and its aftermath, Read More
Discovering unknown relatives is one of the most exciting parts of receiving AncestryDNA test results. Among these newly found relatives are longtime Ancestry subscribers with robust family trees. They may be able to help break down the brick walls in your research, and you may be able to do the same for them. Of course, Read More
National Grandparents Day is celebrated in the U.S. and the U.K. on September 10 this year. The occasion presents a perfect opportunity to honor the elders in our families, but what is the best way to do so? Often, the gifts most appreciated by grandparents are family members’ genuine interest in their life stories and Read More