Geneology

[andrewo]

You can get back really far if you have a key name, e.g. someone of importance or of royal descent. We had a break through a few days ago with mine on my grandmother's maternal side, she had one of these figures we went from 1805 (which is the earliest we ever got back) around 122AD - it makes you feel rather small to discover some things. We have learnt that my family helped established colonies in the USA, that all surnames and people are descended from them (sadly that includes both Bushes - sorry - and George Washington, thrilled at that one). That I have a rich heritage and come from some of the most powerful families in Europe, all I want to know is WHERE'S THE BLOODY MONEY! Also, I am a Kilner, anyone who watched Who do you think you are? Will now know I am distantly related to Jeremy Clarkson. Balls....

[Nicos]

There are Scottish sites- but I've only one family member from the 1800's who was born in Scotland, so I've left that bit for now.

I think that you have to pay for most of the Scottish lookups but I hope to be corrected on that!

[TonyF]

Sorry Andrew, you just can't have a fixed genealogical line back to 122 AD if that's what you're saying. If it isn't sorry but if it is it just couldn't be done - if you respond on here I'll explain why.

[JanieB]

On another thread I've said someone has already done our family tree back to Norman Conquest - this is on my mother's side. My father's side is more difficult. My daughter has complicated it by getting my father's name and DOB wrong, and I refuse to pay to correct her mistake.

Investigation into my maiden name does seem to bring up a confirmation of it's derivation. I was told by my dad (now deceased) that it is an anglicisation of a Belgian name brought over by lace makers in 18th/19th century. They settled in Totnes. But mostly I'm Bristolian/Welsh on that side. My grandpa died when I was 5 and my grandmother didn't get on with her outlaws. She knew virtually nothing about her family as they died in the workhouse.

She was lucky not to end up in a mill or something and was trained as a tailoress.

[Two_Sheds]

I did mine with Family Tree • Genealogy • Ancestor • Ancestry • Family History, fascinating but ruinously expensive to buy all the nec.birth certs etc.
I got back to 1450s on my father's side and found I'm from a line of Vicars. Who'd have thought? My entire paternal tree is apparently in Northampton Record Office, so I just need to save up to go there for a few days and have a look through (there are too many documents - hundreds of pages - for them to be photocopied and posted).
Oh my maternal side we have the Welsh, and some fascinating names, such as "Dark". A hobby for my dotage, I reckon.

[bluemoon]

My mum, at age 71, is just starting to get interested in this, I think it's because she lost her own mum a while back and now wants to find things out, but no longer has anyone to ask. Mum's grandad died in the Great War (on 7.11.1918 so was just 4 days short of coming home) Her Gran was informed of his death as she helped the rest of the village prepare for the armistice celebrations. The family were told that he'd died in France, but no-one could ever locate his grave. It took my son, who's into history himself, to say; "Hang on a minute, surely the front was further east than that by November 1918?" Ten minutes on the internet and the grave was found in Belgium, and last year she was able to visit and finally (almost 90 years later) lay flowers for a man that she never knew (even her dad hadn't met his father as he was born in 1916 when his father had already left for France). Even so, visiting her Grandfather's final resting place meant a great deal to Mum and now she's gaining a lot by researching the rest of the family.

[shirley]

Don't forget to google the village cemetary..I have been lucky in finding a website dedicated to the history of a local village...connected to my fathers side. Also My husbands family originated on the shetland isles and there is a good website that traces family names on these islands.

Also don't forget the mormans have a website which contains good info
FamilySearch.org - Family History and Genealogy Records

[JennieAtkinson]

Also My husbands family originated on the shetland isles and there is a good website that traces family names on these islands.

Thats interesting Shirl!

[shirley]

http://bayanne.info/Shetland/

good website for shetland isle family history

Jennie, does your family go back generations on the shetlands?

[everdream78]

I've been doing my tree for about four years now - does the phrase "I'm just going to check out a birth certificate online, I'll only be five minutes" and coming back 4 hours later ring any bells?!?!

Through my mother's side's surname, I've got the line back to about 1605 so far. This summer, we had a big family reunion in the village where it all started - about 100 turned up from all over the world. The tree that we are all part of was printed out and stuck up on the wall - however, it was so big, it had to go round the room three times and the rest had to be rolled up and put out on tables!!

One snippet of family history - my great grandmother's brother was in the Navy on a troop transport ship between Portsmouth and India/Phillipines. He brought an orang-utan home with him once and it chased the postman through the village! Apparently, this orang-utan wore a cloth cap and smoked a pipe too!

[HeyWayne]

Having watched a couple of the "Who do you think you are?" programmes I can see how it could become quite interesting. I know nothing about where I come from further back than my grand parents.

[nick the grief]

Just started researching our family tree & I'm amazed at just how many different surnames there are in it, 23 so far & counting! Can anyone beat this?? I'm sure they can.

I've got one who baptised, married and buried under slightly different surnames and it was the same vicar, mind you looking at his handwriting I think he was pished most of the time

[shirlthegirl43]

Having watched a couple of the "Who do you think you are?" programmes I can see how it could become quite interesting. I know nothing about where I come from further back than my grand parents.

I love those programmes but think it is a bit unfair that peeps with loads of money to do the work theirselves (or pay to get it done) get it done on our telly licence fees.

[MrsC]

have a keen interest in this topic, with the help of my uncle got back to around 1850 on my grandad's/nan's side (mum), but my uncle got back to early 1500's, very fascinating subject.

[TonyF]

I was asked to do a couple of the Who Do You Think You Are Progs as their 'expert'. What's interesting is that the contributors don't get paid (except the regulars) and we were supposed to do a lot of complex work - for the appearance on the tele. Not even a mention on the credits!!!!!

It was the celebs that got all the perks, not the people working on the series - tho when I did the stuff for the Reader's Digest book on genealogy, I got well paid for that!!!