Learn to Use Google in Genealogy Searches - Google Genealogy Tips Since the Google search engine went live in September 1999, it has changed the way people search the web. Today, many genealogists use Google for their genealogy internet and surname queries, and for good reason. Not only does Google produce accurate and relevant search results, Google is extraordinarily fast and flexible. However, Google has evolved over the years and the tips and tricks have changed and evolved also. Below are some tips for genealogy searches to get the most from all that Google has to offer. Word for Word Every word counts in your search query and generally all words in your query will be used for the search. Exact Search Surprisingly, sometimes the words in your search query may not appear on the websites that appear in your search results. To get an exact search, where ALL the words of your search query appear in your search results and that NO stemming andd NO synonyms are used, you can do one of two methods: Don't phrase your query as a question Google Math Spelling
The Importance of Given Names In genealogy we usually concentrate on surnames since they are the most important way of identifying people who are related. A surname is usually inherited and, while it may be changed, some form of it is usually retained. Given names are more important in a way because they represent a voluntary choice by the parents or, sometimes, by an individual. Naming Patterns You will often see the same names used over and over again in families. The first son was named after the father's father The second son was named after the mother's father The third son was named after the father The fourth son was named after the father's eldest brother The first daughter after the mother's mother The second daughter after the father's mother The third daughter after the mother The fourth daughter after the mother's eldest sister If this pattern would result in a duplication of names — i.e., both grandfathers had the same name — then they would skip to the next one on the list. Frequency Names as a Virtue
Google Genealogy Style - Google Power Search Tips for Genealogists Google is the search engine of choice for most genealogists I know, due to its ability to return relevant search results for genealogy and surname queries and its huge index. Google is much more than just a tool for finding Web sites, however, and most people surfing for information on their ancestors barely scratch the surface of its full potential. If you know what you are doing, you can use Google to search within Web sites, locate photos of your ancestors, bring back dead sites, and track down missing relatives. Learn how to Google as you've never Googled before. Begin with the Basics - Google automatically assumes an implied AND between each of your search terms. - Google is case insensitive, with the exception of the search operators AND and OR. - Google will return results that contain all of your search terms, but will give higher priority to the earlier terms in your query. Search With a Focus - Use a (-) before words that you want to be excluded from the search.
101 Ways to Research Your Family Tree for Free Is free genealogy a thing of the past? With the constant addition of subscription genealogy databases on the Internet, people often wonder if there will soon be an end to free genealogy research via the Web. For those of you with this concern, take heart - free genealogy databases aren't going anywhere anytime soon. Web sites from all over the world contain free genealogy information of use to family tree researchers which has been contributed by individuals, companies and even governments. Birth records, marriage records, military records, ships passenger lists, surnames, census records, immigration records, wills, photos and much, much more are available on the Internet for FREE if you just know where to look. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Next Page > Free Genealogy Sites (6-10)
Google Scholar / Citation Searches Made easy First Cousins Once Removed (and so on) This may help you work out what relations other members of your family are to you. Cousins To find what cousin another member of your family is to you, find the nearest common ancestor, such as a grandfather or a great-grandfather. For example, if your nearest common ancestor is your great-grandfather, three generations away, you are second cousins. If your cousin is a different number of generations from the ancestor, then you are first, second, third or more cousins, where the number is one less than the number of generations that the nearer of you and your cousin is from the ancestor. Your father's cousin is your first cousin once removed, and so is your cousin's son.
Automated Genealogy Exclusive Maps - Family Tree Magazine You don't need a time machine to travel back to your ancestors' day and experience life as they knew it — just attend a historical re-enactment. We'll help you find the right events for your research. Expert answers to your genealogy questions. Web sites, suppliers, books and resources for creating heritage scrapbooks. Genealogist's Google Earth Premium Collection With the free online program Google Earth, you can follow your forebears across the planet from the comfort of your personal computer.