Comments on: What are some of the most common mistaken assumptions in genealogy? http://www.culturegenealogysociety.com/genealogy/what-are-some-of-the-most-common-mistaken-assumptions-in-genealogy/ A blog about genealogy and its effects on culture and society. Sat, 19 May 2012 00:30:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: wendy c http://www.culturegenealogysociety.com/genealogy/what-are-some-of-the-most-common-mistaken-assumptions-in-genealogy/comment-page-1/#comment-298 wendy c Sat, 22 Nov 2008 06:34:51 +0000 http://www.culturegenealogysociety.com/genealogy/what-are-some-of-the-most-common-mistaken-assumptions-in-genealogy/#comment-298 One thing that I see here frequently is the idea that surname origin or meaning is genealogy, to begin with. Studying surnames and identification of your ancestors are two different procedures, and very often have no bearing on the other. "Canned" genealogies (where someone has posted online, often on the for pay sites) can be helpful.. and they can also be totally misleading. It's the difference between home made bread and going to McDonalds. Hard core research is where it is NOT online, and you are the one to personally go to the courthouse, and find the relevant records (or personally stomp the cemetery, etc). Another is that John Smith came to America in 1750, thus all Smiths in America can somehow be related to him. His distant cousin (or someone unrelated) may have come at a totally different time and place. Everyone carrying a particular surname is not necessarily related. One thing that I see here frequently is the idea that surname origin or meaning is genealogy, to begin with. Studying surnames and identification of your ancestors are two different procedures, and very often have no bearing on the other.
“Canned” genealogies (where someone has posted online, often on the for pay sites) can be helpful.. and they can also be totally misleading. It’s the difference between home made bread and going to McDonalds. Hard core research is where it is NOT online, and you are the one to personally go to the courthouse, and find the relevant records (or personally stomp the cemetery, etc).
Another is that John Smith came to America in 1750, thus all Smiths in America can somehow be related to him. His distant cousin (or someone unrelated) may have come at a totally different time and place. Everyone carrying a particular surname is not necessarily related.

]]> By: zoogrl2001 http://www.culturegenealogysociety.com/genealogy/what-are-some-of-the-most-common-mistaken-assumptions-in-genealogy/comment-page-1/#comment-297 zoogrl2001 Thu, 20 Nov 2008 18:07:20 +0000 http://www.culturegenealogysociety.com/genealogy/what-are-some-of-the-most-common-mistaken-assumptions-in-genealogy/#comment-297 Don't assume that someone with the name you are looking for is actually the correct person you are looking for. I am finding many people with the same year of birth in the same general area and the same name. It can actually get quite confusing, but check your facts very carefully. Don’t assume that someone with the name you are looking for is actually the correct person you are looking for. I am finding many people with the same year of birth in the same general area and the same name. It can actually get quite confusing, but check your facts very carefully.

]]> By: KAT. http://www.culturegenealogysociety.com/genealogy/what-are-some-of-the-most-common-mistaken-assumptions-in-genealogy/comment-page-1/#comment-296 KAT. Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:54:43 +0000 http://www.culturegenealogysociety.com/genealogy/what-are-some-of-the-most-common-mistaken-assumptions-in-genealogy/#comment-296 The worse assumption is that thinking that because a person has the same spelling and the dates are close, that they are the same person. In the 1800s names repeated often in families, I have found that if they named a son John and he died then the next son would also be named John, my tree contains several Williams, James, Benjamins and Johns. Also have lots of biblical names ; Ruth, Daniel, Joseph, Matthew, etc. The worse assumption is that thinking that because a person has the same spelling and the dates are close, that they are the same person. In the 1800s names repeated often in families, I have found that if they named a son John and he died then the next son would also be named John, my tree contains several Williams, James, Benjamins and Johns. Also have lots of biblical names ; Ruth, Daniel, Joseph, Matthew, etc.

]]> By: GenevievesMom http://www.culturegenealogysociety.com/genealogy/what-are-some-of-the-most-common-mistaken-assumptions-in-genealogy/comment-page-1/#comment-295 GenevievesMom Tue, 18 Nov 2008 14:54:06 +0000 http://www.culturegenealogysociety.com/genealogy/what-are-some-of-the-most-common-mistaken-assumptions-in-genealogy/#comment-295 As others have said, the biggest misconception is that all you need to do is turn on your computer and you'll find whatever you want. People seem to idolize Cyndis list, not realizing that she's only referring people to websites, but many records aren't on the internet and she doesn't point them to libraries, archives and townhalls. There are entire countries that have no mention on Cyndi's List because they have no records available online at all. Every time I read someone only referring others to Cyndi's List, I cringe. They're not doing anyone any good. Then comes the "that's not our line, we've never spelled our name that way" myth. They'll totally disregard facts over their own preconceived notions. That's followed by the serious reluctance to look at religious records by people who don't have the same religious beliefs as their ancestors (ie Evangelicals and SDAs who don't want to admit their ancestors were ever Roman Catholic). Good researchers go where the records are, regardless of who kept them. The other misconception is that the research is already done and all we have to do is find the right person and we'll have everything done for us back to the beginning of time. OOPS...silly people! Those of us who researched before the age of computers remember where to go for the answers. People who never researched without a computer are at a serious disadvantage and don't make very good researchers. Oh yeah...let's not forget the biggest misconception of them all...that famous line "Our family name was changed at Ellis Island." 2/3rds of the people making that claim on here didn't even have ancestors coming through Ellis Island. Those who did come through Ellis Island didn't have their names changed by clerks...if there were spelling changes they came from the clerk on the ship who wrote out the paperwork in English for the passengers to hand over to the staff at Ellis Island. Illiterate immigrants from Europe who didn't speak a word of English couldn't have given their names to the clerks at Ellis Island...but they did give their exit visas to the passenger line before boarding and that's who really made the mistakes that changed names. As others have said, the biggest misconception is that all you need to do is turn on your computer and you’ll find whatever you want. People seem to idolize Cyndis list, not realizing that she’s only referring people to websites, but many records aren’t on the internet and she doesn’t point them to libraries, archives and townhalls. There are entire countries that have no mention on Cyndi’s List because they have no records available online at all. Every time I read someone only referring others to Cyndi’s List, I cringe. They’re not doing anyone any good.

Then comes the “that’s not our line, we’ve never spelled our name that way” myth. They’ll totally disregard facts over their own preconceived notions.

That’s followed by the serious reluctance to look at religious records by people who don’t have the same religious beliefs as their ancestors (ie Evangelicals and SDAs who don’t want to admit their ancestors were ever Roman Catholic). Good researchers go where the records are, regardless of who kept them.

The other misconception is that the research is already done and all we have to do is find the right person and we’ll have everything done for us back to the beginning of time. OOPS…silly people!

Those of us who researched before the age of computers remember where to go for the answers. People who never researched without a computer are at a serious disadvantage and don’t make very good researchers.

Oh yeah…let’s not forget the biggest misconception of them all…that famous line “Our family name was changed at Ellis Island.” 2/3rds of the people making that claim on here didn’t even have ancestors coming through Ellis Island. Those who did come through Ellis Island didn’t have their names changed by clerks…if there were spelling changes they came from the clerk on the ship who wrote out the paperwork in English for the passengers to hand over to the staff at Ellis Island. Illiterate immigrants from Europe who didn’t speak a word of English couldn’t have given their names to the clerks at Ellis Island…but they did give their exit visas to the passenger line before boarding and that’s who really made the mistakes that changed names.

]]> By: HSK's mama http://www.culturegenealogysociety.com/genealogy/what-are-some-of-the-most-common-mistaken-assumptions-in-genealogy/comment-page-1/#comment-294 HSK's mama Sat, 15 Nov 2008 07:24:37 +0000 http://www.culturegenealogysociety.com/genealogy/what-are-some-of-the-most-common-mistaken-assumptions-in-genealogy/#comment-294 One of the biggest misconceptions is the misconception that anyone can find their family tree simply by going to a website. Some say that Ancestry.com has everything, which we seasoned genealogists know that that isn't true. Another one is that the Mormons has EVERYONES genealogy complete. Heck, if it was that easy none of us would have a hobby. Another misconception is that you can find your indian ancestors on the Dawes Rolls. Some people just don't know that the Dawes Rolls only listed five indian tribes. Another one is that people with a particular surname will say that they are related to the most famous person with that name. People like to say that they are related to presidents and nobility. One of the biggest misconceptions is the misconception that anyone can find their family tree simply by going to a website. Some say that Ancestry.com has everything, which we seasoned genealogists know that that isn’t true.

Another one is that the Mormons has EVERYONES genealogy complete. Heck, if it was that easy none of us would have a hobby.

Another misconception is that you can find your indian ancestors on the Dawes Rolls. Some people just don’t know that the Dawes Rolls only listed five indian tribes.

Another one is that people with a particular surname will say that they are related to the most famous person with that name. People like to say that they are related to presidents and nobility.

]]> By: grannytoad http://www.culturegenealogysociety.com/genealogy/what-are-some-of-the-most-common-mistaken-assumptions-in-genealogy/comment-page-1/#comment-293 grannytoad Thu, 13 Nov 2008 09:17:02 +0000 http://www.culturegenealogysociety.com/genealogy/what-are-some-of-the-most-common-mistaken-assumptions-in-genealogy/#comment-293 Those are good ones. We could include the Indian Princess, also those whose intent is to get in on a gravy train. Grandmother set me straight when I was maybe 8, 9: "We're nobody important, just farmers.". 50+ years later I found that wasn't strictly true, had to dig out history, personalities and actions on my own. She knew but kept it simple. Those are good ones. We could include the Indian Princess, also those whose intent is to get in on a gravy train.

Grandmother set me straight when I was maybe 8, 9: “We’re nobody important, just farmers.”. 50+ years later I found that wasn’t strictly true, had to dig out history, personalities and actions on my own. She knew but kept it simple.

]]> By: itsjustme http://www.culturegenealogysociety.com/genealogy/what-are-some-of-the-most-common-mistaken-assumptions-in-genealogy/comment-page-1/#comment-292 itsjustme Mon, 10 Nov 2008 07:32:34 +0000 http://www.culturegenealogysociety.com/genealogy/what-are-some-of-the-most-common-mistaken-assumptions-in-genealogy/#comment-292 .Has to be that the enumerators could spell (yeah right) and that they never were responsible for a name change, and that the age of the person was always accurate, according to the enumerator .Has to be that the enumerators could spell (yeah right) and that they never were responsible for a name change, and that the age of the person was always accurate, according to the enumerator

]]> By: timetraveller http://www.culturegenealogysociety.com/genealogy/what-are-some-of-the-most-common-mistaken-assumptions-in-genealogy/comment-page-1/#comment-291 timetraveller Mon, 10 Nov 2008 00:18:15 +0000 http://www.culturegenealogysociety.com/genealogy/what-are-some-of-the-most-common-mistaken-assumptions-in-genealogy/#comment-291 I find that a lot of people who are not researching have sent for info on their surname. I've lost count of the times I've been told, "We are descended from royalty"! Another good one is, "Our family came from France and we're related to French Royalty"! Also advertising rubbish I find that a lot of people who are not researching have sent for info on their surname. I’ve lost count of the times I’ve been told, “We are descended from royalty”! Another good one is, “Our family came from France and we’re related to French Royalty”! Also advertising rubbish

]]> By: Holly N http://www.culturegenealogysociety.com/genealogy/what-are-some-of-the-most-common-mistaken-assumptions-in-genealogy/comment-page-1/#comment-290 Holly N Fri, 07 Nov 2008 18:29:29 +0000 http://www.culturegenealogysociety.com/genealogy/what-are-some-of-the-most-common-mistaken-assumptions-in-genealogy/#comment-290 i think the biggest assumption in genealogy is that you believe everything you find on the net and don't prove it with documents. To much bad research out there and that's how you get wrong origins etc. i think the biggest assumption in genealogy is that you believe everything you find on the net and don’t prove it with documents. To much bad research out there and that’s how you get wrong origins etc.

]]> By: Marc Miami http://www.culturegenealogysociety.com/genealogy/what-are-some-of-the-most-common-mistaken-assumptions-in-genealogy/comment-page-1/#comment-289 Marc Miami Thu, 06 Nov 2008 12:19:36 +0000 http://www.culturegenealogysociety.com/genealogy/what-are-some-of-the-most-common-mistaken-assumptions-in-genealogy/#comment-289 Most folks families never had coats of arms -- this is marketing hog wash. A lot of families never had surnames, at least not until Napoleon or some other ruler started them, mostly after the 1800s. Before that, many countries had naming systems which named you after your Dad, i.e. John's son William became William Johnson, and his son Tom became Tom Williamson, etc. Folks were also named for their job, i.e., Tom the Baker = Tom Baker. In most countries the church controlled births, marriage and death records, so you need to research church records, a lot. In most of Europe these have been transferred to civil archives. Most folks families never had coats of arms — this is marketing hog wash.

A lot of families never had surnames, at least not until Napoleon or some other ruler started them, mostly after the 1800s.

Before that, many countries had naming systems which named you after your Dad, i.e. John’s son William became William Johnson, and his son Tom became Tom Williamson, etc. Folks were also named for their job, i.e., Tom the Baker = Tom Baker.

In most countries the church controlled births, marriage and death records, so you need to research church records, a lot. In most of Europe these have been transferred to civil archives.

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