Genealogy: Tracing Your Family History
Tracing your family history can be a very meaningful and rewarding experience. It can also be a very arduous and frustrating process. The key to success is being educated on the process or hiring an expert. The methods and procedures to follow are extensive and, cannot be contained within the context of VisitIreland. But, do not be dismayed. We have assembled some basic tips along with a variety of publications and resources to get you pointed in the right direction.
Tracing your family history is much like an archeological dig. It can be a tedious time consuming process. If you arm yourself with the proper knowledge, resources and professional services you will be met with the best results. Putting together a family history can be much like putting together a jigsaw puzzle. Little bits and pieces gleaned from a variety of sources can be put together to provide an overall history of your family. Do not get disappointed if you hit some obstacles along the way. Being educated, organized and determination can often make up for a lack of information.
In order to initiate your search you will need some of the following vital information. The more information you can gather the better your chance of success. Useful information in tracing your history include: your ancestors name, area or address in Ireland, religion, place and date of birth, place and date of marriage, spouses name, names, place and date of birth of any children, date and place of death and date of emigration (if applicable).
Sometimes, it is most productive to begin trace your history in the country in which your ancestor emigrated. There are various sources that can also hold important information concerning you family history. These include: birth, marriage and death certificates, parish records, census information, land records, books and other publications, as well as, numerous achieves and libraries.
Lastly, good advice is imperative in a productive quest of you family history. There are a number of good books and other publications available, which can be of great assistance. Often times consulting or hiring a qualified experienced expert in the field can also be of great assistance and markedly increase your chance of success.
