If you’ve been researching family history for any length of time, you’ve probably heard someone say, “Well, the trail stops with the immigrant ancestor. Once you hit the ocean, you can’t go any...
Category - Genealogy Mythbusters
Genealogy MythBusters: DNA Testing Will Solve Every Brick Wall
In recent years, DNA testing has become one of the hottest tools in genealogy. It promises quick answers to old questions, colorful charts that tell you your ethnic breakdown, and even lists of...
Genealogy MythBusters: Was Your Ancestor Truly 100% One Ethnicity?
Many of us grow up hearing stories about our family’s background. Maybe your grandmother insisted her side of the family was “pure Irish.” Or perhaps your grandfather proudly declared that his...
Genealogy MythBusters: Does a Master Family Tree with All the Answers Actually Exist?
One of the most tempting shortcuts in genealogy is the idea of the “master family tree.” A single, giant, authoritative tree where everyone is already linked, all the names and dates are correct, and...
Genealogy MythBusters: Is All of Genealogy Really Online Now?
The internet has changed genealogy forever. A few clicks can uncover census records, passenger lists, or even digitized newspapers that once took months of travel and library time to access...
Genealogy Mythbusters: Can You Really Trust the Census to Be 100% Accurate?
For genealogists, the census is like a treasure chest. Those big sheets of names, ages, occupations, and birthplaces are often the first stop when we start tracing a family tree. They feel official...
Genealogy Mythbusters: Was Your Ancestor Really a Cherokee Princess or Royalty?
Have you ever heard a family story that sounds just a little too good to be true? Maybe it’s the tale of a “Cherokee princess” somewhere in your tree. Or maybe a great-aunt swore that your family is...
Genealogy Mythbusters: Did Ellis Island Really Change Your Ancestor’s Name?
Family stories have a way of becoming family legends, and one of the most common you’ll hear in genealogical circles is this: “Our ancestor came through Ellis Island, and the clerks changed the...