A little history… of family history
Posted in Learning, Tech Tips and Top Websites
Once upon a time, tracing family ancestry was a huge undertaking that involved physically visiting libraries and archives around the country – in some cases, around the world – and years of detailed research.
In recent years, there has been a proliferation of websites that bring together census information and access to archives allowing people with just a basic knowledge of their own background to build a hugely comprehensive picture. The 1911 census of England and Wales alone contains over 16 million documents.
As our guide to finding family history online shows, it’s now possible to trace back to your relatives from hundreds of years ago, without leaving the comfort of your living.
But did you know that the term ‘genealogy’ itself dates back to Ancient Greece? A combination of γενεά, genea, ‘generation’; and λόγος, logos, ‘knowledge’.In the USA, genealogy experienced an early boom as far back as the 1890s, when a clutch of historical societies and organisations dedicated to family reunions and commemorating pioneer movements sprang up.
Here in the UK, the Society of Genealogists celebrated its centenary last year, showing that the UK’s appetite for their own personal histories was whet long ago.
It’s so easy to get started, just check out our Learning Zone guide.
January 16th, 2012 hollyseddon | No Comments »
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