The Legacy Tree Genealogists Blog

Hand-picked, tested and trained, our professional genealogist team knows how to find your story. We search the world for answers. Find the un-findable. And we’re experts at everything from tracking down rare international records to analyzing DNA test results. Based near the world’s largest family history library in downtown Salt Lake City, we also work with researchers and archives around the globe. Contact us today if you would like help discovering your ancestors!

“Where Are My Ancestors From?” 5 Tips for Using Migration Patterns in Family History Research

January 16, 2020 by Jessica - Legacy Tree Genealogists Researcher Leave a Comment

If you're having difficulty pinpointing your family's origins, these tips are for you! We share how to use migration patterns to extend your family history.You want to extend your family tree as far back as records will allow, but what do you do if you’re having a difficult time pinpointing your family’s origins? Migration patterns and genetic communities offered by DNA testing companies are two of the most overlooked pieces of research we have at our disposal. The following 5 tips will help you extend your family tree or break down genealogical brick walls: MyHeritage DNA’s PedigreeMap™ shows you where concentrations of your DNA matches ancestors may have originated from. For people who know very little about their family history, such as adoptees, the PedigreeMap™ can be an invaluable place to begin research. To take advantage of this feature, you can purchase a MyHeritage DNA test here.2. The AncestryDNA® Communities feature offers genetic communities which can be …

Legacy Tree Genealogists 2020 Genealogy Conferences and Events

January 9, 2020 by Legacy Tree Genealogists Leave a Comment

Following is a list of 2020 genealogy conferences and events that Legacy Tree Genealogists will be attending and/or presenting at in the coming year. Check back frequently for additional conference dates and details. 13 – 17 January – Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy 20 – 24 January – Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy Academy for Professionals 24 - 25 January - Morris Murdock Travel Show, Salt Lake City, UT 25 January - Family History Fanatics Winter of DNA eConference: “Anchoring Analysis with Multiple types of DNA Evidence” (Paul Woodbury) 5 February - @ 2 p.m. EST - Legacy Family Tree Webinars: "Developing a DNA Testing Plan - A Guide for Beginners" (Debra Renard) 8 February @ 1 p.m. EST - New Jersey Family History Virtual Conference: "New Jersey State Censuses, 1855-1915" (Michelle Chubenko) 12 February @ 4 p.m. PT - New Jersey Association of Professional Genealogists: “Bigger Than a Brick Wall” (Kate Eakman) 26 - 29 February – RootsTech, Salt Lake …

Legacy Tree Top 10: Most Popular Family History Blog Articles from 2019

December 27, 2019 by Legacy Tree Genealogists Leave a Comment

A countdown of our most popular family history blog articles from 2019Another year has come and gone! Before we usher 2019 out the door, we want to share our countdown of the most popular family history blog articles from the past year. Did your favorite make the list?10. Genealogy Sleuthing: How to Date Old Family Photos - Part I9. Using AncestryDNA's ThruLines to Further Your Genealogy Research 8. "Why Don't I Share Any DNA with My Known Relative?"7. Third Cousins Twice Removed and Consanguinity: Figuring Out How You're Related to Your Relatives6. There’s a Degree in That?? Genealogical Education Opportunities5. "Who Is This?" 6 Steps to Determine Genetic Relationships of Your DNA Matches4. Understanding Your AncestryDNA Matches3. 6 Things You Need to Know About the AncestryDNA Ethnicity Update2. Researching Cherokee AncestryAnd our most popular family history blog article of 2019 is *drumroll please*…1. 3 Essential Websites for German …

Tracing Ancestry Through Medieval Italian Records

December 23, 2019 by Kim - Legacy Tree Genealogists Project Manager 5 Comments

Family History: How Far Back Can You Go?As professional genealogists one question we are often asked is, “How far back can you take my pedigree?” While we’d all love to have a pedigree documented back to the beginnings of mankind, this just isn’t possible. And creating an accurate, documented and sourced family tree cannot be completed in the span of an afternoon--answering one of our other most frequently received questions--How Long Does It Take to Build a Family Tree?Genealogical records generally don’t exist before the 1500s. Records dating from the 1500s to the late 1700s may not exist or be available, especially in North America, Ireland, and Eastern Europe. Wars and political unrest, natural disasters, and neglect have taken their toll on these precious, ancient records. Those that have survived are priceless treasures.Medieval Italian RecordsOne of our Italian onsite agents recently worked on a project that allowed him the opportunity to view and handle medieval …