Want to know more about your family history in Portugal but need to know how to get started? Our experts at Legacy Tree Genealogists pulled together a simple research guide to help you discover your Portuguese ancestors and begin your Portuguese Genealogy project now. 1. Finding Your Ancestral Hometown Because Portuguese records are kept at the local level, it is imperative to know the ancestral hometown beforehand. [1] If you already know your ancestral hometown in Portugal, jumping into … [Read more...]
Uncovering Hidden Jewels in British Isles Genealogy Research
Legacy Tree Genealogists’ Sharon McWilliams specializes in British Isles genealogy research. In this article, she discusses enlightening resources, or “hidden jewels,” in London that may help you trace your family history in the British Isles.The National Archives is now open to the public, but for those of us who can’t make the trip to Kew, there are millions of digital records available online at The National Archives Discovery Catalogue.Records that have been digitized can be downloaded … [Read more...]
Ask a Genealogist: Interesting Facts about Finnish Genealogy Research
Legacy Tree Genealogists’ Stacy Siirilä Johnson is a second-generation Finnish American and a native of Michigan. She is accredited for research in France, has bachelor’s degrees in history and French, and specializes in Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Germany. We asked Stacy about her experiences in Finnish research to learn more about the nuances of researching ancestors from Finland. Q: What got you interested in genealogy and your areas of research? A: Everyone has a story to … [Read more...]
British Genealogy Brick Wall Breakthrough: A Case Study
Legacy Tree Genealogists’ researcher Jamie Kay shares a case study that demonstrates how she resolved a “brick wall” to extend the ancestry of a client’s British grandmother, who was sent to Canada in 1877. (Shared with client permission.)A client recently asked for assistance in extending the ancestry of her grandmother, Helen Lilley, who was sent to Canada in 1877 from an orphanage in Glasgow by her maternal grandmother, Helen Gray. Helen’s father had passed away and it was said that her … [Read more...]
Legacy Tree Onsite: Preparing for a Heritage Travel Tour in Ireland
Travel experts anticipate that 2022 will be one of the biggest years for traveling than we have seen in years. If you are thinking about traveling out of the country, consider doing a little research to set up a heritage travel tour. A travel tour utilizes an itinerary based on where your ancestors were born and traveled during their lifetimes. Here is some helpful information about preparing for a heritage tour from one of our onsite researchers.The Irish diaspora sent approximately 10 … [Read more...]
Polish Genealogy Research in the Kingdom of Prussia
Finding records in Poland can be challenging due to historical fluctuations of its borders and a lack of available information. Legacy Tree Genealogists’ researcher Trina Galauner has extensive experience with genealogical research in Poland. In this blog, she discusses changes in Poland’s landscape and provides resources to find vital records to help you with your research.Poland did not exist as a country from 1795 to 1918. Unless your Polish ancestors emigrated before or after these … [Read more...]
Tips and Resources for Researching Immigrant Ancestors from Austria
Legacy Tree Genealogists' Shelbie Drake specializes in German and Austrian research. In this article, she provides valuable tips and resources to help you find records in the area that was once known as the Austro-Hungarian Empire.The Austro-Hungarian EmpireAt face value, the name of the Central European country Austria seems straightforward. However, the history of the Austro-Hungarian Empire - the dual monarchy of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary - is a prime example of why … [Read more...]
Finding Vital Records for Galicia, Austria-Hungary
Historical name and border changes can affect what records were created and where they are held today. In this article, we look at how to find vital records in Galicia, Austria-Hungary. Before historical records can be searched for any location, it is necessary to understand the historical names and border changes associated with that place, since this can impact what kinds of records were created and where they are held today. If you have ancestors that reported they were from Galicia, … [Read more...]
Legacy Tree Onsite: Genealogy Research in Vienna, Former Center of an Empire
Legacy Tree works with researchers all over the world to access records for our clients. We asked one of our onsite researchers, located in Vienna, Austria, to share his experiences with genealogy research in Vienna archives and offices.Until 1919, Vienna was the capital of one of the largest empires in Europe, and many people passed through Vienna, or produced records that are now held in archives in Vienna. With close to two million inhabitants, Vienna is a population center likely to be … [Read more...]
Beginning German Genealogy Research: “What does ‘German’ really mean?”
My great-grandmother Erika was German. She was adamant about the fact that she was German. After her arrival in the United States, when she was asked to fill out information about her place of birth, she indicated that she was born in Germany. Erika was born in 1921 in Waschulken. Today, this small town is located in northeastern Poland, however at the time it was part of Germany. Although borders have since been moved, she never stopped claiming she was German.In the United States, many … [Read more...]