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!

RootsTech 2019 Recap: Everything You Need to Know

March 4, 2019 by Legacy Tree Genealogists 1 Comment

Family history brings connection, healing, and joy. This was the overarching theme of the RootsTech 2019 Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah. We were thrilled to once again be a part of celebrating all the good things family history brings to the world and the technology and innovation driving it forward.Legacy Tree Genealogists was once again invited to participate as a RootsTech Ambassador for 2019. As such, Legacy Tree president Jessica Taylor and marketing director Amber Brown were invited to attend the Media dinner Tuesday evening, where they had the opportunity to mingle with other ambassadors and get a sneak-peek into the exciting events planned for the coming week.RootsTech attendees enjoyed numerous classes throughout the conference on a wide range of topics, from DNA to digital photo restoration and Chinese genealogy to Colonial New England research. Recordings of select sessions are available to watch here. Legacy Tree team experts shared their knowledge as they …

Two Families to Research: When DNA Reveals Surprises in Your Family Tree

February 25, 2019 by Janice - Legacy Tree Genealogists Researcher 4 Comments

What do you do when DNA reveals surprises that change what you know about your family history? One of our genealogists shares what she learned through her own experience.You’ve been researching your family tree for several years and have made some really good progress on several lines. Then one day a monkey wrench is thrown into the works: You do a DNA test and the results don’t turn out quite the way you expected, with a surprise ethnicity or with no matches to the surname you’ve had all your life.On a whim, you decide to check for your family name in a court probate index and discover your father was adopted. Or maybe someone contacts you and lets you know that your grandfather had a different biological father than the one you were told, with documentation to back up the claim. Whatever the specifics, you now have information that one of your family lines is based on an adoption, whether formal or informal.When DNA Reveals Surprises in Your Family Tree: What's Next?If you …

Legacy Tree Genealogists at RootsTech 2019: Schedule of Events

February 15, 2019 by Legacy Tree Genealogists Leave a Comment

The countdown to RootsTech 2019 is on, and this year promises to be bigger and better than ever, with hundreds of classes to choose from and keynote speakers like Patricia Heaton and Saroo Brierley. Held in Salt Lake City, Utah, the conference will run from Wednesday, February 27th through Saturday, March 2nd. Legacy Tree Genealogists will be there in full-force–exhibiting in the Expo Hall, teaching classes and hosting Q&A sessions.Check out our schedule of events below, and be sure to stop by our booth (#1317) and say hello!Legacy Tree Genealogists RootsTech 2019 ScheduleWednesday, February 27th6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Expo Hall – Once again, the Expo Hall will be opening for a “sneak peek” on Wednesday evening! Stop by our booth (#1317) for one of our scheduled Q&As, and have your questions answered by one of our expert genealogists:Legacy Tree Genealogists Booth Q&A Sessions:6:30 p.m. – Using DNA to Solve Genealogy “Brick Walls”7:00 p.m. – …

4 Pro Tips for Finding Dutch Family History Resources

February 15, 2019 by Jaye - Legacy Tree Genealogists Researcher Leave a Comment

Do your ancestors hail from the Netherlands? Learn more about Dutch family history resources!Dutch genealogy is fast becoming more convenient, but not necessarily easier. There are a number of excellent and comprehensive sites making Dutch genealogy and family history research more accessible, but taking the right steps in approaching this wealth of material is important. Keep reading to learn more about the vast Dutch family history resources that just might hold the key to unlock your family’s past.Going Dutch?Did Grandpa have an affinity for windmills, tulips, and chocolate? Did you find a pair of wooden shoes at the back of the closet and wonder why anyone would want to wear them? Or maybe your last name begins with “Van” and you’ve always imagined a romantic past filled with one-eared painters and dikes on the verge of disaster. If that’s you, it might be time to start finding out the real stories behind the myths and caricatures of the Dutch people. The potential for …