Do you have ancestors who came from another country? Legacy Tree Genealogists can help you find them.
Discover Your Roots Through Immigrant Ancestor Research
Many ancestors in the United States, Canada, Australia and other countries arrived from somewhere in Europe, like the United Kingdom, Ireland, or Italy. Others came from Latin or South America, like Mexico or Brazil. Some ancestors migrated from the opposite side of the globe, like Singapore, China, or Malaysia. Regardless of where your immigrant ancestors came from, they would have left a paper trail that can be followed to further uncover the roots of your family’s heritage. Legacy Tree Genealogists has a team of expert researchers who specialize in immigrant ancestor research, and who can help you discover the land of your family’s nativity.
Immigration Records
Regardless of what country your immigrant ancestors migrated to, they would have created a series of records along the way. Most of our ancestors’ intracontinental travel was done by ship. These ships were required to maintain detailed passenger lists that included information about each passenger’s original point of departure, as well as their intended destination. Furthermore, family members often travelled together, so when you find on ancestor on these lists, there may be others listed as well. Even when your ancestor simple crossed a border by land, such as going from Canada to the United States, the completion of immigration records would have been required.
Once your ancestor became settled in their new country, they or one of their children would have eventually obtained citizenship in that country. To do so, another set of documents was created. Locating copies of those original documents provides genealogists with a gold mine of data to better track family lineages to their ancestral homelands.
Identifying Ancestral Hometowns
The tough part about conducting immigrant ancestor research is not identifying the country of origin. The difficulty comes in identifying a specific town of origin in the native country. This is a critical and required part of immigrant ancestor research because in most countries, the records that provide ancestral information about individuals are based at the local town level. The trick to meeting this geographical challenge is to identify a document that will provide the specific location needed. Many times, this information will be found in the most unlikely of places, and sometimes only through lateral lines or neighbors.
There is no question that the excitement and intrigue of discovering your ethnic origins can be addicting. The stories of the travels, trials, and successes that eventually led to your very existence often bring deep respect and appreciation for those who came before you. But those life-changing stories may never be uncovered unless you first ask the questions. Legacy Tree Genealogists can help you find answers to those questions.
Immigrant Ancestor Research & Dual Citizenship
For a variety of reasons, obtaining dual citizenship is becoming a more and more popular pursuit, and Italy, Ireland, France, and Canada are just a few of the common countries to work with. However, this privilege is not available to just anyone. Each country has its own laws and requirements about who is eligible and how to apply, so it is a good idea to research those stipulations before beginning the process.
Spain, for example, recently passed a highly publicized law opening up potential Spanish citizenship to individuals who could prove that their Sephardic Jewish ancestors were expelled from Spain in the late 1490s. However, this would not be considered “dual” for most people, since Spain requires that claiming this offer (or any right to Spanish citizenship at all) requires one to relinquish citizenship in their country of birth.
As part of the dual citizenship application process, you’ll be required to obtain very specific types and pieces of documentation for yourself and each family member going back to the target ancestor. While each country has different requirements, (and each consulate can also have slightly different requirements), you’ll generally need to obtain certain types of birth, marriage, and death records for each direct-line ancestor going back to the one you are applying through. You’ll also generally need to obtain naturalization paperwork for your immigrant ancestor, as well as possibly passenger lists and census records.
Because many records can only be ordered by direct family members, and you are required to make your own consulate appointments and appearances, you definitely need to be ready to be involved in the process. However, a genealogist can do much of the work for you by researching the correct dates and places where events occurred, determining what kinds of records you need and where to obtain them from, and even helping fill out applications for you to send in when needed…leaving you a lot more time to go on with your busy life!
