Expert Genealogy Tips with Legacy Tree Genealogists

Expert Genealogy Tips with Legacy Tree Genealogists

Welcome to Expert Genealogy Tips, a podcast created by Legacy Tree Genealogists, the world’s largest genealogy research firm. From understanding DNA to searching archives, you’ll learn the tips and strategies to begin or continue your own research. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, we’ll help you discover your family story and ancestors with accuracy and peace of mind.

Episodes

October 30, 2024 8 mins

When you get your DNA test results, there's a good chance your DNA matches aren't as straight-forward as you had hoped, and there's a lot of room for misinterpretation. In this week's episode we share helpful things to consider as you begin your journey into the world of genetic genealogy!

 

Resources:

How to Determine Genetically Equivalent Relationships

DNA Painter Shared cM Project

Learn more about pedigree collapse or endogamy

...

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Have you gotten your DNA tested? Have you ever wondered what happens after your saliva or cheek swab sample is shipped off to a testing company until the day you get your results? Wonder no longer. 

 

In this week's episode we cover the five steps of DNA genetic genealogy testing so you have complete visibility into the process. Prepare for the insider view. If you like to read along, you can visit https://www.legacytree.com/blog/f...

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Story telling is a way to pass on memories and preserve these for generations to come. When your relatives and ancestors tell stories, they are sharing a piece of themselves and their history. Are you ready to capture these stories?

 

In this week's episode we share 9 tips for interviewing family members to ensure you don't miss out on that priceless retelling of a classic family experience. 

 

In honor of Family History Month, cel...

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Newspapers hold a treasure trove of information on your family history! Not only can you find obituaries, but you can often find birth, marriage, and divorce notices; passenger lists; arrests and information on crimes; war heroes and casualties; tragedies and triumphs; historical context, and more.

 

In this week's episode we discover the hidden treasures to be discovered within newspapers. 

 

Resources for newspaper research:

Wiki...

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Do you have Scottish ancestors? We sat down to learn more about finding Scottish ancestors with one of our professional genealogists, Jamie Kay. In this episode, we share 5 keys to finding Scottish ancestors. 

 

Resources and Websites for Scottish Research:

Scotland's People 

FamilySearch

FindMyPast

Ancestry

 

If you have Scottish ancestors you need help finding, Legacy Tree Genealogists are here to assist. Reach out for a free quo...

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Finding biological parents is one of the most challenging, and rewards projects we get to work on at Legacy Tree Genealogists. 

 

In this week's episode, we hear from a Legacy Tree client as she shares her story about searching for her family in Puerto Rico. 

 

Listen in to see how her story took a few turns along to way but ended with her fully discovering her past. 

 

If you have biological family members you need help finding, L...

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  As genealogists, finding ancestors is a daily practice in joy, gratitude, and patience. The month of September in the United States is National Hispanic Heritage Month and in this week's episode we share four pro-tips to help you find your Mexican ancestors and accurately fill in your family tree.

 

If you are ready to learn more about finding your ancestors in Mexico, or other countries around the world, Legacy Tree Genealogi...

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What untold immigration stories are waiting to be discovered in your family history? In today's episode we share the story of Japanese immigrant, Seito Saibara, and his impact on the Texas landscape.

The history of America is an interlacing web of immigration stories from all over the world, many still untold. Every pioneer, either celebrated in life or silent to the grave, has a story worth telling—you just need to know how to go ...

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We get asked this question often and the answer is a bit more complicated than a simple yes or no. 

 

In this week's podcast we explain what a coat of arms is, and share eight tips for your heraldic research for your coat of arms. 

 

For more information, see:

England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand

Court of the Lord Lyon (Scotland)

Republic of Ireland

France

U.S. Heraldic Registry

Arthur Charles Fox-Davies, A ...

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If you have ancestors who served in WWII, you might have found yourself at a loss due to a fire in the 1970's that destroyed 80% of records. 

But with creativity you may be able to discover more information than you thought possible. 

In this weeks episode we share a story that started with a photograph and ended with gathering enough information to file a Form 180 (Request Pertaining to Military Records).

Listen for tips that may ...

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Have you ever found out something shocking about your family? Something that was kept secret for decades? In this weeks episode we share a story of murder and intrigue discovered in the history one of our own researchers family trees. And you won't believe the plot twist. 

Do you have your own family mysteries to discover and need some help?

 

The experts at Legacy Tree Genealogists are here to help.

 

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Have you ever needed a professional genealogist to help you with your family history research? Or do you wonder what it would be like to work with a professional?

How do you choose a professional genealogist and what certifications and experience should they have?

In this episode we discuss how to hire a genealogist as well as what to expect when working with a professional. We cover the different types of accreditations and what y...

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Are you part of the large group of Americans who trace their ancestry across the pond? In this episode we help you understand the geography of the area and key records and sources to help search on your mission to discover your English ancestors. 

Resources:

Free BMD

FamilySearch

MyHeritage

FindMyPast

Ancestry

If you have English ancestors and need help gathering documentation and vital records, the experts at Legacy T...

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Are you wondering how or if you qualify for Irish dual citizenship? Have you received your DNA test ethnicity results and verified you have a little or quite a bit of Irish ancestry? Or perhaps you are one generation removed from gaining Irish citizenship through descent—in other words, through one of your ancestors?

While Legacy Tree Genealogists cannot assist with the legal aspects of applying for dual citizenship, and we recomme...

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ThruLines is an AncestryDNA technology that utilizes your DNA matches and the trees of those matches to identify your common ancestors. It will give you hints to help you connect to cousins and relatives in other trees through a common ancestor.

In this episode we explore the best practices when using ThruLines and some things to be cautious about to avoid adding members to your tree who are not actually related to you.

AncestryDNA...

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Genealogy research in Poland can be challenging and rewarding when you know where to search for Polish records. In this episode we share online record portals that can help to speed up your Polish genealogy efforts. 

We also discuss the 100 year privacy rule and share a few tips on finding Polish ancestors prior to the 1600s. 

Resources:

Search the Archives 

Geneteka

Polish State Archive of Przemyśl

FamilySearch

 

If y...

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Do you have family from the Netherlands? Have you ever been baffled by the surnames and tried to make sense of why some family members have different surnames? Or why there might be so many common surnames in a specific village or community? And how did Napolean impact the surnames for Dutch ancestors?

In this weeks episode we cover all of this and more. 

A few surname tips to have on hand during your research:

  • The -sen suffix ...
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Immigration has once again become a hot topic in the United States lately, but this isn’t the first time. In fact, it has been a common part of the historical and political discourse since the founding of the nation, largely because immigrants make up such an enormous part of our history and heritage as Americans.

In this episode we share four tips and strategies you can use to find your immigrant ancestors, no matter what country ...

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Finding family in Germany can be challenging, as you need to first find the specific town or city where your family lived, and also usually the parish they attended. To help you with this goal, in this episode we share the three essential websites you can access from home to help with your German research. 

1. Meyers or Meyer's Gazetteer of the German Empires: MeyersGaz.org

2. Kartenmeister

3. Gov Geschichtliche Ortsverzeichnis (Hi...

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When you are new to genealogy, knowing which family tree website to use can be a challenge. In this episode we share tips on choosing your platform and what to watch out for.

We also share how to properly format your data for sharing and ease of use. 

Finally, we answer the question, "When should you hire a professional genealogist?"

Want to learn more about hiring a professional genealogist to assist with your family ...

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