Expert Genealogy Tips with Legacy Tree Genealogists

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   Do you need help with your genealogy research or interpreting your DNA Test Results?   The experts at Legacy Tree Genealogists are here to help.   Contact Legacy Tree Genealogists by visiting https://www.legacytree.com to request a free quote and learn more about what it's like to work with a professional genealogy firm.   May your week be full of discoveries.    

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/from-spit-to-screen-the-journey-of-a-dna-sample for the full transcript of this episode.    Do you need help with your genealogy research? The experts at Legacy Tree Genealogists are here to help. Contact Legacy Tree Genealogists by visiting https://www.legacytree.com to request a free quote and learn more about what it's like to work with a professional genealogy firm. May your week be full of discoveries.

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, celebrate by joining The Family History Month Challenge. Get your challenge roadmap here.    Do you need help with your genealogy research? The experts at Legacy Tree Genealogists are here to help. Contact Legacy Tree Genealogists by visiting

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: Wikipedia List of Online Newspapers (international)  Library of Congress Chronicling America  Google Search for Newspapers GenealogyBank Newspapers.com Newspaperarchive.com LTG Google Search Newspaper Cheat Sheet   Do you need help with your genealogy research? The experts at Legacy Tree Genealogists are here to help. Contact Legacy Tree Genealogists by visiting https://www.legacytree.com to request a free quote and learn more about what it's like to work with a professional genealogy firm. May your week be full of discoveries.  

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 quote for your specific project.  Learn more at https://www.legacytree.com/.

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, Legacy Tree Genealogists are here to assist. Reach out for a free quote for your specific project.    Learn more at https://www.legacytree.com/.      

  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 Genealogists and our team of researchers are here to assist you in that journey. Request your free quote today!   Visit Legacy Tree Genealogists to learn more about hiring a professional genealogy researcher. 

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 about telling it! Enjoy Seito's story of perseverance, economic opportunity, and determination. It just might remind you of a story from your own family tree.  How did your ancestor contribute to the development of their community? Let Legacy Tree Genealogists and our team of researchers develop that story. No story is too small, and all ancestors mattered. Request your free quote today!   Visit Legacy Tree Genealogists to learn more about hiring a professional genealogy researcher.   

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 Complete Guide to Heraldry (1909)   Need help finding a coat of arms in your ancestry?    The experts at Legacy Tree Genealogists are here to help.   Contact Legacy Tree Genealogists by visiting https://www.legacytree.com to request a free quote and learn more about what it's like to work with a professional genealogy firm.   May your week be full of discoveries.

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 help you in finding your military ancestors.    Do you have your own family mysteries to discover and need some help?   The experts at Legacy Tree Genealogists are here to help.   Contact Legacy Tree Genealogists by visiting https://www.legacytree.com to request a free quote and learn more about what it's like to work with a professional genealogy firm.   May your week be full of discoveries.  

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.   Contact Legacy Tree Genealogists by visiting https://www.legacytree.com to request a free quote and learn more about what it's like to work with a professional genealogy firm.   May your week be full of discoveries.

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 your role is in providing information about your family to the researcher.  If you need help with your research, the experts at Legacy Tree Genealogists are here to help. Contact Legacy Tree Genealogists by visiting https://www.legacytree.com to request a free quote and learn more about what it's like to work with a professional genealogy firm. May your week be full of discoveries.

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 Tree Genealogists are here to help. Want to learn more about hiring a professional genealogist to assist with your family history research? Contact Legacy Tree Genealogists by visiting https://www.legacytree.com to request a free quote and learn more about what it's like to work with a professional genealogy firm.   May your week be full of discoveries.      

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 recommend you contact an attorney or consulate for your application, we are able to help you gather the vital records for your ancestors to help you prepare to apply.  Resources in this episode: Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs Ireland's Citizen Information   If you have Irish ancestors and need help gathering documentation and vital records, the experts at Legacy Tree Genealogists are here to help. Want to learn more about hiring a professional genealogist to assist with your family history research? Contact Legacy Tree Genealogists by visiting https://www.legacytree.com to request a free quote and learn more about what it's like to work with a professional genealogy firm. May your week be full of discoveries.  

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 ThruLines  If you are searching for ancestors using DNA and have hit a brick wall in your research, the experts at Legacy Tree Genealogists are here to help. Want to learn more about hiring a professional genealogist to assist with your family history research? Contact Legacy Tree Genealogists by visiting https://www.legacytree.com to request a free quote and learn more about what it's like to work with a professional genealogy firm. May your week be full of discoveries.

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 you have Polish ancestors and have hit a brick wall in your research, the experts at Legacy Tree Genealogists are here to help. Want to learn more about hiring a professional genealogist to assist with your family history research? Contact Legacy Tree Genealogists by visiting https://www.legacytree.com to request a free quote and learn more about what it's like to work with a professional genealogy firm. May your week be full of discoveries.    

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 could also be shortened to sz, z, se, and x (e.g., Dirks, Dirkse, Dirkx, etc.). Likewise, a woman would be called Dirksdochter, meaning daughter of Dirk, but could also use the abbreviated suffixes d, dr, s, se, sen, sens, and x (e.g., Dirks, Dirkse, Dirksdr, etc.). Dutch surnames based on locations usually include prefixes like de (the), van (from), van de, van der, van den (from the), or te, ter, ten (on). If you have Dutch ancestors and have hit a brick wall in your research, the experts at Legacy Tree Genealogists are here to help. Want to learn more about hiring a professional genealogist to assist with your family history research? Contact Legacy Tree Genealogists by visiting https://www.legacytree.com to request a free quote and learn more about what it's like to work with a professional genealogy firm. May your week be full of discoveries.  

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 they came from.  Resources: Immigrant Ancestors Project http://immigrants.byu.edu/main_page MyHeritage.com Ancestry.com Google Books Want to learn more about hiring a professional genealogist to assist with your family history research? Contact Legacy Tree Genealogists by visiting https://www.legacytree.com to request a free quote and learn more about what it's like to work with a professional genealogy firm. May your week be full of discoveries.

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 (Historic Gazetter) Listen to this episode to get more information about what you will find on each website and how best to use these resources.  Want to learn more about hiring a professional genealogist to assist with your family history research? Contact Legacy Tree Genealogists by visiting https://www.legacytree.com to request a free quote and learn more about what it's like to work with a professional genealogy firm. May your week be full of discoveries.   

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 history research? Contact Legacy Tree Genealogists by visiting https://www.legacytree.com to request a free quote and learn more about what it's like to work with a professional genealogy firm. May your week be full of discoveries.

As genealogists, we're often asked to research the likelihood and details of a client's Native American heritage. In this episode we share 5 tips for researching your Cherokee ancestry, and a few pitfalls to watch out for along the way.  Resources for your research: The Dawes Roll: https://accessgenealogy.com/native/final-rolls.htm Indian Census Rolls from Ancestry.com: https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1059/ Cherokee Clan names:  Anigilohi (Long Hair) Aniwodi (Paint) Anitsisqua (Bird) Aniwaya (Wolf) Anigodagewi (Wild Potato) Aniawi (Deer) Anisahoni (Blue) DNA Testing Information Want to learn more about hiring a professional genealogist to assist with your family history research? Contact Legacy Tree Genealogists by visiting https://www.legacytree.com to request a free quote and learn more about what it's like to work with a professional genealogy firm. May your week be full of discoveries.  

Do you know how far back you can go in your family tree and still use Autosomal DNA to find matches?   In this episode we explain what Autosomal DNA is, and then how to best use it to find matches in your family tree.    Want to hire a professional genealogist to assist with your family history research? Contact Legacy Tree Genealogists by visiting

How are we related? That's a question that we have been asked quite a bit lately, and sometimes determining that exact familial connection with someone else can be confusing. What is the difference between a second cousin and a first cousin, once removed? What does the “removed” mean, anyway? If my mom has a cousin, how is he related to me? Is my grandfather's sister my great-aunt, or my grand-aunt? In this episode we'll discuss these questions to help you gain clarity about how you are related to the members of your family tree.  Download this helpful How Are We Related? Relationship Chart to assist you in making sense of family relationships.  Ready to dive deeper into your family history and understand the shared DNA between family members? Download this FREE DNA & Relationship Chart.  Want to hire a professional genealogist to assist with your family history research? Contact Legacy Tree Genealogists by visiting https://www.legacytree.com to request a free quote and learn more about what it's like to work with a professional genealogy firm. May your week be full of discoveries.     

If you're confused with or made mistakes interpreting your DNA test results, you're not alone! There are lots of things to learn when it comes to DNA and family history research. Today, we'll review some of the most common misunderstandings people have about their DNA test results, and help you know how to avoid them! We'll also answer a DNA basic: What is a centimorgan? Need help with your DNA research, or want to hire a professional genealogist? Contact Legacy Tree Genealogists by visiting https://www.legacytree.com to request a free quote and learn more about what it's like to work with a professional genealogy firm.

This week we answer the question, "How and where do I start my family history research if I have a lot of blank spots in my family tree?" Getting started is simpler than you think. In this week's episode we share the strategies to get started and find ancestors with accuracy, so your blank spots in you family tree can be filled with ancestors.  Want personalized help with your research? You can contact Legacy Tree Genealogists by visiting https://www.legacytree.com to request a free quote and learn more about what it's like to work with a professional genealogy firm.

Are you searching for documentation for a deceased family member and having a hard time knowing where to look, or finding conflicting information? In this week's episode we answer the question: "My mom was married five or six times according to the Social Security Administration. Where do I start researching? How do I find documentation for her now that she has passed?" While this may not be a common scenario, the strategies used to find documentation for your deceased family members is much the same as this person's question.  In this episode we'll share how to begin with you ancestor timeline, the information needed for a proper timeline, and how to find the documents you are seeking when you are facing a complicated situation or little known information.  Want personalized help with your research? You can contact Legacy Tree Genealogists by visiting https://www.legacytree.com to request a free quote and learn more about what it's like to work with a professional genealogy firm.   

You've done your DNA testing and received the results. What now? How do you get started making sense of the results and the DNA matches. In this episode we will share a simple tip to get started on your road to success with DNA Matches in genealogy research.  Want to learn more about DNA and genealogy research?  You can also schedule a consultation or request a quote.  Visit our website at legacytree.com. Put Your Family History in Our Hands