Hi Reader,

I spent several late nights this week hunting for my third great-grandmother's maiden name. You know how these searches go - I started with the usual records, but birth certificates, marriage records, and death certificates turned up empty. Now I'm diving into some pretty unusual places, following leads that most researchers might skip right over.

Sometimes the best genealogy discoveries happen when we venture off the beaten path!

But here's the good news – those maiden names aren't necessarily lost forever. As genealogists, we often focus on the standard birth, marriage, and death records, but our female ancestors left traces of their identities in some surprising places.

This week, I'm excited to share some lesser-known resources and strategies that might just help you break through those brick walls and finally discover who your grandmother or great-grandmother was before she married. Plus, I've got a fantastic research tool to tell you about that most genealogists overlook!

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📖NEW BLOG POST

LOST MAIDEN NAMES?!

Finding those elusive female ancestors can feel impossible when their maiden names seem lost to history. If you're stuck trying to trace your grandmother or great-grandmother's family line, I've got good news - those names may not be as lost as you think!

In my latest blog post, I'm sharing 3 surprising places where your ancestor's maiden name might be hiding:

• Religious records that go far beyond basic parish registers
• Gravestone research secrets most genealogists overlook
• An often-forgotten family connection that could hold the key

Plus, I'll walk you through uncovering maiden names, including which traditional records to check first and advanced tips for making the most of special collections and archives.

Don't let those female ancestors remain a mystery! Head over to 3 Surprising Places to Find Your Ancestor’s Lost Maiden Name to discover these research strategies and finally break through that brick wall.

🌳ROOTSTECH 2025 in SALT LAKE CITY, UT

CULINARY HERITAGE: Finding Home Within Yourself

Thursday, March 6, 2025 @ 8:00 AM (MT) / Room 150

If you are attending RootsTech 2025 in-person event in Salt Lake City, I hope you will join me on that Thursday morning to learn how culinary heritage reveals family history and heritage clues. Here is the description of my session:

Food is deeply ingrained in family history and heritage. Recipes, cookware, traditions, and memories are passed from generation to generation.

Get ready to explore your family history through food! Learn how recipes act as a bridge to the past, revealing ancestral preferences and experiences. Discover the stories behind family dishes, gaining a richer understanding of your culinary heritage.

We'll celebrate the diversity of your family's cuisine, uncover how food connects you to ancestral homelands, and finally, learn to create meaningful culinary experiences that preserve your family's traditions.

Hope to see you there!

😃GENEALOGY FUN

RELATIVES AT ROOTSTECH

More RootsTech Fun! Relatives at RootsTech is back! This popular feature lets you discover your genetic cousins and family connections among fellow RootsTech attendees - whether you're joining in person or virtually. Last year, over 2 million participants found relatives through this unique feature!

Here's what you can discover:

• A personalized view of how you connect to other RootsTech attendees
• The number of relatives attending RootsTech 2025
• Common ancestors you share with your matches
• Direct messaging to connect with your newfound relatives

Ready to find your RootsTech relatives? Simply create your free FamilySearch account, opt into Relatives at RootsTech, and build your family tree. The more ancestors you add, the more connections you'll discover! Visit Relatives at RootsTech to get started, and don't forget to check back regularly as new matches appear when more attendees join.

💡GENEALOGY TIP

WOMEN IN THEIR SOCIAL CIRCLES

When searching for your female ancestors, don't overlook their social connections! Women often participated in church groups, ladies' aid societies, and community organizations. These groups frequently documented their activities in:

• Meeting minutes with member lists
• Social columns in local newspapers
• Charity event programs and reports
• Group photographs with names
• Membership directories

Next time you hit a brick wall with a female ancestor, try researching the social organizations in her community. Women's groups sometimes listed members by both married and maiden names, especially in smaller communities where everyone knew each other.

Learn more about clues to women in your family tree in Women In History – Overcoming the “Just a Housewife” Myth.

🔨GENEALOGY TOOLS

SEARCH LIKE A PRO

Looking for those hard-to-find female ancestors? ArchiveGrid is your free gateway to over 7 million records in special collections worldwide. This powerful tool helps you:

• Find personal papers and letters mentioning maiden names
• Locate donated family Bibles and diaries
• Discover which repositories hold family collections
• Access finding aids for 1,400+ archives

Learn how to search special collections in ArchiveGrid for your ancestors in Use ArchiveGrid To Find Old Documents & Family Records.​

I look forward to sharing more research strategies and genealogy discoveries with you next week!

Happy Ancestor Hunting!

Lisa L

P. S. Don't forget – the MyHeritage Complete Plan sale ends Feb 21st! Save 50% off of the Complete Plan before time runs out.

Lisa Lisson Genealogy Researcher, Author & Speaker