Hi there! I'm Lisa Lisson, and I'm passionate about helping people like you discover their ancestors and expand their family tree without feeling overwhelmed or uncertain about the next steps.
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👍See How I Analyze Genealogy Documents + A Freebie!
Published about 2 months ago • 4 min read
Welcome to the Are You My Cousin? newsletter! Each week, I share actionable genealogy research advice to help you grow a healthy - and accurate - family tree. Did someone forward this to you? Subscribe so you never miss an issue.
Hi Reader,
Genealogy research rarely follows a straight path—some days we're deep in document analysis, others we're tracking surname changes, and sometimes we're exploring new research tools or connecting with local libraries. This wonderful unpredictability is what makes family history research so engaging and rewarding. 😃
In this week's newsletter, I'm taking you along for several different research adventures. You'll look over my shoulder as I analyze various document types in my latest video, discover strategies for tracking ancestors who changed their names, and explore valuable resources that might just hold the key to your next breakthrough.
Like our ancestors' lives themselves, this newsletter embraces the eclectic nature of effective family history research.
So, whether you're facing a specific challenge like a name change or simply looking to enhance your research toolkit, I'm sure you'll find something helpful to your research! Let's get started!
🤝 AFFILIATE HIGHLIGHT
FINDMYPAST
FindMyPast has launched a new feature that's changing how I organize my newspaper research. Their Newspaper Collections tool lets you save, organize, and share newspaper articles in customizable collections - think Pinterest, but specifically for historical newspapers!📰
You can organize articles by surname, location, time period, or any research topic that makes sense for your projects.
What I particularly love is the collaboration aspect. You can keep your collections private or share them with others. It's an opportunity to find others with similar research interests!
When researching your family history, it’s not uncommon to hit a brick wall because an ancestor may have changed their name. Whether the change was for cultural, personal, or legal reasons, this can be a daunting challenge.
To overcome that challenge, it’s helpful to consider the reason why an ancestor might have changed his/her name.
Common reasons include:
Immigration: Many immigrants altered their names to better fit into their new country.
Avoidance of Debt or Legal Trouble: Some changed names to escape financial or legal issues.
Personal Choice: A desire for a fresh start or to break away from family could lead to a name change. Another personal choice could be they did not like their name. (That was my ancestor!) I find individuals who changed their name for personal reasons, can be some of the hardest challenges to solve.
Cultural Adaptation: Names might be changed to align with local customs or language.
When you understand why an ancestor may have changed their name, you can then start to create a research plan to track them down!
The Big Genie List is a FREE comprehensive list of my favorite and most often used genealogy research resources, including websites, tools, and databases.
Whether you're a beginner or an experienced genealogist, you'll find resources for researching all aspects of your family history, such as birth, marriage, and death records; census records; immigration records; military records; land records; newspapers; and photographs.
When standard document analysis hits a roadblock, it might be time to consider if your ancestor changed their name. Whether for assimilation, avoiding legal troubles, or personal preference, name changes create challenging research puzzles.
In this practical guide, I walk through:
How to confirm a suspected name change
The difference between official and unofficial name changes
Where to search for evidence across multiple identities
I couldn't be more excited about Are You My Cousin?'sbrand new look! It offers you a more intuitive, streamlined experience that makes finding the genealogy resources you need so much easier.
Revealed last week, I've been hearing such positive feedback from readers. Thank you to all you took a moment to say how much you are enjoying the new look and layout! If you haven't had a chance, head over and check out the new look.
🔎GENEALOGY RESOURCE
THE LOCAL LIBRARY AND LIBRARIANS
During the Q & A after a talk last week, I found myself frequently referring participants to the librarians in the libraries located in the areas where their research is focused. In our passionate searches to find the next record for an ancestor, we can easily overlook the information found - offline - at the local libraries.
Local librarians can help you with:
Local written histories: Many libraries maintain collections of county and town histories, church anniversary booklets, and school yearbooks not available anywhere else
Newspaper knowledge: Librarians can tell you which newspapers covered specific areas during different time periods, including smaller publications that might not be digitized
Collection familiarity: They know exactly what holdings are available in their archives, including manuscript collections, family papers, and photograph collections
Regional connections: Librarians can direct you to other local repositories, historical societies, or even longtime residents who might shed light on your research questions.
Before your next research trip, call ahead to speak with reference staff at the local library where your ancestors lived. Go with specific questions but also be open to their suggestions—they often know resources unique to their area that even experienced genealogists might not consider.
Lastly, many small-town libraries often have limited hours or staff, so making contact before your visit ensures you'll get the most from your time there.
Remember, genealogy is as much about the research process as it is about filling in those branches on your family tree. Each document, each resource, and each new research approach brings you one step closer to understanding your ancestors' stories.
Actionable genealogy advice that you'll want to save in a special Gmail folder to grow your healthy family tree, sent weekly to 10,000+ readers.
Hi there! I'm Lisa Lisson, and I'm passionate about helping people like you discover their ancestors and expand their family tree without feeling overwhelmed or uncertain about the next steps.
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