Understanding the language of family history research
When you're first starting out, genealogy can feel like learning a whole new language. Researchers often use terms that may seem confusing at first, but once you understand them, records and research guides become much easier to follow.
Here are some of the most common genealogy terms every beginner should know.
🌳 Family Tree
A family tree is a chart showing relationships between family members across generations.
Remember that a family tree is only as accurate as the evidence supporting it.
Just because information appears in another person's online tree does not mean it is correct.
🧬 Ancestor
An ancestor is someone you descend from.
Examples include:
The further back you go, the more ancestors you will have.
The number of direct ancestors doubles with every generation you go back. By the time you reach your great-great-great-grandparents, you have 64 direct ancestors in that generation alone. This is one reason family trees can grow surprisingly quickly!
🌿 Branch
A branch refers to one section of your family tree.
For example:
Many researchers choose to focus on one branch at a time to avoid becoming overwhelmed
👨👩👧 Descendant
A descendant is someone who comes after an ancestor.
For example, your children, grandchildren, and future generations are your descendants.
👪 Generation
A generation is a group of family members born around the same period.
For example:
Each level represents a different generation.
Records and Documents
📄 Source
A source is where information comes from.
Examples include:
📝 Citation
A citation is the reference that tells you exactly where information was found.
Think of it as a roadmap back to the original record.
Without citations, it can be very difficult to retrace your research later.
Example:
<1911 Census of Canada, Ontario, Carleton County, Ottawa Ward 4, page 12, household of John Smith; viewed on Ancestry, 12 June 2026.>
This citation tells you:
📊 Census
A census is a government count of the population.
Census records often include information such as:
Census records are often one of the best places for beginners to start because they can help place a family together at a specific point in time.
🏛️ Parish
A parish is a church district or area served by a particular church.
Before civil registration, parish records often documented:
Understanding the correct parish can be key to finding ancestors.
⛪ Baptism or Christening
A baptism or christening is a church record created when a child was baptized.
Before civil birth registration existed, baptism records may be the only evidence of a person's birth.
These records may include:
Remember that a baptism date is not necessarily the same as a birth date.
💍 Marriage Records
A marriage can generate several different records:
Marriage Registration
The official government record of the marriage.
Marriage Certificate
The document issued to the couple.
Marriage Licence
Permission granted before the marriage took place.
Marriage Banns
Public announcements made in church before a marriage.
Each record may contain slightly different information and provide additional clues.
⚰️ Death Record
A death record is an official record created when someone dies.
Depending on the time period and location, it may include:
Death records can be extremely valuable because they may identify family relationships that are difficult to find elsewhere.
However, information is only as accurate as the person providing it.
⚰️ Burial Record
A burial record documents when and where a person was buried.
It may contain:
A burial date is not always the same as the date of death.
📰 Obituary
An obituary is a notice published after someone's death, usually in a newspaper or online.
Obituaries may contain:
Obituaries can provide wonderful family clues, but they are not official records and should always be verified with other sources.
📜 Registration vs Certificate
These terms are often used interchangeably, but they are not always the same thing.
Registration
A registration is the official government record created when an event occurred.
Examples include:
Registrations often contain the most detailed information.
Certificate
A certificate is usually a copy or extract created from the registration.
Depending on the jurisdiction, a certificate may contain all the information from the registration or only selected details.
Whenever possible, genealogists prefer to view the original registration or an image of it.
Research and Evidence
🔍 Evidence
In genealogy, evidence is information found in records that helps answer a research question.
For example, a census may provide evidence of:
One piece of evidence alone is rarely enough to prove a conclusion.
✔️ Proof
Proof is reached when multiple pieces of evidence support the same conclusion.
You may use:
Together, these records may provide proof that you have identified the correct individual.
Genealogy is about building conclusions based on evidence—not assumptions.
📚 Primary Source vs Secondary Source
Primary Source
A record created at or very near the time an event occurred.
Examples include:
Secondary Source
Information created later, often based on memory or second-hand knowledge.
Examples include:
As a general rule, genealogists give more weight to primary sources, but all sources should be evaluated carefully.
💡 Hint
A hint is a suggestion made by a genealogy website that a record may relate to someone in your tree.
Hints can be extremely useful—but they are not proof.
Always review the original record and ask:
! Never accept a hint simply because it appears in your tree. !
🧱 Brick Wall
A brick wall is a point in your research where progress seems to stop.
Perhaps:
Every genealogist encounters brick walls at some stage. They are a normal part of research.
🌍 Migration
Migration refers to people moving from one place to another.
Families may have moved:
Understanding migration patterns often helps explain why records suddenly appear in a new location.
DNA and Modern Genealogy
🧬 DNA
DNA testing has become an important tool in modern genealogy.
DNA can help you:
👥 DNA Match
A DNA match is another person who shares enough DNA with you to indicate a biological relationship.
A DNA match is a clue—not proof of exactly how someone is related. Traditional research is still needed to determine the relationship.
🌎 Ethnicity Estimate
An ethnicity estimate is a prediction of where your ancestors may have lived based on your DNA.
These estimates:
Most genealogists consider DNA matches far more valuable than ethnicity estimates.
Skeleton's Key Tip
Genealogy isn't about collecting names—it's about collecting evidence.
The strongest family trees are built by carefully evaluating records, recording sources, and drawing conclusions based on evidence rather than assumptions.
Whether you're using census records, certificates, church registers, newspapers, or DNA, every clue should be examined and supported by evidence before adding it to your family tree.
Remember: every experienced genealogist was once a beginner. Learning the language of family history is simply part of the journey.
© 2026 Skeletons in the Closet Genealogy Services
