In the existing plethora of genealogy research websites, it may be hard for a researcher, especially a newbie, to pick several for their search. We’ve compiled a list of the largest databases to help you track your ancestors and lost relatives from around the world.
Continue reading “Ultimate Guide to Genealogy Websites for Beginners”
As we look back at the 2024 US presidential elections, we’ve decided to cover a family that has been one of most instrumental dynasties in American political history – the Kennedy family tree. Combining triumph with tragedy, the Kennedys have left a mark on domestic and global policy of the whole 20th century – and are continuing to do so this century as well.
In this article, we’ll explore not only the most popular figures of JFK and Robert Kennedy, but also a wide number of lesser known family members as well as the generation of the Kennedy clan family tree that started it all.
Born on September 6, 1888, in Boston, Massachusetts, Joe was the son of P. J. Kennedy, a successful businessman and influential local politician. After graduating from Harvard in 1912, Joe quickly established himself as a shrewd businessman. He began his career in banking, eventually becoming one of the youngest bank presidents in the country when he took charge of Columbia Trust Bank. Joe made millions by investing in film studios, most notably RKO Pictures, and earned a reputation for being financially savvy and opportunistic.
He was a strong supporter of Franklin D. Roosevelt, contributing generously to Roosevelt’s campaigns. In 1938, Roosevelt appointed Joe as U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom.
However, Joe’s isolationist views and his vocal opposition to U.S. involvement in World War II alienated him from Roosevelt and other officials. His public statements, expressing sympathy for appeasement policies and casting doubt on Britain’s chances in the war, led to a strained relationship with the administration. By 1940, he resigned under pressure, though he retained a lot of influence over the political future of the Kennedys family tree.
He passed away on November 18, 1969.
Rose Elizabeth Fitzgerald, born on July 22, 1890, was the daughter of John “Honey Fitz” Fitzgerald, a charismatic Boston politician who served as a member of Congress and mayor of Boston.
Rose graduated from the Convent of the Sacred Heart in Manhattan and later attended Blumenthal Academy in Holland, where she gained a refined, cosmopolitan outlook that would set the tone for her family’s lifestyle.
Rose passed away on January 22, 1995, at an impressive age of 104.
Did you know you could recreate the John F Kennedy family tree? With Treemily, it’s very simple!
All you need is to create a free account, choose your preferred family tree layout, and put in some basic information about the family members.
Don’t be put off by the amount of effort it may take to have all of them listed – it is really quick and simple! And don’t forget to add pictures of each of the family members as well as some facts about them!
Once you’re done, you can export it to a stunningly looking PDF or even have it printed on paper of the size of your choosing.
Excited to embark on your first genealogical adventure? Feel free to find out more useful guidance in our “how to make a family tree” manual!
Joseph Patrick Kennedy Jr., born on July 25, 1915, was the eldest of the Kennedy children. A graduate of Harvard College, where he excelled academically and athletically, Joe also attended the London School of Economics. His father saw him as the first Kennedy to reach the White House, and Joe appeared ready to fulfill that role.
During World War II, Joe Jr. served as a Navy pilot, flying dangerous missions over Europe. In 1944, at age 29, he volunteered for a top-secret mission in which he was to pilot a plane filled with explosives, intended for a target in Germany. Tragically, the mission failed when the plane exploded prematurely, killing Joe instantly. His death devastated the family, but it also transferred their hopes and ambitions onto his younger brother, John.
John Fitzgerald Kennedy, born on May 29, 1917, was the 35th President of the United States. Known as “Jack” to family and friends, he suffered from numerous health problems, including chronic back pain and Addison’s disease, which he kept largely hidden from the public.
Jack attended the prestigious Choate boarding school and later Harvard College, graduating in 1940. His senior thesis, titled Why England Slept, analyzed Britain’s failure to prepare for World War II and became a best-seller. During WWII, he served in the Navy, where he commanded PT-109, a patrol torpedo boat. When his boat was rammed by a Japanese destroyer, Jack’s actions saved his crew and earned him the Navy and Marine Corps Medal.
John entered politics in 1946, winning a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives for Massachusetts. In 1952, he won a U.S. Senate seat, defeating longtime incumbent Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. His marriage to Jacqueline Lee Bouvier in 1953 became a cultural moment; the stylish couple quickly became America’s version of royalty.
Jack’s 1960 presidential campaign against Richard Nixon was notable for its focus on youth and optimism, as well as the landmark televised debates. As President, he advocated for civil rights, space exploration, and the Peace Corps. His administration, often referred to as “Camelot,” ended abruptly with his assassination in Dallas, Texas, on November 22, 1963.
Rose Marie “Rosemary” Kennedy, born on September 13, 1918, was the third Kennedy child. Rosemary experienced developmental delays and struggled in social situations, often feeling isolated due to her siblings’ accomplishments. In a bid to help her, Joseph Kennedy authorized a lobotomy for Rosemary when she was 23, a procedure that was poorly understood at the time. The surgery left her permanently incapacitated, and she spent most of her life in care facilities.
Kathleen “Kick” Kennedy was born on February 20, 1920. She worked with the American Red Cross in Europe during WWII, where she met and fell in love with William Cavendish, the Marquess of Hartington, heir to the Duke of Devonshire. Despite her family’s initial objections to her marriage to a Protestant, Kathleen married Cavendish in 1944.
Tragically, her husband was killed in combat shortly afterward. Kathleen remained in England, continuing her work and maintaining her love for British society. In 1948, while planning a trip to meet her family, Kathleen died in a plane crash in France at age 28.
Eunice Kennedy Shriver, born on July 10, 1921, was a formidable advocate for people with intellectual disabilities. Inspired by her sister Rosemary’s struggles, Eunice dedicated her life to this cause. In 1962, she founded a summer camp in her backyard to provide children with intellectual disabilities an opportunity to play and compete. This initiative grew into the Special Olympics, which officially began in 1968.
Eunice married Robert Sargent Shriver in 1953. Shriver was a key figure in the development of the Peace Corps under JFK’s administration, and together, they became a powerful philanthropic couple. Eunice’s work earned her numerous accolades, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, awarded by President Ronald Reagan in 1984. She passed away on August 11, 2009.
Patricia “Pat” Kennedy, born on May 6, 1924, had a deep interest in the arts. She attended the Rosemont College in Pennsylvania and went on to marry British actor Peter Lawford in 1954. Through this marriage, Pat introduced the Kennedys to Hollywood’s glamorous circles, linking them to stars like Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. That said, their marriage was troubled and eventually ended in divorce in 1966.
She passed away on September 17, 2006.
Robert Francis Kennedy, commonly known as Bobby, was born on November 20, 1925. Known for his fierce dedication to justice and civil rights, Bobby’s career began as a lawyer. He graduated from Harvard in 1948 and earned his law degree from the University of Virginia in 1951. After a stint as a counsel to the Senate, Bobby served as the Attorney General under his brother John’s administration.
Bobby’s tenure as Attorney General was marked by his commitment to civil rights, often clashing with segregationists in the South. After JFK’s assassination, Bobby was elected to the U.S. Senate from New York in 1964. In 1968, he announced his presidential candidacy, advocating for social justice, anti-war policies, and economic reform.
Bobby’s campaign ended tragically when he was assassinated on June 5, 1968, after a campaign event in Los Angeles.
Jean Ann Kennedy Smith, born on February 20, 1928, was the eighth of the Kennedy siblings. Jean served as the U.S. Ambassador to Ireland from 1993 to 1998, where she played a role in the Northern Ireland peace process.
In 1974, she founded Very Special Arts (VSA), an organization that provides artistic opportunities for people with disabilities. Jean’s work in arts education and her diplomatic efforts earned her recognition as a champion of public service. She passed away on June 17, 2020, at the age of 92.
Edward “Ted” Kennedy, born on February 22, 1932, was the youngest of the Kennedy siblings and served as a U.S. Senator from Massachusetts for nearly 47 years. Known as the “Lion of the Senate,” Ted’s legislative accomplishments include the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, and health care reform. He was one of the most influential senators of his time, advocating for progressive policies on civil rights, health care, and labor rights.
Ted faced both political and personal challenges, including the Chappaquiddick incident in 1969, where a car he was driving went off a bridge, leading to the drowning of Mary Jo Kopechne. Though he faced criticism for his actions following the accident, he continued to serve in the Senate until his death from brain cancer on August 25, 2009.
Caroline Bouvier Kennedy, born on November 27, 1957, is the only surviving child of the family tree of John F Kennedy. After her father’s assassination, Caroline moved with her mother and brother to New York, where she was raised largely out of the public sphere.
Caroline attended Radcliffe College, graduating in 1979, and later earned a law degree from Columbia University. Over the years, she has built a career as an author, attorney, and diplomat. She has co-authored several books on law and civil liberties, including In Our Defense: The Bill of Rights in Action, and has served on numerous charitable and cultural boards, including the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation.
In 2008, Caroline expressed interest in filling Hillary Clinton’s vacated Senate seat in New York, though she ultimately withdrew her candidacy. She was later appointed as U.S. Ambassador to Japan by President Barack Obama in 2013, making history as the first female ambassador to Japan.
John Fitzgerald Kennedy Jr. was born on November 25, 1960, just weeks after his father was elected President.
John Jr. graduated from Brown University in 1983 and later earned his law degree from New York University. Despite pressure to follow in his father’s political footsteps, he initially chose a different path, blending his interests in media and public life. In 1995, he founded George magazine, a politically-themed publication that combined serious journalism with celebrity interviews and cultural commentary.
In 1996, John Jr. married Carolyn Bessette, a fashion publicist, in a private ceremony that captured media attention worldwide. Tragically, on July 16, 1999, John Jr., his wife Carolyn, and her sister Lauren Bessette were killed in a plane crash off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard. John Jr. was piloting the plane when it went down in poor visibility.
Joseph Patrick Kennedy II, born on September 24, 1952, is the eldest son in the Robert Kennedy family tree. Joe graduated from the University of Massachusetts and went on to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives for Massachusetts’s 8th congressional district from 1987 to 1999. As a congressman, he was a vocal advocate for affordable housing, healthcare, and energy reform.
Following his departure from Congress, Joe co-founded Citizens Energy Corporation, a non-profit organization that provides low-cost heating oil to low-income families. Today, he remains active in both the nonprofit and private sectors.
Born on January 17, 1954, Robert Francis Kennedy Jr. is the third of Robert and Ethel Kennedy’s eleven children. Robert Jr. has spent much of his life as an environmental lawyer.
He graduated from Harvard College in 1976, studied law at the University of Virginia, and obtained a master’s degree in environmental law from Pace University. Robert’s work in environmental justice began with the Riverkeeper organization, which advocates for the health of the Hudson River and its ecosystem. He also served as president of the Waterkeeper Alliance, a global network focused on protecting waterways.
Maria Owings Shriver, born on November 6, 1955, is the daughter of Eunice Kennedy Shriver and Sargent Shriver. She graduated from Georgetown University and began her career in broadcast journalism, eventually winning multiple Emmy Awards and becoming a key contributor to NBC News.
Maria married Arnold Schwarzenegger in 1986 – they had four children together before divorcing in 2011. Throughout her career, Maria has focused on issues related to women’s rights, Alzheimer’s research, and caregiving. She founded the Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement, which raises awareness and funding for gender-based Alzheimer’s research.
Patrick Joseph Kennedy II, born on July 14, 1967, is the son of Edward “Ted” Kennedy. Like his father, Patrick chose a path in politics, serving as a U.S. Representative for Rhode Island’s 1st congressional district from 1995 to 2011.
After leaving Congress, Patrick co-founded the Kennedy Forum, an organization dedicated to mental health advocacy and policy reform.
Kara Kennedy Allen, born on February 27, 1960, was the eldest daughter of Edward Kennedy. In 2002, she was diagnosed with lung cancer, but after successful treatment, she became an advocate for cancer awareness. She served on the board of the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate, which educates the public about the legislative process.
Tragically, Kara died of a heart attack on September 16, 2011, at the age of 51, after a workout.
Christopher George Kennedy, born on July 4, 1963, is another of Robert F. Kennedy’s children who has built a career in business and public service. Chris graduated from Boston College and Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. He served as the chairman of Joseph P. Kennedy Enterprises, Inc., and played a significant role in the Kennedy family’s business affairs.
Chris has also been involved in politics and philanthropy, serving as chairman of the board for the University of Illinois. In 2018, he ran for Governor of Illinois as a Democrat, though he was not elected.
Joseph Patrick Kennedy III, born on October 4, 1980, is the grandson of Robert F. Kennedy and a former U.S. Congressman. Serving as the representative for Massachusetts’s 4th congressional district from 2013 to 2021, Joe quickly gained a reputation as an advocate for social justice, healthcare reform, and LGBTQ rights. A graduate of Stanford University and Harvard Law School, he is one of the younger Kennedys working to advance progressive causes.
In 2020, Joe ran for U.S. Senate but was defeated by incumbent Senator Ed Markey in the Democratic primary.
Today, the president Kennedy family tree remains synonymous with both the ideals and challenges of American public life – they have wholly dedicated themselves to bettering the country, sometimes even at the cost of their own lives.
From healthcare reform to mental health advocacy, the Kennedys have used their platform to champion a range of great causes, which will always remain as a huge part of their legacy.
Would you like to preserve your family legacy – and have your family tree passed from generation to generation? Treemily can help you!
You can create amazing family charts in our family tree builder in just a couple of steps!
Create a free account, choose your preferred tree layout, and put in the information about your family. Once you’re done, you can export it to a stunningly looking PDF or have it printed on paper of the size of your choosing. Let’s go!
Many people would like to know about their heritage. Knowledge of their ancestors gives children a sense of belonging and their place in the world. Besides that, family history provides a good opportunity for children to contribute to something bigger than themselves.
How do you begin a genealogical journey? Almost every newbie researcher faces the problem of having inadequate skills to carry out extensive research. To get better results from your research you must develop a set of skills. Once you master these skills, a whole new world of opportunities will open up. But the obvious problem is that people often don’t even know which skills they will need.
So, here at Treemily, we have prepared a list of top skills you need to develop to take your family genealogy research to the next level before creating your own ancestry chart using a family tree maker software.
Continue reading “Genealogy Research: What Skills Do We Need?”
The search for birth-parents is an emotional yet complicated process because the information may be confidential and it may take a long time and effort to find what you’re looking for. Luckily, with technological advances and digitalization of records and databases, the searching process has become easier than ever before. Here are some tips to tracing family roots and finding your birth parents.
Your family history research is always based on an effective organization. Just like with anything else in life, setting the right expectations and organizing processes goes a long way in achieving your goals.
In this article, we will give you 7 crucial tips to successfully conduct genealogical research along with 7 Mistakes to Avoid When Researching a Family Tree.
A family tree is a visual representation of your lineage that traces relationships to your ancestors. It is visually similar to an organizational chart and is usually represented in a tree structure starting with the oldest known ancestor as the root. From the root, the tree branches terminate in boxes representing leaves. Each leaf represents a family member with information about them, such as birth, marriage, and death dates.
The practice of genealogy, researching one’s ancestors, has exploded lately. Many, if not most, families in the United States have at least one family member actively researching their family history, not to mention professional genealogists who do genealogy as a job.
There are many reasons why people start genealogy research:
The time you will have to spend on a family tree design will largely depend on the size of your family. People often underestimate their family size since they forget to take their extended family into consideration. Besides brothers, sisters, uncles, and aunts we also have distant relatives that we shouldn’t forget about.
With more in-depth research, it is possible to trace your family history back about 150 years, which is about 5 generations. Basically, this will be the scope of your family tree. So, how to calculate the approximate amount of family members in a tree of five generations?
A typical family tree will include 2 parents, 4 grandparents, and 8 great-grandparents. If you keep counting backward you will discover you have 32 great-great-great-grandparents. Considering that probably your ancestors had brothers and sisters, this number multiplies. Could you imagine your family tree is that big?
Logically, with such a big number of family members there comes another question: “How to cope with all the data?” Be selective in your research. You can take only one branch of your tree or you can go sideways and record all family members who are still alive today. The approach will depend on your family structure and the resources you have at your disposal. The more records about your ancestors there are, the easier it will be to track your family roots.
You can start tracing your family tree horizontally and vertically at the same time. Just choose what branches of your tree you want to do first. The easiest way is, to begin with, the branches where it is faster to get the data you need.
As a rule, the older the documents you are looking for are, the more time, skill, and resources it takes to collect the information.
Learning about your distant ancestors can seem an exciting journey. However, the amount of effort it takes to obtain information about just one person can equal the amount of effort it takes to collect data about several living relatives. Sit tight – in the beginning, it may be frustrating but after you gain some experience it will come off easily.
Searching for old records can be difficult. Provided that typewriters didn’t become common until the mid-1880s so most government records before this time were handwritten, and quite often not standardized. Searching for such information is time-consuming and expensive.
Check out if someone has already done the research for you. There might be families who had already published their family trees in a book format. There might be some local history books describing families that live in your area. In the age of the internet, it becomes much easier to find someone mentioning your family.
Society of Genealogists is one of the most popular websites that contain published and unpublished family histories notes. However, be careful with copying data as it might not be verified. Make sure every piece of information you copy is backed by a source document.
There are many sources nowadays that provide family trees created by other people. However, some of them may be questionable. Don’t assume that everyone is diligent when conducting research. Someone can be just making educated guesses.
Doing research may be tiring and you may want to cut corners but this is not a rational approach. It may not be obvious when someone makes guesses, so you need to verify all the facts you find on the internet.
Our family tree maker will help you visualize your family history and share your ancestors’ stories with your loved ones. You can choose various templates and play with colors to make your tree look the way you see it.
The truest form of art is the one that touches your heart. So creating an artistic interpretation of your history through a family tree is a great way to feel connected to something much bigger than yourself.
There is always more to discover. To be successful in your genealogical research you need to treat it like a lifetime hobby. In some way, a family tree cannot be really finished because it is a living reflection of your family and your family is constantly changing. There might be moments when you will feel tired and ready to give up. Just put down your research for some time.
Though don’t neglect to make notes of your previous discoveries. None of us has a perfect memory, so some facts may be lost if you don’t document them. Otherwise, you will have to repeat the work you have previously done.
Seemingly dead ends as you research your family history are caused by simple spelling mistakes and inconsistencies much more often than you might think. As documents age, we instinctively become more trusting of their contents. They have, after all, stood the test of time, haven’t they? But bear in mind that any resources you are relying on may include errors. A simple difference in the spelling of a name can open up new avenues in your investigation. Just the name Hailey, for example, could be spelt Hailee, Haleigh, Haley, Haylee, Hayleigh, Hayley, or Haylie. Keep an open mind in the course of your research.
The Internet is teeming with genealogy resources. There is no shortage of family tree websites to help you along as you build your own. Once you find a related family tree, it is tempting to not reinvent the wheel and simply build on the work that’s already been done. You save yourself a lot of time and effort, and open up a whole new realm of possibilities with the new clues you get. But before you plow ahead with your newfound knowledge, make sure you do your due diligence and vet it first. It is more than likely that there are mistakes and incorrect information. Check the sources of the information in the family tree and verify that the connections are well-founded before you develop your research in that direction. The sooner you uncover any errors, the fewer the number of steps you have to retrace in your work to correct them.
The convenience that we’ve grown accustomed to makes it tempting to use the Internet to research almost anything. Genealogy records offer literally billions of records to search through. However, there simply is no substitute for firsthand information. Start with the people in your family. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins will all give you a wealth of information that is easily verifiable, and has some foundation and isn’t just hit or miss, like Internet searches. It takes more time and requires more work, but the results make the effort worthwhile.
Confusion with names can wreak havoc with your search. Incorrectly assuming a relative’s namesake is in fact your relative can have you headed in the wrong direction, exploring the stories of people who are not your relatives. There is also the risk of missing an entire generation by not paying close enough attention to sons who share names with their fathers. Reduce the risks of falling into these traps by thoroughly checking dates, and verifying the sources of information.
You may have done a significant amount of work putting your family tree together before stumbling upon the opportunity to merge it, or some parts of it, with information you find on a site like Ancestry. The temptation to instantly grow your family tree should be resisted, and instead, ensure you check the information that you are copying over. It might turn out that there are mistakes in the new information, or it doesn’t contain as much data as what you have put together. Check to make sure you don’t overwrite well-researched, accurate information.
Your family research will ideally not end with you. Future generations, or other contemporary members of your family may want to continue to build upon your research. You should therefore ensure you make it easy for them to verify the information you have by providing sources as much as possible. Your family tree will not only have reliable information, you improve the likelihood that others will carry on the tradition with the same high standard.
A lot of the work of a genealogy sleuth makes for slow, tedious going. The impulse to cut corners and stop once you’ve found the connection you are looking for can be hard to put down. Go the extra mile and ensure you faithfully chase down all the facts, even the seemingly mundane ones. You never know where they might lead.
Successful genealogists are those who go slow and don’t expect to find all information at once and conveniently packaged. By following these tips you can avoid some of the common mistakes people make while creating their family trees. Don’t forget to make a family tree using the Treemily family tree maker online to keep the memory of your loved ones for the next generations.
Scents can revive certain memories from years ago and pull you back into past events. We all have scents that are associated with our childhood, and whenever we feel homesick, we can cook that dish to feel as though we are at home. Some of us share collective memories, for instance, the smell of roast turkey can remind us of Thanksgiving. You catch a whiff of newspaper or freshly cut grass, and you immediately get immersed in your childhood memories.
It seems like siblings share the same family background, their ethnic background must be the same. After all, they both inherited half their DNA from each of the two parents. However, because of how DNA is passed on, siblings (not twins) with exactly the same ancestors can have different ethnicity breakdown. Culturally, they can say they are “1/8th Irish”, but at the DNA level, one may have no Irish genes at all.
It’s rather common for siblings to get different ethnic results from a DNA test, even though they have the same parents. There are several factors that can affect ethnic heritage.
To understand why people who share the same ancestors have different ethnicity results, you must have at least a basic knowledge of human genetics. We’re not going to delve deep into the science of DNA and genealogy, but there are some fundamentals you need to know.
Chromosomes consist of continuous thread-like molecules of DNA. Each cell normally contains 23 pairs of chromosomes. There are different types of genealogy tests, but we will focus on autosomal testing since it is responsible for ethnicity estimates. The autosomal testing explores the first 22 pairs of chromosomes that are called autosomes (no surprises here). The 23rd pair of chromosomes determines your sex.
Each chromosome represents a long double helix on which thousands of genes are encoded. Genes define how our bodies grow and operate, as well as our build, complexion, and even taste. Also, genes determine your ethnicity.
DNA stores information about your ancestors and their place of living. However, because of the way genes are inherited by children, things get a bit complicated. The 22 pairs of autosomes that we have are not identical to your parents’ ones. Our reproductive cells take pieces from your parents’ chromosomes to create a new, unique configuration. The new DNA helices are very similar to those of your parents, yet not identical.
Children receive half of their chromosomes from each of their parents. At first sight, you might think that if your maternal grandfather is 50% German and 50% Italian, and your maternal grandmother is 100% French, that your mother would be 25% German, 25% Italian, and 50% French, but that’s not necessarily true.
The maternal grandmother can only pass on 50% of genes, so half the mother’s genes are French (50%). But the maternal grandfather can pass on either German or Italian genes, but won’t necessarily be an exact half of each.
With each new generation, another set of genes from each ethnicity will be passed down. Even within two generations, there will major differences at the siblings’ ethnicity estimate.
Typically, siblings share half of their DNA, and the other 50% can vary. Only twins have identical DNA. This means siblings may have a different ethnic breakdown, too.
The ethnicity breakdown can be resolved through single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). In simple words, these are tiny pieces of DNA that vary depending on your ancestry.
People migrated significantly less than we do today and tended to marry within their own religious and ethnic groups, so these SNPs accumulated over time. If your DNA contains an SNP that appears solely in Greeks, then the odds are high that you have Greek ancestors.
Provided that DNA becomes increasingly mixed with each new generation, the siblings may get different ethnicity estimates. If you inherited many SNPs related to a particular ethnic group, your ethnic estimate for that group would be higher. On the other hand, if your sibling inherited less of it, their estimate will be lower.
One interesting consequence of this is that siblings can have different relative matches. Since they share only around half of the DNA, the relatives they are matched with won’t be exactly the same, either. You’re more likely to find more German and Italian relatives if these ethnicities dominate in your DNA. However, this mostly applies to more distant relatives. Close family members are more likely to see the same set of relatives.
Remember that genealogy testing companies use different methods to determine ethnicity estimate so the results may vary. This doesn’t mean the results are wrong or inaccurate. It just shows that if you want to get the most accurate results possible, you need several tests.
Though siblings share the same cultural and family roots, they can still have different genetic backgrounds. While at first glance this may seem strange, it’s actually a widespread phenomenon. This is the result of the complex relationship between genetics, ancestry, and ethnicity.
Don’t forget to visualize your ethnicity breakdown results! Use our genealogical tree builder and create detailed profiles for every ancestor you discover! Create amazing stories and share them with your friends and relatives!
When you start doing research, the first thing that comes to your mind is asking your family members about your family roots. Who else other than your parents and grandparents can tell more about your family history? However, completely neglecting online sources would be unreasonable.
Here are some tips on how to dig information online:
Continue reading “Search Engines and Genealogy: How to Dig up Information Online”
For people researching their family history, the beginning of a new year is the perfect time to make new plans and set new goals for improving their ancestor’s research strategy. If you don’t know where to start from, here are some goals for you to work towards in 2019.
The genealogy boom started around 20 years ago. However, records, resources, and even technology were limited at that time. These days you can find all the necessary information with a single click so you basically don’t even need to get out of the chair to find records. The journey to family lineage has never been easier. Continue reading “The Origins of a Family Tree”
Known for their warmth, strong moral compass, and, of course, their signature red hair, the Weasley family holds a significant place in both the story and the world created by J.K. Rowling. And while we know more about some of the Weasleys than others, there is no doubt that the entire family history is rich in fascinating tales. And we’re exploring them today!
So let’s dive into the branches of the Weasley family tree, looking at each member from patriarch Arthur to youngest son Ron, as well as their connections to other notable wizarding families.
Despite even the extended Weasley family tree being pure of blood, the Weasleys are often called “blood traitors” by their detractors. That is because they are famous (or infamous, depending on who you ask) for their “progressive views”. Namely, the term “blood traitor” is often used by more traditional wizarding families who view their acceptance of Muggle-borns and their defense of non-magical people as a betrayal of their magical heritage.
But the Weasleys couldn’t care less – kindness and fairness come first, no matter a person’s blood status.
Arthur Weasley is the patriarch in the Weasley family tree, working for the Ministry of Magic in the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office. While this is considered a low-ranking position, Arthur’s deep fascination with Muggle inventions and customs makes it almost a dream job. He spends much of his time tinkering with Muggle items, like his beloved Ford Anglia, for example, which plays a key part in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
Overall, Arthur is a soft-spoken, kind man who places the well-being of his family above all else, and, throughout the series, you can never question his love for Molly and their children.
Molly Weasley is the matriarch of the Weasley family, a housewife, and a very skilled witch in her own right. Molly shines the most when she is called to protect her family – her ability to fight alongside members of the Order of the Phoenix is not to be underestimated.
One of her most famous and fan favorite moments comes in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, when she defends her daughter Ginny from Bellatrix Lestrange during the Battle of Hogwarts, delivering the now classic line: “Not my daughter, you b****!”
Did you know you could recreate the famous Ron Weasley family tree? With Treemily, it’s very simple!
All you need is to create a free account, choose your preferred family tree layout, and put in some basic information about the characters.
Don’t be put off by the amount of effort it may take to have all of them listed – it is really quick and simple! And don’t forget to add pictures of each of the family members as well as some facts about them!
Once you’re done, you can export it to a stunningly looking PDF or even have it printed on paper of the size of your choosing.
Excited to embark on your first genealogical adventure? Feel free to find out more useful guidance in our “how to make a family tree” manual!
The eldest Weasley child, Bill, works as a curse breaker for Gringotts Wizarding Bank. Bill is portrayed as calm, collected, and very loyal to his family. His involvement in the Order of the Phoenix and the Battle of Hogwarts are strong indicators of his commitment to the fight against Voldemort.
Towards the end of the series, Bill marries Fleur Delacour, a Triwizard Tournament competitor introduced in Goblet of Fire. Their wedding, held during the events of Deathly Hallows, is a pivotal event in the story for several reasons – Harry meeting Luna Lovegood’s father, the announcement of the Ministry of Magic’s fall, and the Death Eaters’ assault.
Second in line, Charlie Weasley remains a bit of a mystery throughout the series and is never present. In the story, he is best known for his work with dragons in Romania, which is also tied to his most notable contribution to the plot. That is when he helps transport the dragons used in the first task during the Triwizard Tournament in Goblet of Fire.
Percy Weasley’s journey in the series is one of the most complex – he starts off as a highly responsible and rule-abiding character and eventually lands a job at the Ministry of Magic. But his blind loyalty to the Ministry causes a rift between him and his family, particularly when the Ministry starts to deny Voldemort’s return.
However, Percy redeems himself in Deathly Hallows when he returns to fight alongside his family during the Battle of Hogwarts, showing that, in the end, family loyalty matters more to him than his career.
Perhaps the most beloved duo of the Weasley family tree, Fred and George are the infamous mischievous twins who provide much of the comic relief in the series. They’re known for their pranks and creativity – features that later developed into a whole business, a joke shop called Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes.
Sadly, Fred’s death during the Battle of Hogwarts is one of the most heart-wrenching moments in the series, leaving George to continue their legacy on his own.
Ron Weasley is, of course, one of the central characters in the series. As Harry Potter’s best friend and one-third of the golden trio (with Hermione Granger), Ron is known for both his courage and occasional moments of insecurity.
Coming from a large family, Ron sometimes struggles with feelings of inadequacy, especially when compared to his more accomplished brothers. Still, over the course of the series, he keeps proving his worth, from facing giant spiders to destroying one of Voldemort’s Horcruxes. After the events of the series, Ron goes on to work at the Ministry of Magic and later helps George run the joke shop.
The youngest Weasley sibling, and the only girl, Ginny starts off as a minor character but then plays a crucial role in the later books. Initially quiet around Harry, Ginny grows into a confident and skilled witch, becoming a key member of Dumbledore’s Army and fighting in the Battle of Hogwarts.
Her relationship with Harry blossoms, and the two eventually marry after the events of the series.
Molly Weasley was actually born Molly Prewett – another well-known pureblood family. Her brothers, Gideon, and Fabian Prewett, were both members of the original Order of the Phoenix and were tragically killed by Death Eaters during Voldemort’s first rise to power.
It’s heavily implied that their deaths greatly impacted Molly, explaining her deep fear of losing her own children to the war against Voldemort.
The Weasleys also have ties to the infamous Black family – Arthur Weasley’s grandmother was Cedrella Black, who was disowned by the Black family for marrying a “blood traitor.”
This interesting connection also makes the Weasleys distant relatives of Sirius Black.
Apart from the immediate family, only a few other Weasley relatives are briefly mentioned throughout the series. For example, Ron’s Aunt Muriel, who attends Bill and Fleur’s wedding – notably made an offhand comment about Dumbledore’s past and his sister Ariana, which made Harry even more curious about his mentor’s biography.
The Weasleys are a joy to watch and read about – they can be fun and light-hearted, but they can also display courage, grit, and even rage. Either way, the Weasley family tree has definitely left a mark on the Harry Potter universe and left a legacy few can match.
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The Weasleys have connections to several prominent wizarding families – the Blacks, the Prewetts, and later – even the Potters and the Grangers.
The Weasleys earned the “blood traitor” because of their non-purist beliefs – they do not believe in the superiority of magical blood and openly support the rights of all witches and wizards, regardless of lineage.
After the defeat of Voldemort, Ron works briefly as an Auror and then joins his brother George in running Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes.
Molly’s mother-in-law, Cedrella, was born a Black before being disowned for marrying into the Weasley family. This makes Sirius and Molly cousins by marriage.
Ron and Harry aren’t related by blood, but they become family through marriage when Harry marries his sister Ginny.
“Do I have royal blood?” Nowadays more and more people are starting to ask this question. Many of us fantasized about being a descendant from a wealthy, noble family in childhood – the premise of numerous fairytales, books, and movies.
Today the DNA tests are more affordable and accurate, meaning that we have more of a chance to delve deep into our ancestry. While a genetic test helps to determine an ethnic breakdown, which means we can figure out whether two individuals have a common forebearer, humanity hasn’t yet invented a method to establish his identity. This means we still don’t have any test for royal blood.
However, if you don’t give up that easily, you can do a small research of your own to learn if you do come from a royal bloodline and make family trees for the entire dynasty.
In 1999, Joseph Chang, professor of statistics at Yale University, showed that if you go back 900 years you will discover that each of us shares a common forebearer. The research by Graham Coop and Peter Ralph, that’s based on Chang’s study, states that all Europeans descend from the same people.
There are many family history resources where you can find relevant civil records. While church records may take you back as far as the 1600s, land records and other documents can track down your family history even further back.
However, in many cases, the lack of historical records stems from wars and changeovers of government bodies, or in many instances people simply didn’t attach value to them. Plus, in most cases, only the upper class had written records (and managed to preserve them). All these (and many other) factors make it difficult to track distant royal lineage.
As the study by Chang indicates, most mating is assortative, not random. This means that people tend to choose mates with a similar background, including such aspects as geography, language, social and economic status. In many countries, wealthy men and women were more likely to marry within their own circles.
In some countries, however, marriages between aristocrats and wealthy commoners were uncommon yet possible, though in many cases it meant disinheritance for the noble spouse. Besides, some colonial settlers had noble origins as well, and they often married natives of other countries or locals.
Consequently, many people who don’t have famous family names may find that they have noble origins.
You don’t have to be a direct descendant of a prince/princess to have royal blood – your ancestors could be one of the so-called “almost royals” – illegitimate children and those who have certain royal connections but their lineage is not clear. It was a common thing for kings to have love affairs with consorts or mistresses.
Besides that, it should be noted that royalty isn’t necessarily static. Even Americans have royal lineage due to so-called “gateway ancestors” – settlers to the American Colonies with royal lineage.
Certainly, Europe is not the only one to have kings and queens. A study by Am J Hum Genet indicates that over 16 million men in central Asia have the same male Y chromosome as Genghis Khan, the famous ruler of the Mongol Empire. According to another study, 10 other noble men from Asia and the Middle East left large genetic legacies between 2100 BC and 700 AD.
In South America, as stated in genetic research, modern Peruvian families are blood relatives of the last Incan emperor Atahualpa.
Half of the Western European men are said to have a common ancestor – the Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun, including up to 70% British men, according to Swiss geneticists.
For most of human history, especially in royal families around the world, marriages between siblings were common as it was believed to help maintain a pure bloodline. This led to different genetic ailments: certain kinds of cancer, cystic fibrosis, facial asymmetry, Habsburg Lip, hemophilia, and a suppressed immune system. These disorders are seen in individuals today, and even though they are not necessarily direct indicators of monarchic ties, they have spread, at least to some degree, via royalty.
Perhaps the knowledge of your ancestors will not affect your present day, and you may not end up being a prince or a princess, but this knowledge could help you learn about who you are and uncover the past of your family, so it’s definitely worth doing.
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