RESEARCH BASICS

Genealogy Glossary

A

abstract: An abbreviated transcription of a document that includes the date of the record and every name in it; it may also provide relationships of the people mentioned.

admixture: Ancestry that originates from more than one ethnic group.

Ahnentafel: German for "ancestor table," this system of pedigree chart numbering gives each ancestor a number. Fathers are even numbers; mothers, odd. Double the child's number to get the father's (if you're 1, your father is 2). Add one to the father's number to get the mother's (your mother is 3).

aliquot parts: In the rectangular survey system, a description for a subdivision of a section of land using directions and fractions to indicate the land's location: W½ SE¼ represents the west half of the southeast quarter of a township.

allele result: Also called a marker value, the numeric value assigned to a genetic marker.

ancestors: Relatives you descend from directly, including parents, grandparents, great-grandparents and so on.

autosomal DNA: Genetic material inherited equally from mother and father, representing all your DNA except what's in the mitochondria and on the X and Y chromosomes. Autosomal DNA is the most widely used type of DNA in genealogy, as it can estimate ethnic origins and establish genetic relationships between test-takers.

B

banns (or marriage banns): Church documents publicly stating a couple's intent to marry.

block number: A one-, two-, or three-digit number that describes a block (or piece) of land within a township.

bond: A written, signed, and witnessed agreement requiring someone to pay a specified amount of money by a given date.

bounty land: Land granted by the Colonial and federal governments as a reward for military service; bounty land warrants — documents granting the right to the land — were assigned to soldiers, their heirs, or other individuals.

Bureau of Land Management General Land Office (GLO): The US government office historically in charge of dispersing public land. Usually, several branch land offices existed for each state; its website has a database with digitized federal land patents.

C

cemetery records: Records of those buried, as well as maps of grave sites; usually kept by cemetery caretakers.

census: An official count of the population in a given area; other details, such as names, ages, citizenship status and ethnic background of individuals, may be recorded. The US government has been collecting census data every ten years since in 1790. Many states have conducted their own censuses as well.

certified copy: A record copy made and attested to by custodians of the original who are authorized to give copies.

chromosome: A threadlike strand of DNA that carries genes and transmits hereditary information. Humans have forty-six chromosomes, organized into twenty-three pairs.

citation: The formatted information about a genealogical source that connects that source to each piece of family information it provides.

cluster genealogy: Studying your ancestor as part of a group of relatives, friends, neighbors, coworkers, and associates; this approach can help you learn details you might miss by looking only at records of an individual ancestor.

collateral relative: Any kin who aren't in your direct line, such as siblings, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

confidence range or confidence interval: Measure of how likely a result is to be accurate. A DNA results report shows the most likely ancestry percentages (for a biogeographic test) or date an MRCA lived (for a Y-DNA test), as well as a confidence range showing other possible results.

credit patent: A document transferring land to be paid for in installments over a four-year period. A delinquent payment or nonpayment of the full balance resulted in forfeiture.

D

declaration of intention: An alien's sworn statement that he or she wants to become a US citizen, also called "first papers"; these court records list details such as name, age, occupation, birthplace, and last foreign residence.

deed: A document transferring ownership and title of property; unlike a patent, a deed records the sale of property from one private individual to another.

derivative record: A document that has been copied, digitized, summarized, abstracted, extracted, indexed, transcribed, or otherwise created from another source. Try to track derivative records to the original. When you must use a derivative source, be sure to cite appropriately.

descendant chart: A report displaying names and information on a person's children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, etc.

descendants: An ancestor's off spring — children, grandchildren, and every new generation in the direct line.

direct evidence: Information in a source that directly answers a research question. For example, if the research question was "What was his birth date?" then direct evidence of that answer would be a record stating the birth date as 12 May 1835.

DNA: The molecule that contains genetic code. Short for deoxyribonucleic acid; genetic genealogy tests analyze various types of DNA, especially Y-DNA, mtDNA, or autosomal DNA.

documentation: The process of citing sources of the family history information you've gathered, making it easier to keep track of the research you've completed and allowing others to verify your findings.

E

enumeration districts: Divisions of an area used to make census taking more efficient and accurate. For large cities, the boundaries of enumeration districts often match those of wards or precincts.

extract: A quoted passage taken from a source. Unlike an abstract, an extract isn't edited down to the bare essentials. An extract doesn't necessarily include key information from the entire document, just one passage.

F

family group record (or sheet): A worksheet that succinctly summarizes your information on a couple and their children; includes names; dates and places of birth, baptism, marriage, death and burial; and source citations.

Family History Center: A local branch of the FamilySearch library network.

Each location contains a variety of digital and microfilmed records.

Family History Library (FHL): The world's largest collection of genealogical information, founded in 1894 by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS church). The main branch is in Salt Lake City, Utah. The FamilySearch website...