Why It’s Important To Ask Different Genealogy Research Questions

Are you looking for a fresh start in your genealogy research? Or perhaps you’re looking for a way to remember traditions and loved ones, while also finding new ancestors quickly and efficiently? The best way is to adopt a focused approach that begins with a research question.

In this blog post, I’ll show you why filling in the gaps in your ancestors’ lives involves questions that go beyond birth, marriage, and death.

In a previous blog post, I discussed what to include in your research question. You can read “Where To Start In Your Genealogy Research” to see the basics of what you need.

But have you thought about the many different questions you could ask? Ones that go beyond birth, marriage, and death?

What about…

1. What occupations or professions did my ancestors have, and how did they earn a living?
2. Where did my ancestors live throughout their lives, and did they move frequently? What was the reason for the move?
3. What significant historical events or migrations might have impacted my ancestors’ lives?
4. Did my ancestors serve in the military, and if so, can I find records of their service?
5. What religious affiliations did my ancestors have, and were there any notable religious events that occurred during their lives?
6. Have family stories, traditions, or heirlooms passed down through the generations, and if so, who has them now?
7. What health conditions or medical issues may have affected my ancestors, and how did they manage their health?
8. Can I identify any notable achievements, contributions, or hardships in the lives of my ancestors that are worth preserving for future generations?
9. What roles did my ancestors play in the community? Did they belong to any social or civic organizations?
10. What education was available to your ancestors? Did they graduate from any school and are there records for that?
11. Did your ancestors speak another language and were part of an ethnic group in their community?
12. Was your ancestor a landowner?
13. Did your ancestor own his/her own business?
14. Was your ancestor involved with any legal issues, either directly or as a witness?
15. Were there specific trades or skills passed down through the family? Perhaps you have the same job as one of your ancestors.
16. Were there any scandals in the family? Was there a black sheep in the family?
17. Do you have any famous people in the family?
18. Were any members of your family involved in humanitarian efforts? Perhaps the Salvation Army or other groups.
19. How did your ancestors handle new technology? How many technological events were they alive to see?
20. Were your ancestors musical or artistic? Perhaps that’s a trait that passed down to you.

Finally

These are just the tip of the iceberg. There are hundreds of questions you could ask. Any question that doesn’t include vital records will lead you to a more complete and rounded view of your ancestors. Think outside the box. You might find some interesting things you have in common.

Genealogy tip: Always start with a single research question. It can change as you go, but saying “I want to know all I can about Grandpa Joe” doesn’t help you get to where you want to be. Keep your focus on one thing at a time.

If you need help crafting your research question or with any part of your genealogy project, just click below. I would love to help your journey to the past.