Do your ancestors come from Italy? You might have come across some Italian surnames as you began working on the genealogy of your family. Many of these last names come from Latin or Italian words, and this is where some of the meanings behind the names comes from. It is entirely possible that your ancestors came from Italy, even if you do not happen to have one of the ten most common Italian surnames. However, if your surname is common enough to make the list, it may indicate that one or more of your ancestors emigrated from Italy to the … Continue reading →

Are you Irish? You might be if your surname happens to be one of the most common Irish surnames. As you are working on genealogy, you may discover that you have ancestors who came from Ireland. You might want to extend your search into Irish databases, to learn more about your relatives. I am an American with Irish heritage, even though I don’t happen to look very Irish. My married name is from English origin, and my maiden name is Swedish. I know I am Irish because one of my grandmothers spoke fluent Gaelic, and her surname was Darcy, (which … Continue reading →

Do you have relatives in Australia? One way to trace your relatives is by looking for a surname that you both have in common. If your ancestor has one of the top ten most common surnames in Australia, there is potential that your family tree has branches that connect to Australia. The ten most popular surnames in Australia have some commonalities with the most popular surnames in other English speaking countries. There are also some significant differences. A few of the names on this list do not appear on the lists of most common surnames in the United States, or … Continue reading →

In some cases, your surname, or the surnames of your ancestors, can indicate what country your family might have originated from. The meaning behind a surname might change, depending on what country your relative was from. The top ten most common surnames in the United States are not exactly the same as the top ten most popular surnames in the UK, (although some names made both lists). The most common surnames in the U.S are: Smith, Johnson, Williams, Jones, Brown, Davis, Miller, Wilson, Moore, and Taylor. The most common surname in the UK is Smith, (which is also the most … Continue reading →

Each family crest is unique. The colors, animals, and symbols that appear in a coat of arms all tell us something important about the family it belongs to. You might expect to see colors, animals, crosses, and other symbols on a coat of arms. Did you know there may also be images that resemble people? It might seem strange, but sometimes, there are people on a coat of arms. The people might represent deities, or mythological creatures. It could be half humanoid, and half animal. Or, there may be only a part of a person, instead of a whole person … Continue reading →

There are a variety of symbols that may appear on your family crest, or coat of arms. Some are easily recognizable, such as a color, or an animal. It makes sense to infer certain ideas based on characteristics we tend to attribute to these things. Purple is a color that many of us associate with royalty. We consider a fox to be a wise creature. Therefore, when we see the color purple, or a fox appear on a coat of arms, we automatically understand what it means. What about less recognizable symbols? Sometimes, it is not as obvious what the … Continue reading →

What do the symbols mean in a family crest? There are hundreds of different symbols, and each one has it’s a specific meaning behind it. The science of heraldry involves learning about all the meanings of each symbol. There are plenty of websites that contain a list of what all the symbols mean. Experts in heraldry have been known to disagree about exactly what a particular symbol means. There are some commonly held beliefs connected to each symbol, but there are also disputes about those meanings. Each coat of arms will have it’s own colors. The color gold means generosity. … Continue reading →

The term “family crest” is a misnomer. The first crests were assigned to individual knights, who needed to be able to identify themselves to their followers. Later, the knowledge of the meanings behind the colors and symbols on each crest became known as the science of heraldry. Many people use the term “family crest” and the term “heraldry” as if they mean exactly the same thing. A family crest might also be called a “coat of arms”. An official coat of arms is supposed to have some specific things. At the top, there should be a motto. Below the motto … Continue reading →

Having a popular surname has it’s disadvantages when it comes to genealogy. As you put together your family tree, it can become difficult to discern between someone who is your relative, and someone who is not your relative, but does have the same last name as you do. This can be especially difficult if you happen to have one of the most common surnames in the United States of America. What are those names? According to census data from 1990, the tenth most popular surname in the United States is Taylor. This last name comes from English origin. It means … Continue reading →

The farther out the branches go on your family tree, the more relationship terms you need to include. You may have started by gathering information about the family members with whom you share consanguinity. These people would be your parents, siblings, and other relatives whom you are “blood related” to. Once you start adding family who are not consanguineous with you, things become more detailed. No matter what you may think of your in-laws they are a part of your family tree. An in-law is a person who you are not genetically related to, but become related to as a … Continue reading →