History and Culture in Your Family Tree

You family tree doesn't exist in a vacuum, there is a whole world of history, culture and custom that will impact your research. Knowing more about what life was like through history can help you understand the odd things you might find in your past.

Heraldry and Coats of Arms
A background on those fancy crests people associate with their families. Learn more about their meanings, and why you probably won't find one for your family.

Double Dating
Do you have old records that show two years for some vital statistics? It's not just a typo. This way of recording dates was common in Britain and America over a few hundred years when the calendars were changing.

Family Tartans
Some things to know about the history of the Scottish tartan, particularly before you start trying to find your ancestral pattern.

French Dit Names
A lesser seen quirk, but one that can make you nuts if you have French family. The custom of having two surnames, called a "dit name".

Heraldic Visitations
If you are doing any genealogical research in the UK, particularly in the 1500-1650 date range, you will find the Harleian Society's heraldic visitations to be of enormous value.

LDS Genealogy
The Mormons actually make genealogy part of their religious beliefs, leading them to produce some of the greatest family tree databases around. Find out why.

Lineage Societies
Joining a well-known lineage society can open up some research doors for you, providing you can prove your historical connections.

Myth vs. History
Does your distant family tree start to branch out into mythical realms? How should you handle possibly fictional people in your past?

Old Job Titles
A list of some of the more common historical job titles and names that you might come across on various records. Find out what your ancestors did for a living.

Reading Medieval Handwriting
Some websites that can help you translate and transcribe those old handwritten documents that barely look like English.

Surname Meanings
Where did the tradition of having family surnames come from, and what are the different ways they've been used.

Who are the Black Irish?
An oft-debated subject, the origins and identity of this ethnic group is a bit of a mystery.