Genealogy Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently asked questions to professional genealogists about genealogy research, Jewish genealogy research, and professional genealogy research techniques.
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Do professional genealogists use sources other than Ancestry?
Yes, we use a wide variety of general and specialized databases. After determining your need, due to when and where your ancestors lived, we access any and all databases and websites with relevant documents for your family. You may not be aware of, have experience using, or have the time to do the deep and…
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Should I continue to do the genealogy research I have just paid a professional to do for me?
Sometimes people hire a professional genealogist when they think they have hit a brick wall in their research. Once the paid genealogy researcher has begun his or her work, the client keeps trying to break through their own brick wall. Competing with a professional you have paid to research your family is inefficient. Wait until…
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I’ve been told that there are no records for my family because I am Jewish. Is that true?
Many people think there are no surviving Jewish genealogy records in Europe because Jewish communities were destroyed during the Holocaust. It is true that many records were destroyed, many more survived and are available for research. You do not need a genealogy DNA test to find your ancestors. Your Jewish genealogy expert research will know…
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My research does not match my family lore. Which one is right?
Talking with your family is the best way to start your genealogy journey. Interviews with your relatives may help you point your research in the right direction. Use genealogy research to support, refute and supplement your family stories. Follow the research to where it leads you. Be open-minded. Family members may misremember facts or were…
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I did a DNA test. Does this mean I will never have to do any genealogy research?
A DNA test is usually not the beginning or the end of genealogy research. A genetic genealogy test could help you identify biological relatives, connect with distant cousins, and give you more avenues for future genealogy research. A DNA test is not very useful unless you already have a basic family tree to compare with…
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My family came to the US from Poland. Are the records in English?
It would be unlikely to find any English language records created in Poland. The borders of Poland changed over time, as did the languages used in records. For Jewish genealogy records, expect to find records in Polish, German, Russian Cyrillic, and/or Hebrew, but not English. Be prepared to have to old foreign script and translate…
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My friend’s family tree is much bigger than mine; why?
Is your friend’s family tree accurate? One way people often acquire a large family tree is by not being discriminating about who is a relative or by using information from other people’s family trees (relevant or not). If your friend’s family tree is accurate, they may have hired a professional genealogist to do their research.…
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I created a family tree; how do I know if my research is correct?
Your family tree is as accurate as your sources. If you have documented your research, examined all of the original records, and confirmed that the records are for your family, then your research may be correct. If you are using a professional genealogy expert to do your research, their genealogical research report should provide documentation…
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Do I need to research family members who are not direct ancestors?
If you think that your direct ancestors changed their surname from an unknown name or you cannot find their town of origin, researching collateral or indirect ancestors might be of assistance. Researching your collateral relatives might help you find your family origins and lead you to more direct ancestors.Jacobson and Jacobson Genealogy Researchers jewishgenealogyresearchers.com expert…
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Ancestry gave me a hint for my tree; does that mean it is accurate?
An Ancestry tree hint is a mere suggestion, but not necessarily correct. Tree hints should always be checked and verified. The tree hint may be referring to a record or tree for someone with a similar or the same name as the person in your tree. If you only follow Ancestry tree hints (or other…