Is There A Big Difference Between Genealogy and Family History?
What’s the difference between genealogy and family history research? Learn how goals and methods differ between building a factual family tree versus understanding ancestors’ daily lives.
Is there a difference between genealogy and family history research?
I am often asked if I am a genealogist or a family researcher. I guess I am a bit of both. In this blog post I’ll share my thoughts about the difference between genealogy and family history and by the end you may decide if you enjoy one or the other, or both!
We are all familiar with the terms “genealogy” and “family history research”. Understanding their nuanced differences can help us to consider how and where to research.
The definition of genealogy
Genealogy is the umbrella, the mack daddy, the Sherlock Holmes type of investigating. It is targeted, meticulous and exact. Genealogy focuses on identifying direct bloodline ancestors and creating a family tree that connects all the dots between you and your ancestors. It is focused and targeted work.
The goal is to trace your ancestry back as far as possible, documenting each generation with names, dates, and places and confirming every person with records or reasonably exhaustive research that brings you to that conclusion. You will dig deep into formal records to confirm and validate your findings, or hypothesis.
You’ll locate vital records like birth, death and marriage certificates. If the event occured before records were required, we have to familiarize ourselves with the area the event occurred and consider what type of records they did have had at that time. And how to find them. You’ll use census records, immigration records and newspaper archives to name a few more. The end result is a genealogical record that not only connects you to direct ancestors and relatives , but also to their daily lives and what was happening in them. SO what’s the difference between genealogy and family history?
The definition of family history research
Family history research is a wider net. It includes the direct lineage but also explores all of the family’s history. We search for the context of their lives, the fabric. This is the fun stuff!
While building a family tree is important and the basis for what we are doing, family history puts more of an emphasis on understanding the everyday lives our ancestors. As a family historian I want to learn about our ancestors occupations, religious affiliations, military service, causes of death, and migration patterns. I want to understand the social climate at the time. The cultural and political climate. These things may have impacted where our ancestor lived or migrated to, the work they did or the health issues they may have faced.
As a family historian, I search for the stories and experiences of our ancestors so I can better understand their experiences and what they contributed to their families and communities. We also tend to bring in the collateral relatives like siblings, cousins, and in-laws to gain a well-rounded perspective on a family.
The difference between genealogy and family history research
Genealogy focuses on direct lineage and building a factual family tree.
Family history provides cultural and sociological context to relate more to the lives of our ancestors.
Genealogy establishes relationships and dates.
Family history seeks to tell the personal stories behind the names and dates.
Genealogy research often goes further back in time, aiming to identify the earliest known ancestors.
Family history may focus on more recent generations in order to collect detailed biographical information through oral interviews, existing photo albums and other family records.
Genealogists focus their research around finding documents.
Family historians also utilize photos, heirlooms, and oral histories.
Genealogy values original records to fulfill the proof standard.
Family history finds meaning in artifacts, traditions, and narratives that capture the essence of ancestors.
Genealogy builds a factual framework.
Family history completes the picture with personal details and a narrative approach.
In closing,
So are we doing genealogy or family history research? I know there are people that enjoy meticulous research, the processes and clearly defined outcomes. There are just as many that enjoy seeing our people in their daily life.
I believe, that family historians are a mixture of both… there is no real difference between genealogy and family history research. We love diving into the records. Confirming the facts like birth date, when they married, land they owned and more. Nothing thrills us more than to discover the marriage record that’s been missing in our research or a mention of a baptism of a child you couldn’t prove.
And I think there are just as many of us that like to bring the genealogy and family history research together and research the what, where, why’s and how’s of ur people.
Genealogy and family history research both play an important role in helping us understand our heritage and appreciate the sacrifices and accomplishments of the generations that came before us. When done together, genealogy and family history can provide us with an amazing family history full of soldiers, farmers, survivors, widows, orphans…
So, I’m going to self identify as a family historian. I want to do the genealogy and family research. My days don’t have enough hours so I have to pick one or the other sometimes so I can be more efficient in my research. How about you?
So an analogy to the difference between genealogy and family history?
Genealogy is the meat, family history is the potatoes!
Genealogy is the cake, family history is the icing!
Genealogy is the hot dog, family history is the condiments!
Happy hunting! Find their stories. Share their stories. Keep them in spirit.
Off to play with my ancestors ~MaryK
