Find Your Family Tree - Basic Genealogy Terms
Definition of Pedigree, Vital Records, Parish Records, Census & More
Sep 10, 2009
New genealogists are enthusiastic about tracing their family trees, but their new hobby can include an array of bewildering terms. Some of these definitions will seem very basic, but not every term is obvious to every person. Scan the list and see if there's something new to learn:
What is a Pedigree?
Purebred dogs and horses have pedigrees, but people do, too. A pedigree is simply a list of ancestors, usually in chart form. It shows names and basic info for parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, etc., as far as a person wants (and is able) to go.
What are Vital Records?
Vital records are government recordings of the birth, marriage and death of a person. The United States generally began keeping vital records in the late 1800s, depending on the local area, but some not until the early 1900s. The U.K. began earlier in the 1800s.
Birth, marriage and death certificates can be ordered from local, state or national civil agencies, depending on the date and location of the event. Genealogists need to be prepared to send identification (and possibly proof of kinship) when requesting a certificate, also depending on the date and location.
What are Parish Records?
Parish records (or other church records) are those kept by the church to record important happenings in the local parish. These are primarily baptism, christening and marriage entries, but can also include membership records and notations of death. Baptism or christening records are often available for much earlier dates than civil vital records, and can be used to establish birth dates when government records are not available.
What are Census Records?
General population censuses record information about individuals, such as age, place of birth, and occupation. The amount of information available varies with the year of the census, and later censuses usually have more information. Other "special censuses," such as manufacturing censuses, are sometimes available.
Depending on the country, a population census was often taken every ten years. In the United States, it occurred in the even decades, beginning in 1790. Some states took a census between those years, such as 1855, 1865, etc. In the United Kingdom and Canada, the national census occurred in years ending in "one" (1881, 1901, etc.). Census records are kept private for a certain number of years to protect the privacy of individuals.
What is a Source Citation?
Anytime information about an ancestor is found, genealogists should "cite the source." This means writing down where the information came from, with enough detail that someone else could find it later. The habit of citing sources will save time and effort later if a record needs to be replaced (it happens) or someone asks, "Who told you that?" (They will.)
What is a Primary Source? A Secondary Source?
A primary source is a record that was created at or near the time of the event by someone with firsthand knowledge, such as a birth or marriage certificate, or a diary entry. A secondary source is a record that was created later, such as a newspaper obituary or memoir.
Some records can be both primary and secondary: information on a death certificate, for instance, is often given by a surviving spouse or child. It would be considered a primary source for the death date, but only a secondary source for the birth date of the deceased. Read Evaluating Genealogy Sources for more information.
Knowing these basic terms will help new genealogists understand the words tossed around as they learn. For a few more advanced words and phrases, read Beginning Genealogy – Definitions of Terms.
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