genealogy

Genealogy is the study of ancestry and descent of a person or a family.

Genealogy can also refer to the actual chart detailing this information. This is often called a family tree.

Genealogy is the process of studying someone’s ancestors and descendants and trying to record their family history and relatives. For example, if you decide to learn more about your parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, and so on (that is, your ancestors), you are practicing genealogy. If you decide to learn more about President Theodore Roosevelt’s children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and so on (that is, his descendants), you are also practicing genealogy.

In biology, the word genealogy is used to describe a group of individuals or species that have a common ancestry. For example, a biologist might be interested in the genealogy of dogs and wolves when researching how they became separated from each other.

The first records of the word genealogy come from around 1250. It ultimately comes from the Greek word geneālogía, meaning “pedigree.” Your pedigree is your line of ancestors and descendants or the chart used to show their relationship to you and to each other.

Genealogy has been practiced since ancient times. Prior to written language, singers and storytellers would pass on oral histories of families and ancestors. A common trend throughout history (which appears to have been a worldwide phenomena) is that genealogy was used to show that a person was somehow related to a legendary or important figure from the past.

Today, genealogy is often practiced simply out of curiosity. Many paid services online will study your own family history, and you can do some amateur genealogy yourself by tracking down documents such as military service records, immigration paperwork, and wills to help you identify family members and their relationship to you.

According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the individual with the largest documented genealogy is the ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius, who died around 478 b.c.e. Confucius’s family line has been charted through 86 generations, and he has over 2 million officially recorded descendants!

Even in modern times, people are fascinated by their own genealogy and often attempt to discover previously unknown ancestors.

Meet Leif: Destined Scions from the #FireEmblem: Thracia 776 and Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War games. The princes of Leonster and Grannvale have joined forces to bring hope to a new generation. #FEHeroeshttps://t.co/6tidGf5qFN pic.twitter.com/ETzBfwSEec

— Fire Emblem Heroes (@FE_Heroes_EN) September 6, 2021

Ever since I have been doing my genealogy, I feel more at peace🥰. I knew nothing before but now… I am whole

— Chy (@KWEENOFKANSAS) October 5, 2020

• ancestry
• pedigree
• ancestor
• descendent
• family tree

True or False?

Genealogy is the study of a person’s family history and the record of their ancestors and descendents.