2018

As the year comes to close, we’re taking a look back at some of the amazing things that happened at Geni. This year an amazing 50,000 family trees connected to Geni’s World Family Tree, helping to bring the total number of profiles in the World Family Tree to nearly 130 million people! From new improvements to our long-awaited HTML version of the tree to the release of two-factor authentication to better secure your Geni accounts to the… Read the full story

Do you remember watching Mary Poppins? This week Mary Poppins Returns, the sequel to the classic Disney children’s film, hits theaters with star Emily Blunt taking the reigns from Julie Andrews as everyone’s favorite magical nanny. The sequel sees Mary Poppins return to the home of the now adult Banks children, who are struggling to raise Michael’s young children after a family tragedy. Today, many people around the world consider Mary Poppins to be one of the most beloved musicals of all time. Now… Read the full story

Today we remember actor and director Penny Marshall, who passed away on December 17 at the age of 75. She was born Carole Penny Marshall on October 15, 1943 in the Bronx in New York City, New York. Her father, Tony Marshall, was a director and producer and her mother, Marjorie, was a dance teacher. With both parents in the entertainment business, it was only natural for Marshall and her siblings, Garry and Ronny, to follow in their… Read the full story

On December 17, 1903, Orville and Wilbur Wright made the first controlled powered, heavier-than-air flight in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. The pioneering aviators would become known as the “fathers of modern aviation” for their groundbreaking achievement. As children, the brothers developed a fascination for aviation after their father brought home a toy helicopter for his sons. During the bicycle craze of the 1890s, the Wright brothers opened their own bicycle sales and repair shop and by 1896, began manufacturing their own designs…. Read the full story

We’ve written before about the importance of adding events to profile timelines to provide more details about the lives of your ancestors. Did you know that you can also add custom details to any event? This is perfect for when you want to add important information that is not covered in the standard data fields provided by Geni. For example, you may include additional details to a baptism event by adding a field for godparents. Or perhaps more details about an immigration… Read the full story

Happy birthday, Dick Van Dyke! Today the actor turns 93. He was born on December 13, 1925 in West Plains, Missouri to Hazel McCord, a stenographer, and Loren Wayne Van Dyke, a salesman. Van Dyke can trace a branch of his family back to Mayflower passenger John Alden, who is his 9th great grandfather. After leaving high school in his senior year, Van Dyke tried to join the United States Army Air Forces for pilot training during World War… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Ol’ Blue Eyes! Today we remember iconic singer Frank Sinatra on what would have been his 103rd birthday. Sinatra was born on December 12, 1915 in Hoboken, New Jersey. A big baby at 13.5 pounds, Sinatra had to be delivered with the aid of forceps. As a result, he was left with severe scars on his left cheek, neck, and ear and lasting damage to his eardrum. He got his start singing… Read the full story

On this day in 1936, history was made when Edward VIII became the first English monarch to voluntarily abdicate the throne. He ascended to the throne after the death of his father, George V. However, his reign had caused unease in government circles. Only months into his reign, the King announced his engagement to Wallis Simpson, an American socialite and divorcée. Their relationship was controversial from the start and news of their engagement would lead to a constitutional crisis. The government, the public and… Read the full story

Today we remember mathematics pioneer Ada Lovelace, who was born on December 10, 1815. Lovelace is often described as the world’s first computer programer. She is credited with writing the world’s first computer program nearly a century before computers were built. Lovelace was the only legitimate child of Romantic poet Lord Byron and his wife, Anna Isabella Milbanke. Shortly after Lovelace was born, her father left the family and never returned. She was only 8 years… Read the full story

Today we remember music legend Roy Orbison, who passed away on December 6, 1988 in Hendersonville, Tennessee. Orbison was born on April 23, 1936 in Vernon, Texas to Orbie Lee Orbison, a car mechanic, and Nadine Vesta Shults, a nurse. From an early age, Orbison showed an interest in music. When he was given a guitar for his sixth birthday, he knew music would be a part of his life forever. By the age of 8, he had written his… Read the full story

Happy birthday to actress Marisa Tomei! Today the star turns 54. Tomei was born on December 4, 1964 in Brooklyn, New York to Gary Tomei, a lawyer, and Addie Biachi, an English teacher. She has Italian ancestry on both sides of her family. Her father’s ancestry can be traced to Tuscany, Calabria, and Campania, while her mother’s ancestry can be traced to Tuscany and Sicily. She first got her start when she was cast on the daytime soap… Read the full story

On this day in 1874, Winston Churchill was born. Remembered as an inspirational orator and statesman, Churchill helped lead Britain to victory in World War II. Churchill was born into an aristocratic family, who were among the highest levels of the British aristocracy. He was a direct descendant of John Churchill, First Duke of Marlborough, who was his sixth great grandfather. Churchill was born at his family’s ancestral home, Bienheim Palace. The monumental country house was originally awarded to… Read the full story

Remember reading The Chronicles of Narnia? On this day in 1898, author C.S. Lewis was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland. He was born Clive Staples Lewis, but was known as “Jack” by his family and friends. At the age of 4, he declared his name to be “Jack” after his beloved dog “Jacksie” was hit by a car and died. Lewis became an avid reader at a young age and began writing his own fantasy stories early in his… Read the full story

Did you miss MyHeritage LIVE? If you were unable to attend the first-ever MyHeritage user conference in Oslo, Norway and missed the live stream, now is your chance to watch all 24 classes online for free courtesy of Legacy Family Tree Webinars. All classes from both the genealogy and DNA track are available for free on Legacy Family Tree and each one is jam-packed with information. Even if you watched the live stream, you may want to catch the lectures… Read the full story

Today we remember Wilhelmina, Queen of the Netherlands, who died on this day in 1962 at the age of 82. She reigned for nearly 58 years, longer than any other Dutch monarch. Wilhelmina was born on August 31, 1880 at Noordeinde Palace in The Hague, Netherlands. She was the only child of King William III and his second wife, Emma of Waldeck and Pyrmont. Her father was 63 years old at the time of her birth. He… Read the full story

Today we celebrate the 63rd birthday of Bill Nye!  A mechanical engineer and science educator, Nye is widely known for his popular children’s science show, Bill Nye the Science Guy. Nye was born William Sanford Nye on November 27, 1955 in Washington, D.C. to Ned Nye and Jaqueline Jenkins. During World War II, his mother was recruited by the Navy to work as a codebreaker to help crack codes used by the Japanese and German military. His father, Edwin… Read the full story

Do you remember the Peanuts gang? On this day in 1922, Peanuts creator Charles Schulz was born. Considered one of the most influential cartoonists in history, Schulz’s beloved comic ran from 1950-2000 with nearly 18,000 strips published. Schulz was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Carl Schulz, a barber, and Dena Halverson. His father had German heritage, while his mother was from a large Norwegian family. As a child, he was nicknamed “Sparky” after the racehorse, “Spark Plug,” from the… Read the full story

This Thursday the U.S. celebrates Thanksgiving! The holiday is known for bringing together family and friends to share a traditional feast of turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and other delicious dishes. Thanksgiving is an excellent opportunity for everyone to give thanks and share stories around the dinner table. With the entire family gathered together, it’s also great time to do a little genealogical digging. Here are five ways to share some family history with your relatives this… Read the full story

Today we celebrate actress Goldie Hawn’s 73rd birthday! Hawn was born on November 21, 1945 in Washington, D.C. to Laura Steinhoff, a dance school owner, and Edward Rutledge Haw, a musician. Raised in a Jewish household, Hawn was named after her mother’s aunt, Goldie. After getting her start as a dancer, Hawn landed her first notable gig as a cast member on the sketch comedy show, Laugh-In. She soon appeared on the big screen in the film Cactus Flower, for which… Read the full story

Happy birthday, Meg Ryan! Today the star turns 57. Once dubbed “America’s Sweetheart,” Ryan has entertained audiences on the big screen for decades, most notably in several classic romantic comedies. Ryan was born Margaret Mary Emily Anna Hyra on November 19, 1961 in Fairfield, Connecticut to Harry Hyra, a math teacher, and Susan Jordan, a former actress and English teacher. After attending New York University for a year, she dropped out of school to pursue an… Read the full story

Do you have any ancestors who were on the Mayflower? In 1620, 102 passengers arrived to the New World aboard the Mayflower and established the Plymouth Colony. Today, millions of people can trace their ancestry back to these early settlers. Image: Wikimedia Commons Here’s a look at a few notable Mayflower descendants in Geni’s World Family Tree: George Eastman George Eastman was the founder of the Eastman Kodak Company. He helped bring photography to mainstream audiences with the introduction of the… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Prince Charles! Today the Prince of Wales turns 70 years old. Prince Charles was born on November 14, 1948 in Buckingham Palace. The eldest child of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince became the heir apparent at the age of 3 when his mother became Queen after the death of his grandfather, King George VI. With his mother holding the record of the longest-reigning British monarch, Charles is the… Read the full story

Today we remember comic book legend Stan Lee, who passed away yesterday at the age of 95. A prolific writer and visionary, Lee co-created some of the most iconic superheroes of all time. Lee was born Stanley Martin Lieber on December 28, 1922 in New York City, New York. His parents were both Jewish immigrants from Romania. As a teen, Lee enjoyed creating stories and had dreams of becoming a writer. He worked several odd jobs, including some time writing… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Ryan Gosling! Today the Hollywood star turns 38. Gosling was born on November 12, 1980 in London, Ontario, Canada to Thomas Ray Gosling, a traveling salesman, and Donna Wilson, a secretary. Gosling caught the acting bug at an early age. At the age of 12, he was cast in the Disney revival of The Mickey Mouse Club. The new generation of mouseketeers featured many future superstars, including Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera, and Britney… Read the full story

From November 2-4, 2018, MyHeritage hosted their first-ever user conference, MyHeritage LIVE, in Oslo, Norway. Over 400 attendees from 28 different countries around the world headed over to the Radisson Blu Scandinavia Hotel to participate in this unique conference. Another 60,000 tuned in to watch some of the many genealogy and DNA track sessions live streamed on the conference website and the MyHeritage Facebook page. Attendees had multiple presentations and hands-on workshops to choose from, each offering a unique… Read the full story

Today we celebrate the 104th birthday of Hollywood actress Hedy Lamarr. Not only was Lamarr one of the most popular film actresses during Hollywood’s Golden Age, but she was also a brilliant inventor. She co-invented the technology behind GPS, Bluetooth, and WiFi. Lamarr was born Hedwig Eva Maria Kiesler on November 9, 1914 in Vienna, Austria-Hungry. At the age of 19, she married Fritz Mindl, a wealthy military arms merchant and munitions manufacturer. It was an unhappy marriage;… Read the full story

The month of October was Family History Month. In honor of the month-long celebration of family history, we offered the Geni community the chance to win a free 1-year Geni Pro subscription. Participants simply had to send us their answer to the question, “What’s the most surprising or interesting discovery you’ve made in your family tree?” A lucky winner was chosen at random from the many eligible entries submitted through comments on the blog, Facebook, Twitter, and email. We’re happy to congratulate John… Read the full story

Do you have Norwegian roots? On this day in 1833, Norwegian novelist, playwright, and poet Jonas Lie was born. Lie is considered one of the Four Greats of 19th century Norwegian literature, along with Henrik Ibsen, Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson, and Alexander Kielland. Lie was born on November 6, 1833 to Mons Lie and Pauline Christine Tiller. When he was a small child, his father was appointed the sheriff of Tromsø, a remote city within the Arctic Circle, and spent many… Read the full story

On this day in 1902, Norwegian writer and poet Nordahl Grieg was born. A popular author during his lifetime, Grieg is remembered as a hero of Norway for his resistance to Nazi occupation during World War II. Grieg was born Johan Nordahl Brun Grieg on November 1, 1902 in Bergen, Norway to Peter Lexau Grieg and Helga Vollan. He was named after his third great grandfather, Johan Nordahl Brun, who was a Bishop, poet, and politician. Grieg… Read the full story

Are you excited for Halloween? Halloween is that great time of the year where children and adults put on their best or scariest costumes and indulge in an abundance of sweet treats. Homes are decorated in faux cobwebs, jack-o-lanterns are carved, and apples are ready to be bobbed. Halloween parties are held all around filled with fun and games throughout the night, while other folks are up to some playful mischief with Halloween pranks or “tricks.” Do… Read the full story

Today we remember magician Harry Houdini, who died on this day in 1926 at the age of 52. Known as one of the greatest illusionists in history, Houdini wowed audiences with his remarkable ability to escape from seemingly impossible situations while in handcuffs or straightjackets. On October 24, 1926, Houdini made his final performance to a packed theater in Detroit, Michigan. Despite experiencing great pain and a fever of 104 throughout the night, Houdini pushed through to complete his performance. Stories… Read the full story

On this day in 1891, radio star and actress Fanny Brice was born in Manhattan, New York. Known as the original “Funny Girl,” Brice entertained audiences for over four decades with her comedic chops, which made her one of America’s earliest female comedy superstars. Brice was born Fania Borach to Rose Stern, a Hungarian Jewish immigrant, and Charles Borach, an Alstatian immigrant. The third of four children, Brice got her start at the age of 13 after… Read the full story

Today we remember American suffragist and abolitionist Elizabeth Cady Stanton, who died on this day in 1902 at the age of 86. A leading figure of the American women’s rights movement, Stanton’s activism played a crucial role towards the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which guaranteed women the right to vote. Stanton was born on November 12, 1815 in Johnstown, New York to Daniel Cady, a prominent judge, and Margaret Livingston. Her maternal grandfather, James… Read the full story

We’re only one week away from MyHeritage LIVE, the first-ever MyHeritage user conference in Oslo, Norway! Geni will be there on the weekend of November 2-4, 2018 at the Radisson Blu Scandinavian hotel located right in the center of Oslo. A full schedule of expert speakers and hands-on workshops are planned throughout this immersive conference. In fact, there will be two lecture tracks – Genealogy and DNA – to educate you on some of MyHeritage’s powerful products and… Read the full story

Great Scott! Today actor Christopher Lloyd turns 80! Best known for portraying Doc Brown in the popular Back to the Future film trilogy, Lloyd has been entertaining audiences on the stage and screen for nearly six decades. Lloyd was born on October 22, 1938 in Stamford, Connecticut to Samuel R. Lloyd and Ruth Laphram. His maternal grandfather, Lewis Lepham, was one of the founders of Texaco Oil Company. Lloyd is also a direct descendant of Mayflower passenger, John Howland,… Read the full story

Did your ancestors fight in the American Revolutionary War? On this day in 1781, British General Charles Cornwallis formally surrendered to General George Washington at Yorktown, Virginia, effectively bringing an end to the American Revolution. Cornwallis was known as one of the leading British generals during the American Revolutionary War. A gifted strategist, Cornwallis was generally successful in battle. However, in October 1781, in what became known as the Siege of Yorktown, Cornwallis found his troops trapped. Surrounded by… Read the full story

Protecting your Geni accounts from unauthorized access is very important to us. Unfortunately, the difficulty of remembering several passwords often means that people will reuse the same password across multiple sites. This common practice can put the security of your account at serious risk should your email address and password fall into the wrong hands. Today we are pleased to announce an important update to help make your Geni account more secure – Two-Factor Authentication…. Read the full story

Hollywood legend Rita Hayworth was born on October 17, 1918 in Brooklyn, New York. One of the top stars of the 1940s, Hayworth appeared in a total of 61 films throughout her long career. Margarita Carmen Dolores Cansino was the oldest child of two dancers. Her father, Eduardo Cansino, Sr., and her mother, Volga Hayworth, had performed with the Ziegfeld Follies. Her paternal grandfather, Antonio Cansino, was a renowned Spanish classical dancer. At the peak of… Read the full story

Happy 50th birthday to Hugh Jackman! The Australian star was born on October 12, 1968 in Sydney to Grace Greenwood and Christopher John Jackman. The youngest of five children, Jackman was 8 years old when his parents divorced. His mother left the family and moved to England, leaving Jackman and his siblings to be raised by his father in Australia. Jackman got his start in theater, starring in several musical productions on stage and parts on… Read the full story

Today we remember filmmaker Orson Welles, who died on this day in 1985 at the age of 70. George Orson Welles was born on May 6, 1915 in Kenosha, Wisconsin to Richard Head Welles, an inventor, and Beatrice Ives, a concert pianist. His parents separated when he was 4, and his mother died when he was 9. His father had made a fortune after inventing a popular bicycle lamp, but became an alcoholic and died of… Read the full story

A few months ago, we introduced our new HTML tree on Geni, which made it possible for all users to finally view and edit their family trees on their mobile device or tablet. Since our announcement, we have continued to work hard to bring some of the Flash tree’s most powerful features to the HTML version of the tree. Today we’re excited to share that two very important tools are now available on the HTML tree – Move This Person… Read the full story

October is Family History Month and to celebrate, we’re giving away a free 1-year subscription of Geni Pro! With a Geni Pro subscription, you will have access to advanced tools to help you grow your tree faster on Geni. These features include: Tree Matches – access Tree Matches to grow your family tree faster and connect with new relatives Enhanced search – get full access to Geni’s search engine Priority support – communicate directly with our expert… Read the full story

On this day in 1822, Rutherford B. Hayes, the 19th President of the United States, was born. He was born in Delaware, Ohio to Sophia Richard and Rutherford Hayes, Jr., who died a few weeks before his birth. His great-grandfather, Ezekiel Hayes, was a militia captain during the American Revolutionary War. Hayes was a staunch abolitionist and during the Civil War, served in the Union Army. While still serving in the army, Hayes was elected to Congress… Read the full story

On this day in 1860, American artist Rembrandt Peale died at the age of 82. A prolific portrait painter, Peale was especially known for his realistic portraits of presidents George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. Peale was born on February 22, 1778 in Bucks County, Pennsylvania to Rachel Brewer and Charles Wilson Peale. His father was a notable artist best known for his portraits of leading figures of the American Revolution. The elder Peale named several of his children after… Read the full story

Happy birthday, Julie Andrews! Today the beloved star turns 83. Julie Andrews was born Julia Elizabeth Wells on October 1, 1935 in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, England. When she was young, her parents divorced and remarried. She later adopted her stepfather’s surname, Andrews. By the age of 10, she began performing with her mother and stepfather on stage. Since making her Broadway debut in 1954, Andrews has starred as some of the most beloved musicals on both the… Read the full story

Do you remember browsing through the Sears catalog? On this day in 1914, Sears co-founder Richard Warren Sears died at the age of 50. His father, James Warren Sears, was a successful blacksmith and wagon-maker. After his death, Sears worked to help support his family. He learned telegraphy and started working as a telegraph operator and station agent for the Minneapolis and St. Louis Railway. His life reached a turning point in 1886 when a shipment of… Read the full story

Have you found your connection to French royalty? On this day in 1601, Louis XIII was born at the Château de Fontainebleau. He reigned as the King of France from 1610 until his death in 1643. Louis XIII was the eldest child of King Henry IV and his wife, Maria de Medici. At the age of 9, Louis became the King of France after the assassination of his father in 1610. In the early years… Read the full story

Remember the story of Johny Appleseed? On this day in 1774, the real Johnny Appleseed was born. He was born John Chapman on September 26, 1774 in Leominster, Massachusetts. His father, Nathaniel Chapman, fought in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. In 1776, while his father was away at war, his mother died while giving birth to a son, who also passed short time later. As the folk story goes, Johnny Appleseed wandered barefoot with a tin… Read the full story

Remember watching Superman? Today we remember star Christopher Reeve on what would have been his 66th birthday. Reeve was born on September 25, 1952 in New York City, New York to Barbara Pitney Lamb and Franklin D’Olier Reeve. He grew up in a wealthy and well-educated family. His mother worked as a journalist and his father was a prominent writer, poet, and academic. His great grandfather, Franklin D’Olier, was a businessman and one of the original 20 men who formed… Read the full story

Do you remember watching Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood growing up? On this day in 1967, the beloved children’s television show starring Fred Rogers taped its very first episode. The popular show would run for 31 seasons and produce nearly 900 episodes. Although he studied to become an ordained minister, Rogers’s career took an unexpected turn into television after returning home to find his parents had purchased a brand new TV. Disappointed with the programs available to viewers, Rogers saw there was… Read the full story