2018

We are excited to share that Geni will be participating in the first-ever MyHeritage user conference and you’re invited! MyHeritage LIVE will take place on the weekend of November 2-4, 2018 in Oslo, Norway. The conference is open to anyone around the world who would like to learn more about Geni and MyHeritage. The conference will feature a keynote speech from MyHeritage Founder and CEO Gilad Japhet, a lecture and workshop from Geni’s General Manager,… Read the full story

On this day in 1936, music legend Buddy Holly was born in Lubbock, Texas. A pioneering figure of 1950s rock and roll, Holly’s short career would go on to inspire many future generations of artists. Holly was born Charles Hardin Holley on September 7, 1936 to Lawrence Odell Holley and Ella Pauline Drake. The fourth and youngest child in the family, Holly was given the nicknamed “Buddy” by his mother, who thought that his given name was too big… Read the full story

Geni will be performing scheduled site maintenance and making a number of improvements to our infrastructure starting at 1:30 AM EST on September 5, 2018 (10:30 PM PDT tonight) and lasting for approximately 2 hours. During this time the Geni website will be unavailable. We’ll do our best to complete the maintenance quickly and return to normal service as soon as possible. Thanks for your patience.

Today we remember Princess Diana, who passed away on this day 21 years ago. She was born on July 1, 1961 in Park House, Sandringham, Norfolk and was the fourth of five children born to John Spencer, Viscount Althorp, and Frances Roche. Her family had been closely allied with the British Royal Family for several generations. Both of her grandmothers served as ladies in waiting to Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. Diana grew up on the… Read the full story

Last week we had a great time at the Federation of Genealogical Societies 2018 Conference in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The conference took place at the Grand Wayne Convention Center, which was conveniently located across the street from the Allen County Public Library. The library is home to one of the largest collections of genealogical materials in the country. We enjoyed chatting with attendees as they stopped by the Geni booth to learn more about Geni’s World Family Tree…. Read the full story

Today we remember Senator John McCain, who passed away on August 25 at the age of 81. An American war hero and U.S Senator, McCain is remembered for staying true to his principles and his lifetime of service to the country. McCain was born on August 29, 1936 at Coco Solo Naval Air Station in the Panama Canal Zone. In 1958, he graduated from the United States Naval Academy, following in the footsteps of his father and… Read the full story

Next week Geni will be at the Federation of Genealogical Societies 2018 Conference in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The conference will take place August 22-25, with the exhibit hall opening for everyone on the 23rd. The theme of this year’s conference is “On the Three Rivers – Past, Present & Future.” The conference is being held at the Grand Wayne Convention Center and is conveniently located right across the street from the Allen County Public Library, which holds one… Read the full story

Today we remember award winning writer V.S. Naipaul, who passed away earlier this week on August 11 at the age of 85. He was born Vidiadhar Surajprasad Naipaul on August 17, 1932 in Trinidad and Tobago to Seepersad Naipaul and Droapatie Capildeo. His father was also a writer and worked as a journalist for the Trinidad Guardian. His paternal grandparents had emigrated from India to work as indentured servants on a sugar plantation. Naipaul’s mother was a member of the Capildeo… Read the full story

What’s your favorite Alfred Hitchcock film? On this day in 1899, the legendary filmmaker was born in London, England. Hitchcock was the youngest of three children born to William Hitchcock and Emma Jane Wheland. At the age of 5, Hitchcock’s father once sent him to the local police station with a note asking the officer to lock him up in a cell for a few minutes for behaving badly. For the rest of his life,… Read the full story

Now that summer is in full swing, you can take advantage of these long days to do more with your genealogy research. There are plenty of outdoor and indoor activities to get your family more involved and interested in your family history. Here are some activities to keep you and your family occupied this summer: Take a genealogy trip Image: Missouri State Archives Ready for a summer vacation out of town? Take a genealogy-themed trip to visit… Read the full story

On this day in 1903, renowned paleoanthropologist and archaeologist Louis Leakey was born. Remembered for his fossil discoveries in Africa, Leakey’s paleoanthropological work would significantly impact our understanding of human evolution. Leakey was born Louis Seymour Bazett Leakey on August 7, 1903 in what is today Kenya. He was the son of British missionaries and grew up among the Kikuyu people. Growing up in Africa, Leakey had a lifelong passion for the study of human evolution…. Read the full story

On this day in 1881, Scottish bacteriologist Alexander Fleming was born. Fleming is best remembered for discovering penicillin. His accidental find would become one of the most important discoveries in the history of science. Fleming was born on August 6, 1881 at Lochfield farm near Darvel, Scotland. He was the third of four children born to Hugh Fleming, a farmer, and his second wife, Grace Stirling Morton. Fleming spent four years working at a shipping office before attending medical… Read the full story

Do you have a connection to Norwegian royalty? On this day in 1872, Haakon VII of Norway was born. Regarded as one of the greatest Norwegians of the 20th century, Haakon VII is one of the few monarchs in history to have been elected to the throne. The Norwegian king was born Christian Frederick Carl Georg Valdemar Axel on August 3, 1872 in Denmark at Charlottenlund Palace near Copenhagen. Before becoming the King of Norway,… Read the full story

Have you found ancestors in the United States census? Census records are one of the most important resources in genealogy. With the information provided in these records, finding a relative in the census will often open doors to additional discoveries. The very first U.S. census was conducted on August 2, 1790. Every household was visited by a census taker to record information for each person who was within the household on the census day. In… Read the full story

On this day in 1876, Wild Bill Hickok, one of the most famous gunfighters of the American Wild West, was killed while playing a game of poker. He was shot in the back of the head by Jack McCall. “Wild Bill” was born James Butler Hickok on May 27, 1837 in Homer, Illinois. An outstanding marksman from a young age, Hickok gained notoriety when news spread of his role during the McCanles Massacre in 1861 in Rock… Read the full story

Happy birthday, J.K. Rowling! Today the Harry Potter author turns 53. The day also marks Harry Potter’s birthday! On July 31, 1965, Joanne Rowling was born in Yate, Gloucestershire, England. She later adopted the pen name “J.K. Rowling,” incorporating her paternal grandmother’s name, Kathleen, for the second initial. From a young age, Rowling frequently wrote stories of fantasy. When she began writing the first Harry Potter book, Rowling was a single mother and struggling financially. However, her… Read the full story

While researching your family history, you may sometimes come across funny names in your family tree or maybe an amusing name will pop out in an old document. For fun, we took a look at some profiles in Geni’s World Family Tree and a few historical records to find some very amusing names that will be sure to give you a chuckle. Check them out below! 1. Here’s Pleasant Wear in the World Family Tree. 2. Wealthy Nutter can be found in the 1920 U.S…. Read the full story

On this day in 1920, pioneering scientist Rosalind Franklin was born. Although her work was not recognized during her lifetime, James Watson and Francis Crick’s discovery of the chemical structure of DNA would not have been possible without Franklin’s groundbreaking research. Franklin was born on July 25, 1920 in London, England to an influential Jewish family. Her great uncle, Herbert Samuel, was a prominent politician and served as Home Secretary in 1916. As child, Franklin had a… Read the full story

Today marks what would have been the 100th birthday of Nelson Mandela, who is often considered one of the most inspirational and beloved leaders in history. In honor of this occasion, check out these 10 interesting facts about the former South African president and freedom fighter. Image: Library of Congress 1. Nelson Mandela was born on July 18, 1918 in the village of Mvezo in Umtata, South Africa. He was given the name Rolihlahla, a Xhosa… Read the full story

Was anyone in your family tree a passenger on the RMS Titanic? On this day in 1864, Titanic passenger John Jacob Astor IV was born in Rhinebeck, New York. At the time of his death on the doomed luxury ship, Astor was considered one of the richest men in the world. Astor was born into the prominent Astor family. His great grandfather, John Jacob Astor, was a German immigrant and made his fortune by building a fur trading… Read the full story

On July 6, 1921, former First Lady Nancy Reagan was born. She was the wife of Ronald Reagan, the 40th President of the United States, and spent her years at the White House as an advocate for decreasing drug and alcohol abuse. Although known as “Nancy” throughout her life, she was born Anne Frances Robbins in Manhattan, New York to Kenneth Seymour Robbins, a farmer and car salesman, and Edith Prescott Luckett, a film and… Read the full story

On this day in 1698, English inventor and engineer Thomas Savery received the patent for the first steam engine. His invention would lead to the first commercially used steam powered engine. Savery was born to a prominent family in England in 1650. Known to have an interest in engineering, mathematics, and invention, Savery became a military engineer and invented various types of devices. In 1698, he patented an early steam engine that provided a new method for pumping water… Read the full story

The World Family Tree on Geni currently has millions of people connected. This has been made possible through collaborative research of millions of Geni users. Although information on public profiles is accessible to everyone, the ability to edit them may be limited depending on your permissions. All users can edit the basic information of any public profile they are connected to, but to get full edit permissions on a profile, you will need to send a… Read the full story

On June 28, 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, and his wife were assassinated by a Serbian nationalist during an official visit to Sarajevo, Bosnia. His assassination sparked a chain of events that would lead to the beginning of World War I. Ferdinand was the eldest son of Princess Maria Annunciata of Bourbon-Two Sicilies and Archduke Karl Ludwig of Austria, who was the younger brother of Franz Joseph I, Emperor of Austria, and Maximilian… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Ariana Grande! Today the popular singer turns 25. She was born Ariana Grande-Butera on June 26, 1993 in Boca Raton, Florida to Joan Grande and Edward Burtera. Her parents separated while she was a child. Grande has Italian ancestry through both of her parents and has described herself as half Abruzzesse and half Sicilian. Her ancestors were born in Italy before making their way to the United States. Much of her Sicilian ancestry on the paternal side… Read the full story

Happy birthday to the Duke of Cambridge! Today Prince William turns 36. The Duke of Cambridge was born on June 21, 1982 at St. Mary’s Hospital in London. The Prince was the first royal heir to be born in a hospital. Since then, all three of his children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, were also born at the same hospital as their father. The tragic death of his mother, Princess Diana, when he… Read the full story

In many parts of the world, the end of the school year means students receive their yearbooks to sign and remember the year they’ve had. Years from now, they will be able to look back at these yearbooks to remember what happened during this unique moment of their lives. Yearbooks are also fantastic records to explore for genealogy, too. With these school records, you can learn about what clubs and activities family members were a part of and see… Read the full story

Have you found your connection to a Titanic passenger? On this day in 1863, English fashion designer and survivor of the RMS Titanic disaster Lady Lucy Duff-Gordon was born. She was considered one of the leading fashion designers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Lady Duff-Gordon was born Lucy Christiana Sutherland on June 13, 1863 in London, England to Douglas Sutherland, a civil engineer, and Elinor Sounders. After her first marriage, Lady Duff-Gordon began working as a dressmaker… Read the full story

“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” – Anne Frank Today we remember Anne Frank, who was born on this day 89 years ago. Annelies Marie Frank was born on June 12, 1929 in Frankfurt, Germany to Otto and Edith Frank. The family lived in Frankfurt until Anne was five. In 1933, the family fled to Amsterdam after the Nazi party came to power. On her… Read the full story

On this day in 1909, American obstetrical anesthesiologist Virginia Apgar was born. Known as the inventor of the Apgar score, Apgar is credited with saving the lives of millions of newborn babies. Apgar was born on June 7, 1909 in Westfield, New Jersey. She developed her interest in science partly from her father, who was an amateur astronomer and inventor. In 1949, Apgar became the first woman to become a full professor at the Columbia University College of… Read the full story

We had a fun time at the 49th Annual Southern California Genealogy Jamboree! From May 31 – June 2, a few members of the Geni team headed over to the Los Angeles Marriott Burbank Airport Hotel in Burbank, California to participate in this exciting and engaging conference. The Geni booth before the doors opened For the first time, the exhibit hall was open on the Thursday, which is usually reserved for DNA Day. This year the day was packed with… Read the full story

We’re proud to announce a long awaited improvement for Geni users – our new HTML tree is now available on all tablet and mobile devices! The new HTML tree replaces our HTML5 version of the tree, which was previously available for devices that do not support Flash. In the past, the HTML5 tree presented users with a very limited version of the family tree, which did not provide users with the best experience for working… Read the full story

Remember watching Bugs Bunny cartoons? On this day in 1908, voice actor Mel Blanc was born in San Francisco, California. Known as “The Man of a Thousand Voices,” Blanc brought to life some of the most iconic cartoon characters during America’s golden age of animation. While working for Warner Bros., Blanc created the voices for about 90 percent of the studio’s cartoons, including Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Tweety Bird, Sylvester the Cat and… Read the full story

How are you related to the Kennedy’s? On this day in 1917, John F. Kennedy was born in Brookline, Massachusetts. Remembered as one of the most beloved presidents in the history of the United States, Kennedy’s leadership and accomplishments continues to inspire generations years after his death. Kennedy was the second of nine children born to Joseph “Joe” Kennedy and Rose Elizabeth Fitzgerald. He was named in honor of his maternal grandfather, John Francis Fitzgerald, who… Read the full story

Today the U.S. celebrates Memorial Day to honor of the men and women who have died while serving in the country’s armed forces. Many people will take this time to visit cemeteries to honor our fallen soldiers. The holiday is traditionally celebrated with large parades and family barbecues as we also welcome the unofficial beginning of summer. Image: Kathleen T. Rhem, U.S. Army This long weekend also presents a great opportunity to research your military ancestors. Here are a few ideas on… Read the full story

On this day in 1934, infamous outlaws Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow were shot and killed in an ambush by police in Bienville Parish, Louisiana. Between 1932-1934, the famous gangsters captured the attention of the American public as they traveled throughout the country committing robberies and murders. The media coverage of their dangerous actions was intense and the couple used this to their advantage. After evading capture for two years, they were finally stopped as they drove… Read the full story

Will you be at the 49th Annual Southern California Genealogy Jamboree next week in Burbank, California? Geni will be there May 31 – June 2, 2018 at the Los Angeles Marriott Burbank Airport Hotel. We look forward to this fun conference every year! A few changes are in store for this year’s conference. By popular demand, this year, the exhibit hall will be open a day early on Thursday, May 31 during the Genetic Genealogy Conference. Jamboree will then… Read the full story

On this day in 1927, Charles Lindberg completed the world’s first solo nonstop flight across the Atlantic Ocean. Lindbergh completed the flight in his custom built single-engine monoplane, Spirit of St. Louis, from Roosevelt Field, Long Island, New York to Paris, France in 33 and a half hours. Lindbergh was born on February 4, 1902 in Detroit, Michigan to Charles August Lindbergh, a former Congressman, and Evangeline Lodge Land. From a young age, Lindbergh showed an… Read the full story

On this day in 1868, Nicholas II of Russia was born in St. Petersburg, Russia. The last Emperor of Russia, Nicholas II’s reign saw the Russian Empire fall from one of the greatest powers in Europe and into economic and military ruin. Nicholas II was the eldest son of Emperor Alexander III and Empress Maria Feodorovna. He was closely related to several monarchs in Europe, including King George V of England, who was his first cousin. In 1894,… Read the full story

Do you have Polish ancestry? Today we remember Polish painter Tamara de Lempicka, who was born on this day 120 years ago. Known as “The Baroness with a Brush,” Lempicka gained fame for her bold Art Deco portraits of aristocrats and celebrities. Lempicka was born Maria Górska on May 16, 1898 in Warsaw, Poland. Her father was a Russian Jewish lawyer and her mother was a Polish socialite. As a young child, Lempicka developed a strong… Read the full story

It’s World Family History Day! World Family History Day is celebrated on on May 15 of each year and it falls on the same day that the United Nations observes its International Day of Families. This is the perfect day to dive into your genealogy research and share with your relatives all of the amazing things you have uncovered about your family history. In honor of World Family History Day, check out our list of fun ways you can make… Read the full story

“Unable are the loved to die. For love is immortality.” Poet Emily Dickinson died on this day in 1886 in Amherst, Massachusetts. Although her family were prominent members of the community, Dickinson lived much of her life as a recluse at the family homestead built by her paternal grandfather, Samuel Fowler Dickinson, in Amherst. Her grandfather was a prominent lawyer and helped establish the foundations for Amherst College. Her father, Edward, was an active politician and… Read the full story

Do you remember the songs “White Christmas,” “Blue Skies” or “Anything You Can Do”? They all were written by legendary composer and lyricist Irving Berlin, who was born on this day in 1888. Berlin was born Israel Isidore Baline in Tyumen, Siberia in the Russian Empire. One of eight children, Berlin and his family fled to the United States to escape Jewish persecution. The family settled in New York City in 1893, where Berlin worked to help support his… Read the full story

We’re back from Grand Rapids, Michigan where the Geni team was at the National Genealogical Society 2018 Family History Conference. Over 2,000 people were in attendance for the genealogy conference, which took place May 2-5 at the DeVos Place Convention Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It was exciting to introduce Geni to those who were still unfamiliar with the concept of the World Family Tree and they were quickly intrigued by the idea of connecting the… Read the full story

Happy Cinco de Mayo! The Mexican holiday is primarily observed in the United States and parts of Mexico as a celebration of Mexican heritage and culture. Many don’t realize that the holiday also commemorates the Mexican Army’s unlikely victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. Image: DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University / Flickr In honor of the holiday, here are 5 things to know about the history of Cinco de… Read the full story

It recently came to our attention that the privacy policy page on Geni omitted an important detail. The description of who can edit the public profiles you manage failed to include users within the maximum Family Group range of the managed profile, as well as limited access to all Geni users. These are explained in detail below. Maximum Family Group Public profiles can be edited by users that are near the profile in the family… Read the full story

This week we’ll be in Grand Rapids, Michigan for the National Genealogical Society 2018 Family History Conference. This exciting conference will take place May 2-5, 2018. Will you be there? NGS 2018 is the perfect opportunity to learn from over 175 lectures on a variety of genealogy topics for all skill levels. Explore the exhibit hall and come visit Geni at booth 206! We’re excited to share the power of collaboration in Geni’s World Family Tree and meet Geni… Read the full story

It’s DNA Day! Celebrated each year on April 25, DNA Day commemorates the completion of the Human Genome Project in April 2003 and the discovery of the double helix structure of DNA in 1953 by James Watson and Francis Crick. In honor of the anniversary of the completion of the Human Genome Project, here are 15 interesting facts about DNA: 1. The discovery of structure of DNA would not have been possible without the work of… Read the full story

Do you remember reading Anne of Green Gables? On this day in 1942, author Lucy Maud Montgomery died at the age of 67. Montgomery was born on November 30, 1874 in Clifton in Prince Edward Island, Canada to Hugh John Montgomery and Clara Woolner Macneill. When she was 21 months old, her mother died of tuberculosis and she was placed in the care of her maternal grandparents. An only child, Montgomery found solace in writing during… Read the full story

Congratulations to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge! The royal couple welcomed their third child, a healthy baby boy, on April 23, 2018 at 11:01 local time at St. Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, West London. The prince weighed 8 pounds and 7 ounces. Welcome to the family. pic.twitter.com/nKSd5kh5bZ — Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) April 23, 2018 While the public awaits for the official announcement of the prince’s name, here are some interesting facts about the newest addition to… Read the full story