If you’re interested in getting started on your genealogy, but at a loss as to what you need to do first, here are some tips on what to do to begin building your family tree. 1. Keep it simple and start with what you know. The first step is the easiest – simply start with what you know. Begin with yourself and work your way back to your parents, grandparents, great grandparents, etc. This will give you a good… Read the full story

What are your genealogy goals for 2018? Get the new year started on the right foot by laying out what you  hope to accomplish this year. Here are a few ideas to get you started: 1. Get your relatives to take a DNA test If you’ve already taken a DNA test for genealogy, make a plan to encourage your relatives to take a DNA test too. This is especially important for your older relatives. Connect their results to the… Read the full story

As 2017 comes to a close, we’re taking some time to reflect on this past year on Geni. We celebrated an exciting milestone, introduced new enhancements, met genealogists all around the country, and heard some wonderful stories from our users. Here are our highlights: This year, Geni celebrated our 10th anniversary! Geni first launched in January 2007 with one goal in mind – to create a single family tree of the entire world. Today, Geni’s World Family Tree… Read the full story

Do you have any vintage holiday cards? It’s an old practice to send holiday cards to friends and loved ones during the holidays. They are also a great find for genealogists. Old postcards can often provide some important clues for your family history and can provide an intimate connection with your family’s past. They may even provide you with a new name or give you a clue as to how someone is related. With the holidays only a few days away, here’s a… Read the full story

When news of Prince Harry’s engagement to American actress Meghan Markle broke, we shared how the newly engaged couple were related through Geni’s World Family Tree. With excitement still in the air, we thought it would be fun to share a few more of Meghan’s surprising relatives. Recently, our parent company, MyHeritage, shared the news that Meghan was related to William Shakespeare and Winston Churchill through her English roots. This was possible thanks to Geni’s World Family Tree, which connects over 120… Read the full story

On this day in 1941, Imperial Japanese Naval Air forces attacked the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, which left more than 1,100 people wounded and 2,403 people dead. The surprise military attack was a profound shock to the American people and immediately drew the United States into World War II. Pearl Harbor under attack on December 7, 1941 / National Archives and Records Administration In his address to Congress the day following the attack, President Franklin D…. Read the full story

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are engaged! Did you know that Prince Harry and Megan are also related? Discover how in Geni’s World Family Tree. According to the official announcement, the couple will marry in the spring of next year. They were introduced by a mutual friend and have been together for over a year. While making their debut as an engaged couple outside of Kensington Palace, Prince Harry revealed that he knew she was the one from the moment they met.

In a very special live segment on Good Morning America, a mother and daughter were reunited for the first time in over 30 years thanks to MyHeritage DNA. In 1986, Angie Oracoy placed her daughter, Meribeth, up for adoption. Only 19 years old at the time, the young mother never had the chance to hold her daughter before she was taken away. Angie hoped Meribeth would be adopted by a loving family who could give her daughter the life that she… Read the full story

On November 11, the United States celebrates Veterans Day to give thanks, honor, and celebrate the brave men and women who have served in the nation’s armed forces. Originally observed as Armistice Day, which commemorated the end of World War I at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, the holiday was renamed Veterans Day in 1954. Not to be confused with Memorial Day, which honors those who died while in… Read the full story

Sometimes when you hit a brick wall in your genealogy research, you may feel like there is no hope in overcoming it. However, there may be a few things to try that you may have overlooked. Here are a few quick tips on how to overcome your brick walls: Review what you have Go back and review what you know about your ancestor. Take some time to to create a timeline during your review to get a better picture of your… Read the full story