We love hearing stories from our users when they make fascinating new discoveries. Recently, genealogy blogger Kitty Cooper shared an amazing discovery she made just last week thanks to Geni. Through the power of collaboration, she’s found her long lost second cousins in Germany! Kitty shares that her family has always known of family in Bavaria, but surnames and where they lived remained a mystery. According to family lore, Kitty’s great grandfather, Benedict Reiner, was studying to… Read the full story

Family heirlooms are often precious artifacts linking the present to your family’s heritage. They hold stories and memories from the past about the lives of loved ones that are no longer around. Usually passed down from generation to generation, family heirlooms provide us with a greater personal connection to our ancestors, perhaps more so than a census record or death certificate could provide. They often provide a unique insight into your family’s history and hold deep… Read the full story

News spread today of the death of iconic singer-songwriter David Bowie after an 18-month battle with cancer. He died on January 10, just two days after his 69th birthday. Herald as an innovator and pioneer, Bowie seemed to reinvent himself for each new generation of fans. Bowie constantly transformed his sound and appearance to the delight and surprise of audiences around the world. In remembrance of Bowie’s extraordinary life, we take a look at a few things… Read the full story

The traditional, solitary pursuit of genealogy is a thing of the past. Geni’s World Family Tree has made collaboration the easiest, fastest and most exciting way to uncover your family’s heritage. You can collaborate instantly with your relatives by inviting them to join the family tree on Geni. When your relatives join the tree, they can contribute their own knowledge of your family’s history and help research exciting, new branches of your ancestry. As more relatives are invited and the tree expands, you… Read the full story

Do you have twins in your family tree? It’s not often you will find a pair of twins with different birthdays. However, for one San Diego couple, that’s just what they got. Not only were their twins born on different days, but they were not even born in the same year! A San Diego mother gave birth to twins, but one was born in 2015, the other in 2016. https://t.co/G7qBusgyDu pic.twitter.com/3so9OwMNz6 — WFMY News 2 (@WFMY)… Read the full story

As the new year approaches, we take a look back at some of the great things we accomplished in 2015. Many of our amazing feats could not have been done without the collaborative efforts of our amazing users and volunteer Curators, who work everyday on making Geni’s World Family Tree the largest and most accurate single family tree in the world. The year got off to an exciting start as we headed to Salt Lake City,… Read the full story

Can you believe it’s been nearly 40 years since George Lucas first introduced Star Wars to the world? First released on May 25, 1977, few would have expected the film to become a worldwide phenomenon. Today, it would be hard to find someone who has not heard of the movies. This week, the iconic film franchise returns to the big screen to the great anticipation and delight of young and older generations with the latest installment, Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Taking the helm from… Read the full story

The holidays are fast approaching and many may still be scrambling to find last minute gifts for relatives and friends. Here are some gift ideas for the genealogist or family historian in your family: 1. DNA Test Give the gift of a genealogy DNA test to members of your family or friends. A DNA test is the perfect gift for relatives who may have hit a brick wall or simply want to know more about their origins…. Read the full story

December 12, 2015 marks Frank Sinatra’s 100th birthday. Known for his smooth voice and charm, Sinatra is remembered as one of the most popular and influential artists of the 20th century. Frank Sinatra, 1947 / Library of Congress In honor of the centennial of his birth, here are 10 interesting facts about Ol’ Blue Eyes: 1. His birth left him with lifelong scars. Francis Albert Sinatra was born on December 12, 1915 in an upstairs tenement… Read the full story

The year 2015 saw an unusual naming trend emerge. According to the parenting website BabyCenter.com, millennial parents have started to name their babies after Instagram filters. While it’s common for parents to draw inspiration from popular culture, many may still find it surprising to hear that the popular photo sharing app’s filters are the source of inspiration. Image: National Media Museum / Flickr If you’re a frequent user of Instagram, you may immediately recognize these unusual names…. Read the full story