What’s behind a name? Typically, surnames are passed down through many generations, creating a web of connected family members. The use of surnames is common in most countries around the world, but did you know they didn’t always exist? During the 13th and 14th centuries in Britain, hereditary surnames were adopted, first amongst the aristocracy and then eventually everyone. These early surnames were often derived from patronymics, places, personal characteristics and occupations. Because of this, surnames can give… Read the full story

Best-selling author A.J. Jacobs is organizing the largest family reunion in history and he’s inviting all 7 billion of his cousins to the party! During this holiday season, the Global Family Reunion team is holding a fun holiday photo contest. Winners will receive some amazing prizes! AJ Jacobs Entering the contest is easy. All you need to do is submit a photo holding an “I am a Cousin” sign by January 9, 2015 to info@worldfamily.us. There are six categories to… Read the full story

As we prepare to welcome in the new year, now is the perfect time to reflect on some of the amazing things we have accomplished in 2014. And what a year it’s been! Take a walk down memory lane with us as we reflect on the highlights from 2014. The year got off to an exciting start when we teamed up with best-selling author AJ Jacobs on his journey to hold the world’s largest family reunion in… Read the full story

It’s our last genealogy recap for 2014! Check out these articles you may have missed over the holidays. Image: The Couple That Took the Same Christmas Portrait for 40 Years / The Atlantic The Genealogy Sphere The Couple That Took the Same Christmas Portrait for 40 Years (The Atlantic) – Anne and Richard Wagner took a photo in front of their tree every year from 1900 to 1942 ‘Bay Area’s Titanic’: 1901 shipwreck near Golden… Read the full story

Today we are excited to announce an easier and faster way to upload family photos on Geni! Whether you want to upload a few photos or hundreds at once, you can drag and drop photos from anywhere on your computer to share with your relatives on Geni. Image credit: U.S. National Archives Just in time for the holidays, we’ve simplified the process of uploading your family photos to make it easier than ever to share… Read the full story

Do you have ancestors who participated in the Boston Tea Party? 241 years ago today, dozens of American colonists boarded three ships in Boston Harbor and threw 342 crates of tea overboard in protest of the Tea Act. An iconic event in American history, the Boston Tea Party helped pave the way for the American Revolution. “No taxation without representation.” Organized by the Sons of Liberty, the political protestors, some disguised as Native Americans, took to the wharf to destroy an entire shipment… Read the full story

Have a great weekend? Check out our genealogy roundup of articles! Image: Childhood Friends Reconnect After World War II, Japanese Interment Separated Them / Stripes.com The Genealogy Sphere MyHeritage Wants to Bring Genealogy to the Mainstream with Instant Discoveries™ (TechCrunch) – Our parent company MyHeritage has launched Instant Discoveries™! Watch the video to see people making family history discoveries in seconds Childhood Friends Reconnect After World War II, Japanese Internment Separated Them (Stripes.com) – The… Read the full story

The holiday season is upon us! Are you still shopping for gifts for your relatives? Here are some ideas for the perfect gift for relatives interested in learning more about your family history. 1. Family photo album Make copies of old photos you have in your possession and put them into a family history photo album. This would make a perfect gift for the entire family! 2. Scrapbook supply kit Scrap booking and genealogy were… Read the full story

There have been a lot of great inventions throughout history that have made significant impacts on our lives. From the invention of photography to the creation of the smartphone, numerous devices have changed the way we interact and communicate with the world. Of course, for every successful invention, there are tons that couldn’t quite make it to production. While some proved to be impractical and cumbersome, others turned out to be rather bizarre. Here are a… Read the full story

We hope everyone had a fun and safe holiday! Here are some great family history articles to read with your Thanksgiving leftovers! Image: 7 Intriguing Turkey Recipes From the 1800s / mental_floss The Genealogy Sphere Uniting the World in One Tree (ShalomLife.com) – Another great article covering AJ Jacobs’ mission to throw the largest family reunion in history 7 Intriguing Turkey Recipes From the 1800s (mental_floss) – Possible new recipes to try next Thanksgiving? World’s Oldest… Read the full story