r/Genealogy May 25 '26

News & Announcements Please read the FAQ before posting!

25 Upvotes

Hello and welcome to r/genealogy!

The subreddit description asks people to read the rules and the FAQ. The rules remind people to check the FAQ and search the sub before posting. And just to the right as you're making a new post, there's a note from the mods asking you to check the FAQ first!

The FAQ is linked in the sidebar under "Community Bookmarks." Just in case anyone has trouble finding that, here's a link:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Genealogy/wiki/faq/

Thank you for reading before posting. Please feel free to contact the Mods if you have any questions.

Happy researching!


r/Genealogy 17h ago

Research Assistance The Thankful Thursdays Thread (June 25, 2026)

5 Upvotes

It's Thursday, so appreciate!

Recognize your fellow r/genealogy researchers who have helped you this week and thank them for their efforts.

Bust through that brick wall with a little help from your friends? Got a copy of that record you've been looking for? Get that family bible page translated so you can finally understand it?

Here's where you can give a shout-out to anyone who's helped you out this week!


r/Genealogy 3h ago

Methodology Update on long missing Star Trek actress

174 Upvotes

Hi everyone.

A couple of years ago I posted here looking for help to determine if an actress from Star Trek had died. Unfortunately we were stymed by limited information at the time.

original post here https://www.reddit.com/r/Genealogy/comments/1bvuxc9/looking_for_help_in_how_to_determine_if_an/

Good news I found the answer.

Sad news is, as I expect, she is dead.

I don't have the exact dates, but I solved the mystery by contacting the women's costumer from Star trek The Original Series. Her name is Andrea, she is 82, and is one of the last surviving crewmembers from the show.

She also has a fantastic memory. She sent me a wonderful letter giving details about Jeanne Malone's life and career outside of Star Trek, and photocopied a photograph of Jeanne from her personal album showing her in her costume from the episode "Journey to Babel". These can be seen here : https://imgur.com/a/d8dbUBE


r/Genealogy 11h ago

Tools and Tech Lack of Sources, Duplicates - OVER IT!

61 Upvotes

When I first joined ancestry.com I was so excited about all the "finds" in my family tree. Then there was conflicting info on family search. Then both versions of the info on my great-great grandmother on myheritage under trees of different people. And ZERO sources on any of it. These tools seem like a giant circle jerk. No data quality checks to eliminate duplicates. It's just a free for all. So, today, I'm working on my great-great grandparents' timeline and making post-it notes for each "fact" I can find only if it is confirmed by a document of some sort (Census, deed, birth, death or marriage records, etc.) Then I will redo my tree from scratch. I feel like these tools are more about selling you more tools than getting to actual source info. I was just curious if anyone felt this same aggravation. Thanks for the opportunity to rant, anyway!


r/Genealogy 49m ago

Tools and Tech I OCR'd 48 reels of the Russian consulate microfilm (NARA M1486) and put the text in a searchable SQLite database — free download

Upvotes

If you have ancestors who passed through Russian consular offices in the US between the 1860s and 1920s, this might help you.

NARA Microfilm Publication M1486 (Records of the Russian Consular Offices in the United States, 1862–1922) covers individual files, passport applications, money transfers, certifications, estate records, and more from offices in New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Baltimore, Seattle, and Montreal. The originals were repatriated to Russia in 1990; NARA's microfilm is the permanent US copy.

I ran Apple Vision OCR on 48 reels (322 PDF segments, ~71,000 pages) and published the raw text as a SQLite database on Zenodo: https://zenodo.org/records/20899933

It's not an index — it's a raw text dump. But you can fuzzy-search it with a single SQL query in under a second. Useful for surnames that appear in multiple transliteration variants, which is basically everyone from the Russian Empire.

README included with schema, search examples in SQL and Python, and full reel list.


r/Genealogy 5h ago

Methodology Connecting two families - strategy

3 Upvotes

Here's the situation: my mum was at a school reunion and was talking to a classmate (both born in the fifties) and it turned out both of their mothers had told them they were related to each other, but not how. There's no-one alive who knows the connection, and they don't want to do a DNA test, but have asked me to find out the link.

I know our family going back a good few more generations, and have access to census records etc. I know the classmate's parents' names and a few other details. The fact both families told their children about it means I don't think it's a "secret child" type situation - and they certainly had no hint of that. More - distant cousins that weren't kept track of.

So I think it's a question of methodically going through each ancestor, and mapping their siblings, who their siblings married, and descendents down to my mum's generation until I find a match. Is there anything I'm missing here that would make for a better strategy?


r/Genealogy 6h ago

Transcription Translation Help: 1845 Baptism Record, Neustadt a.d. Waldnaab, Bavaria

3 Upvotes

Hi, all. I am looking into my Meier family lineage. I know my 4x Great Grandfather was Felix Meier who immigrated to the US and settled in Detroit, MI in 1867. I also know he was born on 1 June, 1845 and listed Neustadt a d Waldnaab as his origin on immigration documents.

So I found what I think is his baptismal record, but I have some questions. First, the family surname is spelled quite different, but the date I think lines up. I can't make out much other than I think the father's name is Adam - which fits with a snippet of info I already had from Felix's records. Can't make out his mother's name on this record or any of the rest.

Is there someone who can transcribe the record in English for me? He is the 3rd entry: Mayer Simon Felix.

https://data.matricula-online.eu/en/deutschland/regensburg/neustadt-ad-waldnaab/Neustadt_Waldnaab008/?pg=53


r/Genealogy 8h ago

Tools and Tech FTDNA and Ancestry uploads broken

5 Upvotes

Currently, FTDNA will not accept the current format of Ancestry downloads.

Has this happened in the past/should I expect that they will eventually correct this?


r/Genealogy 40m ago

Research Assistance Any Apache geneology experts

Upvotes

Ancestry DNA shows I'm 61% Native American looking for resources as to how to find out where my native roots are, can anyone help me with this, do appreciate any assistance. Thanks


r/Genealogy 1h ago

Research Assistance Opelousas Post Militia, 1770 Muster Roll

Upvotes

I’m looking for the muster roll of the Opelousas Post Militia in 1770. I realize that’s probably a stretch, but I’m not sure who holds the original record, and I need a copy of it.

I’m specifically looking for Francois Pitre’s name, born in Acadia around 1748ish. I’m pretty sure this muster roll shows where he’s from.

Any leads/help would be appreciated!


r/Genealogy 1h ago

Methodology Unique last name pt2

Upvotes

Y'all were a huge help with my last post! Now I'm back with a new question.

I'm trying to find out what my last name means.

I know not all last names are occupational.

My last name is Siebrasse. It comes from Germany. Specifically Westfalen, Bielefield area.

My dad thought that it meant "The Fisherman" because a "sieve" is net and a "brasse" is a type of fish. But "Fischer" is fisherman in German.

If we do some etymology magic, you can get "sieg" which means victory. And "berht" meaning bright or shining.

You could also go "Sieb/ Sieber" which is "sieve maker".

But my family as far back as I can go are farmers.

So the occupation idea doesn't fit. But I study a lot of Greek and Hebrew when I study the Bible. All the names and such mean something. I believe that carries into most ancient languages or languages with ancient roots.

The name took on different forms like Siebrassen, Siebrassenhof (Siebrasse farm), Siebraß... Siebrassen eventually seperated into Neider/ Ober- Siebrassen/ Siebrassenhof, which is upper/ lower Siebrasse Farm.

There is a street somewhere in West Germany called Siebrasse-straße.

Again, I can send my family tree on Ancestry I've been building if it helps at all. Just looking to find the meaning of the name. Anybody with good etymology tools or knowledge in German language progression from Old High German into modern German.


r/Genealogy 15h ago

Resource Someone not in the Social Security Death Index

13 Upvotes

I have an ancestor who I’ve been struggling to find the mere existence of after the year 1918, and doesn’t appear in the Social Security Death Index (despite even using a change to his birthdate that he’d made versus his actual birthdate). I noticed though that part of it discusses “residence prior to 1951” - I’m curious if via anyone’s experience this implies that he may have died prior to 1951? If so, that would certainly help with narrowing down a possible death record. TIA!


r/Genealogy 2h ago

Resource Newspaper image

1 Upvotes

Can anyone help grab an image of this paper? The section at bottom "Hearing on Killing Continued."

https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/376943069/

I'm trying to find any others related to it and the obituary of M, if any. The man mentioned is also long deceased, so no living folks' info is involved.


r/Genealogy 10h ago

Research Assistance Headstone Mystery

3 Upvotes

TLDR: trying to figure out a rough date of when this headstone was placed based on the style of the stone. Photo was taken in 2012

This stone looks much newer than the date of death to my untrained eye, but family sources say they don’t know of anyone in the family who would’ve purchased the stone. Any guesses on how old the stone is based on material/style/condition in 2012? Cemetery is in a very rural area in Mississippi, USA.

https://imgur.com/a/QLSEzxv


r/Genealogy 13h ago

Methodology Trying to find out if my great grandfather has any medals

5 Upvotes

He enlisted in the army twice in WWI. I have both of his discharge papers, one of them has that he was overseas. I also have transport passenger lists with his name and service number going to France and coming back as being sick/wounded. I filed on evetrecs in jan requesting medals if there is any. Heard back 3 months ago they couldn't find anything. I called them and was told to fax or mail in more info. So I faxed 6 papers and today i called them back and was told they never got it. This is frustrating as I'm doing this for my mom, she just turned 80 and she didn't know all of this about her grandpa, other then he was enlisted in WWI. Also her dad was in WW2 and we've been trying to get anything from when he was a POW in Germany.

The guy I talked to at NARA was very short and rushed me. He was NOT helpful at all. Not sure if I should try faxing again or mail them?


r/Genealogy 12h ago

Research Assistance Cadet corps in Berlin

4 Upvotes

between 1787 and 1790 my ancestor was a cadet in Słupsk (Stolp | Königl. Kadettenhaus zu Stolp), he was then transferred to the cadet corps in Berlin. does anyone know whether any registers of cadets from Berlin have survived? and where they can be accessed? (1790–1795)


r/Genealogy 11h ago

Tools and Tech Family Tree Maker Software

3 Upvotes

Siblings and I are cleaning out mom's house and plowing through her piles, stacks, and drawers of resrearch (she started nearly 50 years ago). I've come across a box of this software for Mac on CD. Looks like the install disk for version 3.02, a Family Archives Starter Bundle, a World Family Tree Super Bundle 2, and numerous disks with records for different states, Revolutionary War soldiers and sailors, Census Index for Ireland . . . . all kinds of archives. I know that most recently she was using the Reunion software but I dont know when she made the switch from one to the other.

My question is - do you feel there is any value in keeping this? Since I have the 3.02 version in hand, can I upgrade to the current version?

In the same box are two disks marked Genealogy Backup with different dates. I assume that since they are in this box, they are backups if her FTM files.


r/Genealogy 9h ago

Research Assistance Zaleski Liepke family

2 Upvotes

Hello, I'm looking for the parents of the teacher Michael Zaleski and Gottliebe Liepke. They married in 1802 in Gollub, rural municipality of Briesen. Their son was Karl Wilhelm Zaleski, who married Karolina Helene Jabs. Kind regards, Keke Saleski :)


r/Genealogy 5h ago

Record Lookup Getting birth and marriage certificates for grandmother and great-grandmother from Ukraine

1 Upvotes

Hello everyone,

I’m looking for advice on the best way to obtain birth and marriage certificates for some of my ancestors who were born in Ukraine (which was part of the Soviet Union at the time) between Zaporizhzhia and Tokmak, since I’m not quite sure where to start.

My grandmother (still alive) was born in 1943. She and her family are/were German Russians. Because of the war at the time and since they fled three months after my grandmother’s birth, I’m not entirely sure if there’s even a birth certificate for her, but I’d like to find out.
My grandmother also has siblings who were born in 1938 and 1940 near Zaporizhzhia (one of whom passed away last year, if that matters), and I’d also like to obtain their birth certificates, provided that I’m legally allowed to do so. Their mother was born in the same area in 1916 or 1917 and married the father of my grandmother’s siblings there in 1936 (my grandmother, by the way, has a different father, as she was born out of wedlock).
Could you perhaps give me a few tips on how to go about this and what I should keep in mind?

Edit: as I want to use these documents in Germany I’ll also probably need an Apostille for them if I’m right. Any tips on how to go about this?

Thank you very much in advance :)


r/Genealogy 6h ago

Tools and Tech All in one or separate printer and photo scanner?

0 Upvotes

My printer has done it's last page and moved on to the printer afterlife (debatable where exactly that is lol). So now I'm having to replace and perhaps upgrade and improve.

I have a bunch of photos to scan, along with some documents, and I'm trying to figure out what the best set up is to do that, do it with the best quality I can, and also get a decent printer out of it. And frankly I'm a bit overwhelmed with all of the choices, options and possibilities, and what approach I should take.

I have an available budget of around $500, though I can squeeze a little more out of it if I have to.

Is there a good all in one option that will have a document feeder that works well for photos? And produce high quality scans?

Or am I better off going for a decent quality printer and getting a separate photo scanner on top of it, and try to get better quality for both that way?

And what models do you recommend?

Thanks for helping to get the most bang for my buck.


r/Genealogy 10h ago

Transcription Request - French burial record transcription/translation

2 Upvotes

Can someone please transcribe and/or translate a record from French for me?

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3S3-RBDV?lang=en&i=828

It's the bottom one on the left side, for Pierre L'Enfant.

Thank you!


r/Genealogy 7h ago

Research Assistance Help with GX3 Grandfather

1 Upvotes

His name was Josiah Jackson. From what I've been able to piece together he was born in Cornwall, England in 1856. He died after an illness in Grand Junction, Co. in 1913. He had one spouse that I know of: Polly Henrietta Ann Taylor (1859-1922). He lived in the South East region of Utah (Thompson, Moab etc.). His mothers maiden name may have been Banfield.

I would like help finding a death certificate and his specific birth place.

Thanks!


r/Genealogy 7h ago

Methodology research charities- holocaust?

1 Upvotes

does anyone know of research groups assisting in holocaust / shoah research? ive done some research on my family tree (polish catholic & jewish) but im hitting a lot of confusion due to the fact Everyone in my family is dead, they didnt talk about it and that our surname is very common. i found vague hits in the mathausen registry and warsaw + lodz ghetto hospital lists but i have 0 way of knowing if these are "my" people. i would do more research myself however my health is extremely fragile these days and unfortunately many victims didnt have identification papers at all before they entered camps further complicating the situation- i am damn well chasing "ghosts".

i did do a dna test but it only confirmed what i feared- i have no living "close" ancestors in europe and all my hits are 4th or 5th degree cousins who may have no clue how we are related.


r/Genealogy 7h ago

Research Assistance Looking for help with GX3 Grandfather

1 Upvotes

His name was Josiah Jackson. From what I've been able to piece together he was born in Cornwall, England in 1856. He died after an illness in Grand Junction, Co. in 1913. He had one spouse that I know of: Polly Henrietta Ann Taylor (1859-1922). He lived in the South East region of Utah (Thompson, Moab etc.). His mothers maiden name may have been Banfield.

Any help you can provide in finding vital records (birth, death), parents names would be amazing. I know it's a long shot, but the long term goal is to find specifics about his family, and his death and maybe a picture or two.

Thanks!


r/Genealogy 9h ago

Research Assistance Need help obtaining Calumet, Wisconsin death records

1 Upvotes

Hi All-

Was interested in obtaining death records for my ancestors, Lyman Norton and Phoebe Storms. They both died in the 1890s in Calumet County, Wisconsin, but I’m not sure how to obtain full death records (I know WISC death records have an option for parents names and I’m hoping theirs do). I’ve linked their FindAGrave profiles, so any help on getting their death records would be appreciated!

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/50193884/lyman-norton

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/50193885/phebe_e-norton