A family tree is generally a graphic illustration of family relationships that go deeper through generations. There are different family tree types used today. Some charts offer more detailed information, and not simply include the names, birth or death dates of the family members. Here’s a look at the family tree of one of the world’s most famous personalities, Confucius, the Chinese philosopher and educator

Who Was Confucius?

K’ung-tzu, pinyin, K’ung-fu-tzu. Confucius was a famous Chinese thinker and philosopher, whose teachings and values cornered on correctness of social relationships, justice, sincerity, personal and government morality. His teachings and values became popular, and gained prominence in China from the Han Dynasty, up to today. His thoughts and ideals have been developed into a system of philosophy called Confucianism, which was introduced in Europe by an Italian Jesuit priest named Matteo Ricci. Fr Ricci also coined K’ung-fu-tzu’s Latin name as Confucius.

The Confucius’ Family Tree Keeps On Growing

Confucius has been dead for more than 2,000 years, but his family surprisingly keeps on growing. His descendants continue to flourish in China and all around the world. The latest version of his family tree has tripled in size, and the process of registering new members to his family tree was completed in 1007, and the number of updated members now stands at more than two million.

The World’s Longest Family Tree

In 1998, a 7th generation descendant of Confucius, Kong Deyong, began the registration process for new members of this illustrious Chinese philosopher’s family tree. Kong set up a committee in Hong Kong, and 450 branches were also set-up around the world, to assist in the effort. The last revision of the famous Chine sage’s family tree was made in 1930, and that time it included only 600,000 members. Compared with previous versions, the new and updated family tree will include for the first time female and overseas descendants. The Confucius family tree is regarded as the world’s longest, and has recorded more than 80 generations of his family.

The living member of Confucius’ family tree paid five Yuan or 70 US cents for official registration. The committee also included many of the deceased members, provided their descendants can show document to prove they truly did belong to the tree, or if they can show a collateral family tree that conforms to the Confucius genealogy.

Centuries after his death, his followers and adherents organized his teachings into the Analects, and in a few years after, the Analects and other core teachings were constituted to form the philosophical system which is now known as Confucianism. A different form of Confucianism was also believed to have held sway and influence over a large swath of countries, from China, Korea and Vietnam, until the 1800′s.

Technorati Tags: family, genealogy, history, tree

A wide array of family tree types is used today. Some family trees offer simple information, such as the person’s name, date of birth and death. Some family trees on the other hand, offer extra details such as snippets of how they lived, where they were born, and others. If you plan to build a more intricate family tree chart, you will need more details and factual items to enhance your genealogy chart. Here are some tips on how to enrich your family tree, and provide a more complete picture of your ancestor’s lives.

Identify The Gaps In Your Family Tree

Before you begin building your family tree, identify any gaps or limited information from the data you collected from relatives or family members. For example, if you know very little about your grandparents and their siblings, and you only know their birth dates and birth places, you may ask for information from any of your older living relatives. You may be surprised to learn that your older relatives will be more than happy to give you any extra information about your ancestor’s life.

Use a Family Gathering to Ask Questions

Whenever you have a family gathering, always seize the opportunity to ask questions from your relatives. You may ask questions to clarify or evaluate the data you already have, like for example immigration, occupation or residence records, as well as details about engagements or marriages, death and burial places, and more. Before the family gathering starts, make a list of questions for your relatives, but remember not to overwhelm them with too many questions. Once you’ve created your list of questions, get your uncle or aunt to spend some time with you over a cup of tea or coffee. You may also wish to bring a recorder to store all their answers.

Check Your Details Twice

Once you’re ready to add a name, place, residence, birth or death date, occupation and other details to your family tree, remember to double check the information you gathered. Look for historical articles, obituaries, diaries, journals, memoirs, letters and more. You can collect or borrow these from your relatives, or you may drop by the local library, census office or archive, where you can find birth registration records, burial certificates, medical and hospital reports, ship passenger lists, accident reports and others. Some of the documents you may find could provide you with interesting clues, which may lead you to other notable discoveries.

The most interesting and satisfying family trees are usually the accurate and personalized ones. You can actually personalize a family tree, if you’re lucky enough to find many old photographs or items from your grandfather or grandmother’s trunk. Make copies, and create stories with the attached old photos, and paste them to your tree. You may also wish to add a historical map of the city, town or place where your ancestor’s family lived for generations.

Also check out anything historically significant that happened in their locality at that time, and include those details too.

Technorati Tags: family, genealogy, history, tree

A family tree can serve as a source of inspiration and pride for you and your family. With the family tree, you’ll learn more about the early beginnings of your direct descendants, an you’ll also find a lot of interesting tidbits about how they lived, where they raised their families, how they died, or what they’re notable achievements were.

There are different types of family tree charts, from simple diagrams to extensive, well-researched five-genration charts, complete with old photos, qoutations and other historical pieces. Here’s a look at one of the most popular family tree chart forms today, the pedigree chart.

How A Pedigree family Chart Looks Like

Also called the ascendancy or lineage chart, the pedigree family chart is the most common family tree used today. With th pedigree family chart, you, or your parent or grandparent, are the starting point. After you or your parent, a single bloodline or family name follows, through different generations that you are able to trace.

History Of Pedigree Family Charts

In the Middle Ages, particularly in England and Wales, pedigree charts were recorded in the College of Arms, which included pedigrees collected during travelling inquiries made by its heralds during the16th and 17 centuries. Those who wished to claim the right to bear arms had to provide enough proof or details about the grant of arms given to them by the College. They also had to show proof of descent from an ancestor or descendant who was also entitled to bear the coat of arms.

How To Prepare Your Pedigree Family Chart

In preparing your pedigree family chart, first write down all information you gathered from your family, and start entering these into the family tree chart. If you’re not used to filling out these types of forms, ask for assistance, or get step-by-step information from those who are familiar with properly filling geneaological forms. Next, select a single surname to begin with. By keeping your family search focused, you’ll be able to go in the right direction, and you will also reduce the chance of missing out on any vital information or details.

Explore The Worldwide Web For Information On Your Ancestors

The Internet is a good place for getting additional information regarding your ancestor’s records. Go to pedigree databases, message boards, forums and resources that are specific to your ancestor’s location.You can also drop by your local Family History information center, where you’ll be able toget easy access to a large collection of pertinent geneaological information.

You can also drop by the local census office and other public archive centers, to search for records of your direct descendants, from birth, marriage, death certificates, to wills, land deeds, immigration records and more. Once you get all the required data, organize your information, make photocopies, take photos, store notes, and keep backup copies in digital or computer files. Ensure that you save and record everything.

Technorati Tags: family, genealogy, history, tree

Family is an important cog in your so to speak life machinery. The moves, moods, and behaviors you are accounted for are dominantly influenced by the family you grew up with. Different life adventures, journeys, trials, and setbacks are simply shared and withstood within the comforts of this very precious group of persons. In line with the matter it is just right that you get to know each and every member of your family even those that were not part of the generation you grew up knowing and loving. This is for the reason that your family history search can lead you to an understanding of your own self far better than any aptitude or personality test can achieve.

By fact research does not always flow smoothly as you would want it to be. A project such as simple or big as having a family history sort out can have the same road blocks and brick walls along the way. You can fight off these so-called detours by knowing the basics and fundamental aspects of family history search.

You can start the ball rolling by simply figuring out what information you have at hand. No matter how small and basic it is remember that it can lead you to more and more discoveries as you proceed with your search. Start asking yourself. What do I know? You can use information such as first and last names. The birth date and place of your ancestor can also catapult your search to higher levels.

At this point, the best place to get your resources and data is your very own family home. Look for journal accounts, diaries, old photographs, and other documentations of gatherings that may help you get more in-depth information about the person you are looking for. Now, if you’re not contented with what you have do not push the panic button yet. It’s time to make visits and little chats with your relatives and friends.

This is where your ever reliable relative gets handy. This will also give you the chance to renew or even make amends with people you haven’t seen for a long time. This part of the journey allows you the researcher to get in touch with the people you considered family and has missed over the years due to some unavoidable reasons. You never know how a simple visit can lead you to information that may unlock doors that are shutting your search down. If ever you cannot go and make a visit just pick up the phone and a talk can do the job for you. A Family History search is not only finding your way to old ancestors and relatives. It, too, serves as means to get families closer than they’ve ever been.

Research works effectively when done and followed within a system so this is one thing you should not mess up. Actually you should being unorganized. Family history search demands a method wherein you can easily tap into your gathered data anytime you need to. This is the time to utilize your skills in organizing data into different categories. This will help you hasten your search without compromising its integrity and accuracy. One thing more don’t hesitate to adapt what other researchers consider to be effective methods in searching for family history. You never know what good it can give you.

The best thing to put in mind when doing looking back for your ancestors is that this project is your very own family history search. No one can take it away from you once you succeed.

Technorati Tags: family, genealogy, search

Much has been said about online family search resource programs and there are things you need to know about some other family search history methods.

There are people contemplating whether to pursue online family search resource programs versus the conventional research set-up, but with the many success stories of individuals that have gone through online family search resource programs, taking the step to make use of online family search resource programs is no longer difficult.

Still many remain skeptical about the integrity and credibility of online family search resource programs, since people are used to the conventional research processes, especially one that involves a the old process of tedious pen and paper note -taking.

Stating the obvious – since like many new trends- myths and fallacies abound for online family search processes, especially since it is a common perception that anything new is often met with reluctance and sheer doubts as to its effectiveness and sustainability.

Let us try to break down some of the common perceptions about online family search resource programs and how it can affect your decision whether to make use of one or not.

One of the biggest concerns many people have tried to raise against online family search resource programs is that ‘it is a less respectable’ manner of getting the valuable information needed.

This may have perhaps stemmed from the previous reports that there exists unaccredited online sites that offer online family search resource programs, which are linked to some other sites totally unrelated from what is actually being advertised or promoted.

But one can rest assured that with the current competition from other developers offering online family search resource programs, making their feature offerings that are widely and globally credible will serve as their benchmark attractions for those wishing to make use of their online family search resource programs.

There is also the reluctance of many to make use of online family search resource programs, claiming that it may not provide the most accurate information possible, however, it is still best advised to validate any information that has been collected, regardless of whether the process adopted is conventional or modern.

Many believe that online family search programs are easier than traditional research methods however, just like any other research processes, it also bears the same nature of information needed for the purpose it was established for, depending on the necessity of information available for use.

Some online family research programs may even take more time to complete than traditional ones, where in many cases, researchers usually take up more time for independent studies as they work or study in between, compared to traditional research processes where it is mostly time-dependent.

In a nutshell, regardless of whether you hope to make use of an online family degree or a traditional research process, it would still be important for you to take all the possible necessary precautions to avoid complications later on.

One of your foremost concern would be to do your research and try to establish what you want and what information you hope to get, that way you are well aware of all possible things that you need to know about online family search resource programs.

Technorati Tags: family, genealogy, search

Many people go through such lengths to search family history. For some, it might be quite a daunting task considering the many past records, documents and other related information that need to be gathered, collected and analyzed in order to build an extensive family tree chart. How fast the tasks can be finished and done with depend on how efficient you can be in finding the information that you need. Here are some tips to help you find the right information that you need to build up your family tree.

Search Obituaries

Most Family History searches usually start from the present and work its way back to the past. Information concerning present members of the family tree is usually the easiest to gather and collect. It is the information of past relatives that may prove challenging.

The obituaries provide a good means to look for relatives and members of the family tree who may have already passed away. Not only would it provide information of a relative that has passed away including the date of birth, the date of passing as well as the place of burial. Not only that, other information that obituaries may provide include information about surviving relatives who might be contacted to provide additional details to the family tree.

Census Records

Aside from the obituaries, census records may also provide a wealth of information when building a family tree and information about long gone relatives and family members are required. Census records usually are kept dating back into the 1930′s which may provide a wealth of clues concerning some of your ancestors. When the earliest census record of a known relative is found, other information pertaining to family members as well as location may also be found. Subsequent yearly census records would yield clues as to the time when another generation into the family tree may be added.

On Location Data Gathering

Once you have discovered a certain locale where previous ancestors may have lived, you might obtain more valuable information if you try to go on location to gather more data there. A known location may be a good place to source out more detailed information about a certain portion of the family tree. You might need to dig even deeper this time around in order to get more resources to determine a more accurate means of placing people in your family tree.

Research Previous Family Trees

There may be a good chance that you are not the only one in your long line of forebears who wanted to establish a family tree. Chances are there might have been other past relatives before you who may have gone to the extent of starting their own research into building the family tree. You may want to take a close look at this and use the information to sort out and add into the research that you may have already done.

Consider also that such family trees, especially those that may be found online or otherwise, are also mostly works in progress. They might also contain certain blanks tat may need to be filled out. You can use the information to put two and two together and search for clues as to how the previous family trees may fit into the one that you are trying to make.

Technorati Tags: family, genealogy, search

This is a question that if asked from someone ten years ago would balk at the idea of replacing the traditional research process to that of an innovative, study from home approach.

Nowadays, with the advent of technology and the internet, the prospect of having an online family history search program is becoming one of the fastest growing segment of the global research system- one that is cost-efficient and widely-encompassing.Practically, online research is particularly well-suited to people doing research but whose circumstances either prevent them from doing so in a traditional research setting or those seeking for a variety of family history search program programs catered to their specific needs.

Often those interested in further research training wouldn’t be able to manage a traditional research schedule, thus, the option to take an online family history search program right at the comfort of their own homes, or the convenience of pursuing a family history search program by adjusting to their individual schedules.

The beauty of online career research is that it allows professionals with full time jobs, full-time parents and aspiring students who cannot afford to move to a different territory to conduct a research about their family history, provide them with the opportunity to earn a Family History search program without having to take a step out of their front home porches.

Most online family history search program programs offer a variety of information, , which is one consideration an aspiring researcher must weigh to find the program that best fit their needs.
On the other hand, an online career research can be a great way to advance an individual’s field of endeavor.

Many people seek training within a field in which they already work, focused primarily on getting a step promotion or aspire for a higher position within the company they’re working for and would need a higher level of research for the post.By pursuing their career training online, they do not need to leave their current position in order to pursue further certification, and can pursue their studies during time off work.
Working researchers who are currently endeavoring within a field while they are pursuing often feel that their ability to immediately apply lessons they have learned in their online family history search programs and work better at more advanced processes that make them get more out of their research.

Truth be told, there are a myriad reasons why someone would need to choose an online family history search program rather than traditional and conventional ways of higher research.
Nowadays, in the face of a competitive and demanding market, most online family history search programs are now seen as high quality research programs. Here are some common motivations for people to choose online family history search programs :

1. Online family history search programs make it possible to study for people who live far away, especially for people living in isolated communities or far from the nearest source of information.

2. Online family history search programs also allow very busy people, full-time parents and company executives to choose the timing and schedule of their studies, not having to spend all the time doing research.

3. Online family history search programs also offer accessibility and convenience for people who did not have the luxury of time to achieve a formal family history search program exposure when they were younger, and whether they are at home, the office, and at the desired pace without compromising work or family schedules, they now have the opportunity to complete their research.

Online family history search programs can be mobile, no matter where you are. Whether you are in the jungles of Africa, taking a vacation on a first -class resort or taking a road trip, the versatility of online family history search programs provide that sense of freedom and not getting tied down to your research responsibilities like conventional research processes.

So ask yourself again, why an online family history search program? Why not?

Technorati Tags: family, genealogy, search

A constant reaching out to family members and relatives is as important as completing a hard day’s work in the office. It’s like enjoying a full-packed meal while watching your favorite game show or sports program. It is without no doubt that your family is the one group of people that you can truly rely on day and day out.

Rain or shine they are always there to lend a helping hand. That is why it is part of your life to maintain a mutual understanding with your family. Issues and misconceptions are but normal but can always be negotiated with. With this in mind one way in order to know your family members and relative well is by engaging in a journey of family history search. Now this search has gotten even better because nowadays record access have gone global.

It is a fact that some of us really love to travel. A lot of people venture around the world in order to get a glimpse of the best sights and sounds each country or locality has to offer. Your ancestors might be one of those who chose to travel to make their lives better or they may be simply one of those folks who like global adventure. Nevertheless, family history search has been made to conquer the globe so you want have any problem in pinpointing the locations on which past family members and relative took stride on.

You were given the idea that your family’s heritage extend all throughout the globe and you want to make things clear and organize your family’s history then all you have to do is access certain records that may be of help. Come on and take a shot your ancestors might have gone through journeys in these countries.

Let’s fuel things off by travelling towards Italy. In the far regions of Lombardia, the Italian Civil Registration opens its gate for access of its records from 1866 up to 1936. This collection of Italian records marks the first release of its type in the online field. You can find information by browsing to over 10 million names from the Como Tribunale which is all in the original forms.

The Drouin Collection in the Quebec Vital and Church Records can also be your partner in tracing your ancestor’s steps of travel. The University of Montreal has generously devised an index composed of a rich culture and heritage of French and Canadian family histories. German city books and directories can also be utilized to boost up your search. These are categorized according to industries and professional affiliations from the 18th century winding down to the 20th century.

Your ancestors might have fancied the UK? Well, try your luck on the Royal Aero Club Certificates which holds records that are within 1910 and 1950. This collection offers a historical background of the first ever aviators during the onset of the 20th Century. It also has a list of well-regarded individuals that have been part of the Royal Air Force and the Royal Flying Corps.

Now your ancestors may have spent some time in the land down under. Australian records of Family History can be accessed via the Australian NSW Free Settlers. You can find lists of immigrants that came storming across the globe from countries such as China, Japan, Russia, India, and the US.

Your ancestors might be the nomadic adventurous type but there won’t be any problem in tracing their roots and routes because family history search has gone global.

Technorati Tags: family, genealogy, search

A project such as a family history search is very tricky thing to engage in. You have to know your way especially when searches get hindered by road blocks and brick walls. That is why you have to be familiar with the basic tools needed to get the job done. You have to be properly introduced with the fundamental blocks that make Family History access possible. One resource used in making a crystal clear family history search is the census. Let’s take a look at what a census is and what it can do to help your search easier and more accurate.

A common census consists of the accounted number of people in a certain place. Aside from the actual population of a group of people names, birth, death, ages, marriages, and even divorces and separation are well-documented. So how did the census started in the first place? The word census came into being due to the Roman title censor which was given to the official who took charge of taxation and civil registration. He was also responsible for overlooking public works and morality. Early civilizations thrived because of a good census mechanism. Examples of which are the Babylonians, Egyptians, and the Chinese.

The procedures during the first times of the census taking were quite primitive. Workers were required to provide their own sheets of paper. This paper which had lengths of up to three feet was used to document information. The responsibility of the enumerators was solely to write down responses given to them. Supporting documents and evidences were not asked such as records of birth, ownership, and marriage.

Records shown in censuses are normally categorized into locations and years. Two of the more prominent census records in the world are the United States Census Records and the United Kingdom Census Records. Census records from the US include years such as 1790, 1800, 1810, 1820, 1830, and 1840. The 1850 and 1860 censuses included slave schedules.

The list goes through up to the 1930 census. On the other hand, the UK Census Records were in the years such as 1900, 1910, 1920, and 1930. All of which are done in the Isle of Man, England, Wales, and the Channel Islands. Surprisingly the UK records show censuses from American and Canadian states and provinces respectively.

So how can you play with census records in order to help you in the family history search? Census extraction is one method that is very helpful. The concept available is that format and column headings for different census years especially those that aren’t really easy to read are presented in a more readable form. It also offers filing and extracting information methods. Another thing to look for regarding census is the census indexes.

They facilitate provision of information regarding the individual to be located and can save a considerable amount of search time. These indexes commonly include the name of the household head, the location of the residence during the year the census was taken, and the exact page where the original census records can be traced.

Every detail in your family history search should be diligently dealt with. No stones should be left unturned. You should be well oriented with how certain resources are to be manipulated in order to reach a crystal clear family history search.

Technorati Tags: family, genealogy, search

An online family history search is most considered by many people today simply for the convenience that it offers. There is certain information about one’s family tree that people may now be able to source out from the Web. There are quite a number of websites now available that offers to provide the genealogical information that people trying to build their family tree may need.

One of the best ways to find such information on the Internet is by using the search engine. Google is considered to be the most widely used search engine around due to the fact that it may provide the more accurate search results most of the time. And this might include searching for people’s fast family history. If it is usually in the Web, it is possible that Google may be able to find it.

One way to get the best possible results with using Google for searching your Family History information is by knowing the different features that it can provide its users. If you wish to search for information containing the exact word or group of words as you types it, simply putting quotation marks on the said word combinations when typing them on Google’s search box would do the trick. This will provide results that contain the exact word or group of words as you have types them

One of the best ways to find good information about family history is by knowing which sites to go to. That is where search engines like Google works best. It will provide you with information of sites that relate to the information you need by simply typing a keyword or keywords into the search box. If you wish to find “genealogy sites” or “family tree”, all you need to do is type it on the search box and the search engine would provide you with leads on what possible sites may provide you with the information.

Another good feature of search engines like Google is that they also provide you with other links that you can further explore for more information. You can even scour through sites that may be linking into the main site that you are going to. Using the link command (link: website url) will help provide you with leads to other sites that may be linking to the main site that you usually visit. Such leads may further bring you to other possible sites that might just provide some of the missing information that you might need.

Other information besides just the plain textual kind pertaining to your family history can also be searched using Google. If you are looking for certain locations for example, there are certain maps that you can check out. This will help provide you with street address. This will also prove helpful when trying to locate a certain location or even people. Google may also have the means to look for phone numbers at certain addresses and vice versa.

Not only would maps be something that you might need when doing a family history search. You might also be interested in taking a look at images or pictures. Google also has the feature that would help users find pictures and images on the Web. Just click on the Image tab on the Google search page.

Typing a keyword on the search box and hitting “Enter” will provide image results pertaining to the ones that you might be looking for.

Technorati Tags: family, genealogy, search