Understanding Different Genealogical Websites

Your dream as an online genealogist is to find a site that contains all the information that you ever wanted to know about your family. Unfortunately, these sites will be few and far between (if they exist at all). Before you find the "golden site," you will discover a variety of other sites that vary greatly in the amount and quality of genealogical information. Knowing ahead of time what kinds of sites are out there and what common types of information you will encounter is useful.

Personal Genealogical Sites

Many of the sites that you encounter on the World Wide Web are personal genealogical sites. Individuals and families who have specific research interests establish these sites. You are likely to find information on the site maintainer's immediate family or on a particular branch of several different families, rather than on the surname as a whole. That doesn't mean that valuable information is not present on these sites -- just that they have a more personal focus.

There's a wide variety of information found on personal genealogical sites. Some pages list only a few surnames that the maintainer is researching, while others contain extensive online genealogical databases and narratives. It all depends on the amount of research, time, and computer skills the maintainer possesses. Some common items that you see on most sites include a list of surnames, an online genealogical database, Pedigree and Descendant charts, family photographs, and the obligatory list of genealogical Internet links.

Personal genealogical sites vary not only in content, but also in presentation. Some sites are neatly constructed using soft backgrounds and aesthetically pleasing colors, while other sites use link colors that blend in with the background, making it very difficult to navigate through the site. You should also be aware that a lot of personal sites use Javascripts, music players, and animated icons that can significantly increase your download times.

One-Name Studies

If you're looking for a wide range of information on one particular surname, a one-name study site may be the place to look. These sites usually focus on researching one surname, regardless of the geographic location where the surname appears. In other words, they welcome information about people with the surname worldwide. Frequently, they have information on the variations in spelling, origins, history, and heraldry of the surname. One-name studies have some of the same resources you find in personal genealogical sites, including online genealogy databases and narratives.

Although one-name study sites welcome all surname information, regardless of geographic location, the information presented at one-name study sites is often organized around geographic lines. For example, a one-name study site may categorize all the information about people with the surname by continent or country -- such as Helms in the United States, England, Canada, Europe, and/or Africa. Or the site may be even more specific and categorize information by state, province, county, or parish. So, you are better off if you have a general idea of where your family originated or migrated. But if you don't know, browsing through the site may lead to some useful information.

The maintainers of one-name study sites welcome any information you have on the surname. These sites are often a good place to join research groups, which can be instrumental in assisting your personal genealogical effort.

This site can help you determine whether there are one-name study sites devoted to surnames you are researching: Guild of One-Name Studies.

Family Associations and Organizations

Family association sites are similar to one-name study sites in terms of content, but they usually have an organizational structure (such as a formal association, society, or club) backing them. The association may focus on the surname as a whole, or on just one branch of a family. The goals for the family association site may differ from those for a one-name study. The maintainers may be creating a family history in book form, or a database of all individuals descended from a particular person. Some of the sites may require you to join the association before you can fully participate in their activities, but this is usually at a minimal cost, or free.

Several items that are common to family association sites include a family history, newsletter subscription details, membership form, reunion news, queries, mailing list information, and a directory of the society's members who are online.

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