Introduction: In this article, Jessica Edwards offers a fun quiz of genealogy terms for family historians both experienced and new. Jessica has had a lifelong interest in her family’s history – especially on her father’s side, which goes back to the first settlers in Pennsylvania, Jamestown and New England – and has documented and added more than 21,000 people to her family tree!
How well do you know terms that are used in genealogy? I’ve compiled 33 common terms and their definitions – and it’s up to you to match as many as you can. Grab a sheet of paper and put the correct definition (letter) next to the related term (number). Answers are at the bottom – but no fair peeking!
Genealogy Terms
- Ancestor
- Archive
- Close-ended Questions
- Compiled Record
- Descendant
- Epitaph
- Family Group Record
- Family History
- Family Names
- Gene
- Genealogy
- Generation
- Genetics
- Given Name
- Jurisdiction
- Maiden Name
- Maternal Line
- Middle Names
- Open-ended Questions
- Oral History
- Original Record
- Paternal Line
- Patronymics
- Pedigree
- Pedigree Chart
- Primary Source
- Record
- Repository
- Secondary Source
- Social Security Death Index
- Surname
- Timeline
- Vital Record
Definitions
A. The science of studying about our ancestors, through names, dates and events.
B. A record created after an event by someone who either remembers it or from a primary source.
C. A person from whom one is descended.
D. The territory within which authority may be exercised.
E. A type of object that developed from another object existing before it.
F. The chemical unit that contains the traits that are passed on from one generation to the next.
G. More than getting the names and dates of ancestors; includes life stories/details about ancestors.
H. A branch of biology that deals with the traits inherited through genes.
I. The average span of time between the birth of parents and that of their children.
J. A way of charting historical events and dates, often including places.
K. A written account of a very important life event such as birth, marriage or death.
L. The family to which he or she belongs. This is called the family name, surname, or last name.
M. Names that identify an individual based on the father’s name.
N. A conversation with someone to learn information about a person or family.
O. Questions that can be answered with a free response, such as the answer to an essay question.
P. Questions that can be answered with a short response, usually about some fact.
Q. A chart that indicates a person’s descent.
R. A record (usually a book) of information that has been gathered from original records.
S. A record created at or close to the time of an event by an eyewitness to the event.
T. A person’s first name(s).
U. A person’s last name or family name.
V. A female’s surname at birth.
W. An ancestral line or line or descent.
X. The line of descent on a father’s side.
Y. The line of descent on a mother’s side.
Z. The engraving on a tombstone in memory of the person buried there.
AA. A place in which public records or historical documents are preserved and researched.
BB. A form used to write information about parents and children of the same family.
CC. An online database of more than 60 million people.
DD. A birth, marriage or death certificate as kept by a government official.
EE. A record created at or near the time an event occurred, often by an eye witness.
FF. A place, room or container where something is stored.
GG. Provides additional information. May be inherited, follow naming customs, or be treated as part of the family name.
Answers
- Ancestor: C
- Archive: AA
- Close-ended Questions: P
- Compiled Record: R
- Descendant: E
- Epitaph: Z
- Family Group Record: BB
- Family History: G
- Family Names: L
- Gene: F
- Genealogy: A
- Generation: I
- Genetics: H
- Given Name: T
- Jurisdiction: D
- Maiden Name: V
- Maternal Line: Y
- Middle Names: GG
- Open-ended Questions: O
- Oral History: N
- Original Record: S
- Paternal Line: X
- Patronymics: M
- Pedigree: W
- Pedigree Chart: Q
- Primary Source: EE
- Record: K
- Repository: FF
- Secondary Source: B
- Social Security Death Index: CC
- Surname: U
- Timeline: J
- Vital Record: DD
How Did You Do?
- 25-33 correct answers: You must be a genealogist or on one of the TV shows that helps people find their ancestors!
- 18-24 correct answers: Wow! You are great at knowing things that will lead you to finding your ancestors! The branches in your tree are spreading far and wide.
- 12-17 correct answers: Not bad for a budding genealogist! Your roots are spreading slowly.
- 0-11 correct answers: Keep reading this blog to learn more. Beware because “Genealogy Fever” is catching!
Note on the header image: “Genealogy” logo designed and copyrighted by Mary Harrell-Sesniak.