By Roccie Hill The Origin of Last Names If you have ever had to search on a genealogical website for someone with only one name (as with many historic tribal cultures), you will know that giving people first and last names was a huge step forward. Last names, or surnames/family names, are universal today, but…
By Lori Samuelson Most families have stories that have been passed down for generations. Some legends are poignant, while others are fanciful. Only through careful research can the accuracy of those tall tales be discovered. Caution is needed in blindly believing a family story. Over the years, many clients have wanted me to prove their…
By Roccie Hill We all reach the point where we are fascinated by who came before…in our families, our areas, and our eras. Of course, we usually begin with our own families, because we know this will be easier than a more general historical search. We think it will produce results quickly, and we hope…
By Ericka Guzzard Do you have a branch of your family in a certain county where you just can’t find any records? You may be dealing with research in a “burned county.” This designation was first used for counties in Virginia whose courthouses had been burned down during the Civil War (1861-1865). The terminology has…