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Help Me Start

If you have been wondering how to begin researching your ancestors from Ukraine, Poland, Slovakia, etc., this page is for you.

Genealogy is very much a puzzle at the best of times. As you begin your journey into eastern European genealogy, you will discover the added complexity of needing to learn geography, history, and even some foreign languages!

As daunting as that may seem, we are here to help. Let’s get started.

Eastern European genealogy is a process. The first step is to determine the ancestral village. Without that information, it is impossible to begin research in “the old country.”

It begins with basic genealogy, i.e., noting names, dates and places of various events, and the sources of all information found (do not skip this last step). Record all spelling variations for names and places because they will contain clues that may be helpful.

four inter-locked puzzle pieces with words Genealogy, Languages, Geography, and History

First, a word about documentation …

As you amass information, it is important to take care in recording it. When first beginning your genealogy, there is no need to complicate matters. Paper records will work until you have decided that want to invest in software. Feel free to download the following forms and print as many copies as you need:

  • Pedigree Chart - this is a simple way to document information and show four or five generations of ancestors for a single person
  • Family Group Sheet - this is a concise way to document information for one family group
  • Research Checklist - this is a simple way to document which record sources you have consulted when researching a particular person
  • Research Log - this document allows you to track your research by individual. Monitoring your progress ensures you do not repeat the same research.

Though it may initially seem tedious and unnecessary, your future self will thank you if you take the time to document the source of all information found at the time you find it. This too need not be onerous. As long as you collect the pertinent information, you will be ready to prepare citations in the future should you wish to do so. Be sure to record:

  • Who was the creator or author of the source
  • What source document was used (its title)
  • Where within the source the information came from and where the document came from
  • When was the information published and/or gathered

On to the “how to” part …

orange and white concentric circles with words You, Family, Friends, Organizations, and Institutions

Basic genealogy starts with you at the foundation. Gather all documents you may have at home. Widen your circle and reach out to family and friends to see what information they may have. Explore local organizations and institutions as they may have records of genealogical value.

After exhausting those local resources, expand your scope to the provincial or state level and then on to the national level. Each level of government will have a variety of records that could well contain the information you seek.

Do not stop with the first record you find with an ancestral village name. Collect everything you can, as there could well be discrepancies. Corroborating evidence is important to ensure your research is sound and you are proceeding down the correct path.

arrow showing research progression from local to provincial/state to national levels with example record types

Genealogy is an iterative process so expect to repeat the process as you move back one generation at a time all the while documenting your work.

If you do discover an ancestral village in the course of your research, odds are good that the spelling of the name will not be accurate. Names of places (and people) are more likely to butchered in North American records than in records created in Europe such as a passport or departure manifest.

Once you have determined your ancestral village, the next step is to confirm the proper spelling of the village name.

Did you know?

The New Member Package contains the following articles to help you get started with your eastern European genealogy.

  • • Family History Research … a Beginning
  • • Sources to Determine the Ancestral Village

Our quarterly journal also contains feature articles to help with your research.

Interested in joining?