Genealogy and Clan Genealogy FAQ

Can we still begin without an old genealogy?

You can start with the most recent three generations that family members can confirm, recording names, relationships, photographs, and the sources of oral accounts. The absence of information about more distant ancestors does not prevent you from creating a reliable family record; leave gaps for missing generations and create a list of questions for further research. Do not purchase a genealogy of people with the same surname and directly connect your family to it.

Do the same surname, ancestral hall name, and generation name mean that people belong to the same branch?

These conditions can be used to screen potential matches, but you need to continue comparing villages, dates, the founding ancestor who migrated there, spouses and children, and successive generations. Even several similar conditions do not mean that a relationship has been proven. Specific genealogy pages and other materials that support the relationship should be preserved together with the assessment.

What should we do when names and dates are written differently?

Retain the names exactly as they appear in the original materials, while creating a cross-reference for commonly used names, alternate names, and variant characters. First record dates as they appear in the source and note the calendar used; when unclear, do not convert them into an exact Gregorian date. When two sources conflict, note the source of each and leave the matter pending verification rather than choosing the value that looks most plausible.

How should women, spouses with different surnames, and different family relationships be recorded?

Record actual family relationships according to the conventions established for this compilation, without using surname as the sole basis for excluding anyone. Organize individual entries separately from relationships such as marriage, parent-child relationships, and adoption, so that future readers can understand them. Details and forms of address concerning living relatives should be verified by the individuals concerned or their family members.

Do photos have to be restored before they can be included in the genealogy?

No. First preserve the original image and add notes identifying the people, place, time, and source; then create a restored copy as needed for reading. Blurry photos may still have documentary value; new details produced through restoration must not be used to prove historical facts that could not originally be identified.

When is the first edition considered complete, and how should errors be corrected?

Use the family scope agreed upon in advance as the standard; the first edition is complete once relationship verification, a source catalog, confirmation of the scope for public access, and backups have been completed. When an error is found, record the old value, new value, supporting basis, and date of revision; a printed edition may include an errata sheet. Additional answers can be added one by one later, based on the issues the family actually encounters.

Continue Research and Organization

• Start Your First Genealogy Compilation
• Relationship Verification Process