Genealogy
                     GENEALOGY
INTRODUCTION
• Genealogy, the study of family origins and history. Genealogists compile lists of ancestors, which 
they arrange in pedigree charts or other written forms. 
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MEANING
• The word genealogy comes from two Greek words one meaning “race” or “family” and the other 
“theory” or “science.” Thus is derived “to trace ancestry,” the science of studying family history. 
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HISTORY OF GENEALOGICAL 
STUDY
• The history of genealogy can be divided most easily into three stages. The first is that of oral 
tradition; the second, that in which certain pedigrees were committed to writing.
• The third stage comprises the period from approximately 1500 in western Europe and later in the 
English-speaking world, during which the whole basis of genealogy widened to such an extent 
that it is now possible for the majority of people in western Europe to trace their ancestry.
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ORAL TRADITION
• In the early days of civilization, before written records were made, oral traditions were necessarily 
important. 
• Without the art of writing, reliance must be placed on memory, aided possibly by mnemonic 
systems like that of knot arrangements used by the pre-Hispanic Peruvians, or beads employed 
by the Maori of New Zealand.
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ORAL TRANSMISSION OF 
GENEALOGICAL INFORMATION
• Oral transmission of genealogical information is almost always as a list of names the lineages of 
the ancient Irish kings, for example. Events of outstanding importance are occasionally 
incorporated in such lists.
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BIBLICAL SOURCES
• Numerous Asian genealogies appear in the Bible. A cursory examination of these will reveal that 
they belong to the first and second stages in the history of genealogy, as described above. 
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ANCIENT SYSTEM 
• Under European influence, some Asian countries have adopted the practice of keeping 
systematic records for all citizens. 
• In China, with its ancient system of ancestor worship, long, drawn-out pedigrees, including claims 
to descent from Confucius, are not unknown. 
• The establishment of the Chinese Republic in 1911 brought with it registration of vital statistics.
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GENEALOGY IN BIBLE
• In the Bible there are many genealogies, the object of which is to show descent from Adam, 
Noah, and Abraham. 
• By the time these genealogies had become part of the Jewish scriptures, the concept of racial 
purity had reinforced the keeping of family records. 
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IDEA OF GENEALOGY AS DIVINE
• The idea of divine origin was reflected everywhere in a wildly polytheistic form among the 
Gentiles. 
• Almost without exception, the heroes whose genealogies were recited by the bards had their 
paternity ascribed to the gods, or to persons such as Romulus who were regarded as having 
become divine. 
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ROMAN GENEALOGY
• In Roman genealogies heroes were always descended from gods. Julius Caesar, for example, 
was supposed to have sprung from the line of Aeneas, and thus from that of Venus. 
• Among the Romans, traditions of descent remained vague even when written.
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MODERN GENEALOGY
• The professional genealogist is concerned not with one family but with many, and with the 
principles of genealogical research which arise from a wide study. 
• As there are few university courses in the subject and therefore few degrees or other certificates 
of professional proficiency, the professional must be largely self-taught.
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