06 Feb What is the difference between family history and genealogy

Well here goes, my first blog for my exciting new business!

Where to start…the common question

What is the difference between family history and genealogy ?

The Oxford English Dictionary defines Family History as … The history of a family; a narrative about this. In later use also: the study of the history of a family or families; genealogy as an area of research… and Genealogy as …A line of descent traced continuously from an ancestor…

How would I describe them? Both terms are used, even by fellow researchers to mean the same thing but I do think there is a distinct difference.

Genealogy is the tracing of your ancestors focusing on names and dates. These facts and figures can then form the backbone to family history. Family history is taking this information and making it “come alive”. How did your ancestors live, what are their stories, what joys and tragedies did they deal with, what did they look like?

I feel that by knowing this information, whatever terminology you use, you can have a greater understanding of your place within your family, discover what aspects of your personality have you inherited and from whom. What choices made by your ancestors led to where you were born and how you were raised?

Today’s blog was about what the difference between family history and genealogy is, please keep checking back for new blog articles soon! Thank you