11/12/2025
Genealogy is the study of ancestral lineage, focusing on names, dates, and places, while family history is broader, examining the lives of ancestors within their social and historical context. Genealogy provides the factual skeleton (births, marriages, deaths), while family history adds the flesh, telling the stories of who these people were through their daily lives, stories, and experiences. Many use the terms interchangeably, but family history is often seen as an extension of genealogy that seeks a deeper, more contextual understanding of a family's past.
Genealogy
Focus: Tracing and documenting direct ancestors to establish a lineage.
Key activities: Finding birth, marriage, and death dates; tracking names and locations; compiling family trees.
Data sources: Vital records, census reports, and other official documents.
Family History
Focus: Providing a richer narrative of a family's life and experiences.
Key activities:
Researching the historical and social context in which ancestors lived.
Collecting family stories, anecdotes, and heirlooms.
Investigating ancestors' occupations, education, and military service.
Understanding family migration patterns, traditions, and achievements.
Data sources: Genealogy research, oral histories, letters, photos, and diaries.
