Tips for Tracing Your Jewish Ancestry
It’s a part of being human—having a sense of your heritage, of the family members who shaped you, of the struggles they faced, the hardships they overcame or the remarkable things they did. When you’re Jewish, you’re part of a long and rich history. You may know much of the general information about your heritage, but have far less information about your family’s history.
If you’re interested in tracing your lineage, whether it’s simply to know from whence you came, or if it’s about embracing the stories of those who made you who you are, you’ll quickly discover that it can be more than just a rabbit hole, but a vast field of rabbit holes, leading you in many directions. Here are some strategies for helping you use your time efficiently as you trace your Jewish roots.
Start by Talking with Family
There’s a lot of information available on the internet, and many extremely helpful sites that can be gold mines of information. If you start your search online, though, you’ll likely waste a lot of time. A much better place to start is with your family, particularly with your oldest living relatives. Many will be more than willing to tell you what they know (or think they know) about your ancestors. Be open to listening, but be prepared to do a lot of fact-checking. Family stories often change from generation to generation, either intentionally or accidentally.
Comb the Census Records
The federal government has conducted a census every 10 years since 1790. The initial census records had limited information, but from 1850 until the present, they have increasingly added more information. Some states have also done periodic censuses. Be aware, though, that for privacy reasons, census data is typically unavailable for 72 years—accordingly, the most recent census date available is from 1950.
Be Prepared to Look at a Number of Different Spellings or Names
For a variety of reasons, the name used by an ancestor may be spelled differently (or may be an entirely different name). Some immigrants sought to assimilate by changing the spelling of a name. Others either couldn’t read and write. There’s also the possibility that those writing down the information made transcription errors.
Look in Jewish Publications of the Times
Often, as Jewish immigrants settled alongside each other and formed communities, local newspapers would be created specifically for those communities. You may be able to find digitized copies of those publications at a local library or an online ancestry site.
Turn to Gutterman’s For Guidance in Your Time of Bereavement
At Gutterman’s and Gutterman Warheit, we have more than 125 years of experience providing funeral and burial services to individuals and families the Jewish communities in New York and Florida. To learn how we can be assistance, send us an email or call us at one of the numbers listed below.
Gutterman’s & Gutterman Warheit — Where Relationships Matter
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