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==Beginning Research in Albania== | ==Beginning Research in Albania== | ||
*[[Albania Finding Town of Origin|Finding Town of Origin]] - locating the town your ancestor was from | |||
*[[Albania Record Finder|Record Finder]] - gives suggestions for records to search | |||
*[[Albania Online Learning|Video Classes]] | |||
'''Select Someone to Research'''<br> | |||
Select a specific relative or ancestor born in Albania for whom you know at least a name, the village or parish where he or she lived in Albania, and an approximate date when he or she was born there. It is also very helpful to know the names of other family members born in Albania. | Select a specific relative or ancestor born in Albania for whom you know at least a name, the village or parish where he or she lived in Albania, and an approximate date when he or she was born there. It is also very helpful to know the names of other family members born in Albania. | ||
*The actual name of an ancestor | *The actual name of an ancestor | ||
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*The religion of an ancestor | *The religion of an ancestor | ||
'''Determine the actual name of an ancestor''' | '''Determine the actual name of an ancestor''' <br> | ||
A serious problem for some researchers is to determine the actual name of their immigrant ancestor. Some ancestors in their eagerness to be assimilated into American culture, traded their difficult foreign names for American names. This occured often with given names and to a lesser extent with surnames. To read about how your ancestor could Americanize his or her name and to learn about historical background of Croatian surnames and given names see [[Croatia Naming Customs|Naming Customs]]. | A serious problem for some researchers is to determine the actual name of their immigrant ancestor. Some ancestors in their eagerness to be assimilated into American culture, traded their difficult foreign names for American names. This occured often with given names and to a lesser extent with surnames. To read about how your ancestor could Americanize his or her name and to learn about historical background of Croatian surnames and given names see [[Croatia Naming Customs|Naming Customs]]. | ||
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If you cannot find an exact date, you may estimate dates based on other information. You need at least the approximate year of an event. You may use standard genealogical approximation. From a marriage date, you can estimate that a man was married at age 25 and a woman at age 21. You can also estimate that a first child was born one year after the parent's marriage and that subsequent children were born every 2 years after that. | If you cannot find an exact date, you may estimate dates based on other information. You need at least the approximate year of an event. You may use standard genealogical approximation. From a marriage date, you can estimate that a man was married at age 25 and a woman at age 21. You can also estimate that a first child was born one year after the parent's marriage and that subsequent children were born every 2 years after that. | ||
'''Determine the place of origin''' | '''Determine the place of origin'''<br> | ||
In Albania, most records used in family history research are kept on a town or parish level. Therefore the exact town of origin must be known before research in Albanian records can begin. Most of the time, the Albanian place of origin is found in sources created in the country of immigration. These records should be searched for the ancestor, possible relatives, and other associated persons. If you do not know the place of origin in Albania see [[Albania Finding Town of Origin|Albania Finding Town of Origin]] for sources that may give you that information. | In Albania, most records used in family history research are kept on a town or parish level. Therefore the exact town of origin must be known before research in Albanian records can begin. Most of the time, the Albanian place of origin is found in sources created in the country of immigration. These records should be searched for the ancestor, possible relatives, and other associated persons. If you do not know the place of origin in Albania see [[Albania Finding Town of Origin|Albania Finding Town of Origin]] for sources that may give you that information. | ||
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After you have determined the correct name of the town from which your ancestor emigrated, you must still determine its location. Many Albanian localities have similar names that may be easily confused. | After you have determined the correct name of the town from which your ancestor emigrated, you must still determine its location. Many Albanian localities have similar names that may be easily confused. | ||
'''Determine the religion of an ancestor''' | '''Determine the religion of an ancestor''' <br> | ||
Until the 1900s, vital records were kept by church parishes or Jewish congregations. The records of different religions were kept separately. If you are not sure of your ancestor's religion, start by searching Orthodox or Roman-Catholic records. Not every village in Albania had its own parish. Often, several smaller villages belonged to one parish. Use [[Albania Gazetteers|gazetteer]] to determine the proper record keeping jurisdiction. | Until the 1900s, vital records were kept by church parishes or Jewish congregations. The records of different religions were kept separately. If you are not sure of your ancestor's religion, start by searching Orthodox or Roman-Catholic records. Not every village in Albania had its own parish. Often, several smaller villages belonged to one parish. Use [[Albania Gazetteers|gazetteer]] to determine the proper record keeping jurisdiction. | ||
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