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Tracing Immigrants Search Strategies (view source)
Revision as of 14:27, 24 September 2010
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= '''Step 3: Select the Records to Search''' = | = '''Step 3: Select the Records to Search''' = | ||
This portal can help you evaluate the content, availability, ease of use, time period covered, and reliability of records. It can also indicate if your ancestor is likely to be listed. For information on a specific country, | This portal can help you evaluate the content, availability, ease of use, time period covered, and reliability of records. It can also indicate if your ancestor is likely to be listed. For information on a specific country, search this Wiki for the name of the country and the words "Emigration and Immigration." | ||
It is almost always best to first search the sources in the country where the immigrant finally settled. '''''Do not switch to records from the country-of-origin too soon in your search.''''' You will most likely find the immigrant's birthplace or hometown in country-of-arrival records, which are usually easier to use. | It is almost always best to first search the sources in the country where the immigrant finally settled. '''''Do not switch to records from the country-of-origin too soon in your search.''''' You will most likely find the immigrant's birthplace or hometown in country-of-arrival records, which are usually easier to use. | ||
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*<div>Understand native customs.</div> | *<div>Understand native customs.</div> | ||
Background information sources are not discussed in this | Background information sources are not discussed in this article, but they are discussed in the Wiki "History" or "Historical Background" articles for most countries. | ||
'''''Finding Aids.''''' Catalogs or bibliographies identify where a record is available. Indexes help find the person's name in a record. A few finding aids are discussed in this | '''''Finding Aids.''''' Catalogs or bibliographies identify where a record is available. Indexes help find the person's name in a record. A few finding aids are discussed in this article. Search Wiki articles for more information on finding aids for a country. | ||
= '''Step 4. Find and Search the Records''' = | = '''Step 4. Find and Search the Records''' = | ||
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*'''''Cities and counties with the same name.''''' Often the name you find is both a city and a province or county name. In most records, names such as Baden, Hannover, Luxembourg, Posen, or York probably refer to a county or state, not a city or town. | *'''''Cities and counties with the same name.''''' Often the name you find is both a city and a province or county name. In most records, names such as Baden, Hannover, Luxembourg, Posen, or York probably refer to a county or state, not a city or town. | ||
*'''''Nearby large city.''''' If you find the name of a large or well-known city in a record, the ancestor is often not from the city itself but rather from a smaller, lesser-known place nearby. For example, many immigrants said they came from London or Berlin when they really came from towns near London or Berlin. However, some immigrants did live in a large city for a period of time before emigrating.<br> <br> | *'''''Nearby large city.''''' If you find the name of a large or well-known city in a record, the ancestor is often not from the city itself but rather from a smaller, lesser-known place nearby. For example, many immigrants said they came from London or Berlin when they really came from towns near London or Berlin. However, some immigrants did live in a large city for a period of time before emigrating.<br> <br>'''Hints:''' If the immigrant is said to have come from a large city, look for clues that he or she really came from a nearby town. A person from a large city should not have an occupation associated with small town life, such as farming. Conversely, other occupations and trades are more likely to be found in larger population centers. Family traditions about trips to the market or traveling several miles to church are also clues that the immigrant came from a small town. | ||
*'''''Port cities.''' ''Sometimes a place-name is the port from which the immigrant left the old country. Few immigrants were actually born in port cities. Common European port cities include Amsterdam, Antwerp, Bremen, Copenhagen, Gothenberg, Hamburg, Le Havre, Lisbon, Liverpool, London, Naples, Oslo, Rotterdam, Stockholm, and Trieste. | *'''''Port cities.''' ''Sometimes a place-name is the port from which the immigrant left the old country. Few immigrants were actually born in port cities. Common European port cities include Amsterdam, Antwerp, Bremen, Copenhagen, Gothenberg, Hamburg, Le Havre, Lisbon, Liverpool, London, Naples, Oslo, Rotterdam, Stockholm, and Trieste. | ||
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*'''''Special characters.''''' Many languages use special marks called ''diacritics'' that change the sound, and sometimes alphabetical order, of letters. These characters are sometimes eliminated or changed into another letter when written in another language. This is called "transliteration" and transliteration standards change over the years (e.g., '''''Beijing''''' was previously transliterated '''''Peking'''''). The German '''''ä''''' often, but not always, becomes '''''ae''''' in English. The Czech '''''š''''' may become '''''sh''''' or '''''sch'''''. The Dutch '''''ij''''' is usually translated as '''''y'''''. | *'''''Special characters.''''' Many languages use special marks called ''diacritics'' that change the sound, and sometimes alphabetical order, of letters. These characters are sometimes eliminated or changed into another letter when written in another language. This is called "transliteration" and transliteration standards change over the years (e.g., '''''Beijing''''' was previously transliterated '''''Peking'''''). The German '''''ä''''' often, but not always, becomes '''''ae''''' in English. The Czech '''''š''''' may become '''''sh''''' or '''''sch'''''. The Dutch '''''ij''''' is usually translated as '''''y'''''. | ||
Use comprehensive gazetteers to identify all possible towns that fit a spelling you have found. You should also be familiar with the spelling rules, phonetics, and handwriting of the immigrant's native language. The Family History Library and family history centers have word lists that explain such information for some major languages. You may also want to ask for help from another researcher who knows the culture, language, and history. | Use comprehensive gazetteers to identify all possible towns that fit a spelling you have found. You should also be familiar with the spelling rules, phonetics, and handwriting of the immigrant's native language. The Family History Library and family history centers have word lists that explain such information for some major languages. You may also want to ask for help from another researcher who knows the culture, language, and history. | ||
=== '''Proving You Found the Immigrant''' === | === '''Proving You Found the Immigrant''' === | ||