Tracing Immigrants Search Strategies: Difference between revisions

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[[Image:Pedestal for Bartholdi's Statue of Liberty.jpg|thumb|right|283px|Pedestal for Bartholdi's Statue of Liberty]]__TOC__  

To successfully determine an immigrant's place of origin, you need to learn some minimum facts about him or her. This will help you select record types to search and identify the immigrant in those records. Additional information can also be helpful.  

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Before trying to find an immigrant's place of origin, be sure you have learned as much of the following as possible:  

*'''''A relative.''''' Learning the name of a relative of the immigrant, such as the father, helps you identify your ancestor in country-of-origin records. If you cannot learn the father's name, try to learn the name of the mother, spouse, brother, sister, or other close relative (such as an aunt or uncle).

While minimum identification helps you recognize your ancestor in country-of-origin records, additional information could provide clues to the place of origin or confirm that you have found the right family. If possible, learn the following about the immigrant:  

*'''''Religion.''''' Religious groups in many countries create records. By learning the immigrant's religion, you can further identify him or her, determine others he or she may have traveled with, limit your searches to the records most likely to contain useful information, and gain clues to the region where he or she lived. For example, a Protestant Irishman most likely came from northern Ireland, not central or southern Ireland.

Select an immigrant you want to learn about. Choose one for whom you have minimum identification. It helps to know where the immigrant lived in the country of arrival and any names used there (such as a woman's married name).  

Choose one of the goals discussed below. Then use the appropriate “Records Selection Table” to select records that might contain that information.  

The primary goal is to '''''find the immigrant's place of origin'''''. With the place of origin you can begin using records from the hometown to extend the immigrant's ancestry or pursue other research goals. If you do not yet have enough information to find the place of origin, choose one of the secondary goals below.  

Other information about an immigrant is often helpful when searching for a place of origin. Even records that say nothing about the place of origin may give clues leading to records that name the hometown. One clue can lead to another until you find a record showing the town of origin. Possible secondary goals include—  

*'''''Immigrant's name before immigrating.''''' This helps identify a person in country-of-origin records. Sometimes the name, or part of one, is a clue to the immigrant's original country or region.

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.  

The genealogical and historical records needed to determine an immigrant's place of origin fall into two categories:  

Most record types described in this portal are original records, such as “[[Tracing Immigrants Arrival Church Records|Church Records]],” “[[Tracing Immigrants Arrival Emigration and Immigration|Emigration and Immigration]],” “[[Tracing Immigrants Arrival Naturalization and Citizenship|Naturalization]],” or “[[Tracing Immigrants Arrival Vital Records|Vital Records]].”  

If you do not have enough information to select or use compiled or original records, use reference tools from the following categories:  

'''''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.  

You may be able to obtain the records you need from the following:  

*'''''Professional researchers.''''' You can hire a professional researcher to search the records for you. Researchers in the country of origin may keep lists of emigrants compiled from various sources. For information on hiring a researcher, see [[Hiring a Professional Researcher|Hiring a Professional Researcher]]. When requesting services from libraries or professional researchers through correspondence, you will have more success if your letter is brief and specific. Enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope when writing within your own country. When writing to other countries, enclose international reply coupons (available from your post office). You usually need to send a check or money order in advance to pay for photocopy or search services.

Follow these principles as you search the various records for your ancestor:  

*'''''Watch for spelling variations.''''' Spelling was not standardized when most early records were made. You may find a name spelled differently than it is today.

After you find information about an immigrant's place of origin, you must interpret your findings. You may want to ask an experienced researcher or native speaker to help you understand foreign terms. You should—  

*<div>Prove that the person you found is really the immigrant.</div>

Use gazetteers and other reference tools to evaluate the information. Watch for the following problems:  

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Foreign names are often spelled differently from common spellings. There are many reasons for the variations:  

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.  

When you find a place that appears to be the immigrant's hometown, search the civil or church records of that place. If you find records there of a person with the immigrant's name, you must verify whether the person is really the immigrant.