Genealogy, or documenting your family history, is a popular and rewarding hobby. Your family tree can open up beautiful love stories, war heroes, family traditions, and rich histories from foreign lands. Maybe you'll find you're related to a famous person. Maybe your family has a rich historical or religious background. A written family history is a gift you can pass to your children and grandchildren.

First, genealogy requires understanding a few key words. A lineage or a pedigree is a line of descendants of a particular person or group. First cousins have two of the same grandparents, while second cousins have the same great-grandparents, third cousins have the same great-great grandparents, and so forth. Once removed is a common term to classify different generations. A cousin once removed is the difference of one generation.

A family tree has many benefits. Other than a basic history of names, birthplaces, and birthdays, a family tree can document family medical history. This is especially important to track the occurrence of certain genetic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.

Need help organizing? Computer software and Internet based programs ask simple questions to build a text or graphic family tree with as much or as little information you have available, which helps you better search for ancestors. There are also many Web site databases to research and build your family tree. Some of these sites are free and others charge a small fee.

Are you researching your family history alone? Talk to your family members to see if they've already done genealogy research or are currently building a family tree. You can incorporate the work they've already done and link your information together for a more complete history.

The first step to your family tree is what you already know: your name, your parents? names, and your grandparents? names. The second step is to interview your family members, especially ones with family documents like legal papers, birth and death certificates, or obituaries. Also look for letters, books, newspaper clippings, yearbooks, diaries, and photographs.

Next, find sources of records of your ancestors. Census records are one of the most helpful tools in documenting family history. Also check records of immigration, court, probate, military, and vital records. While some of these records are public, there may still be a small fee to search, copy, or print the materials. If you are requesting the records through the mail, you will most likely pay for the actual postage costs.

The further back in history you research, the more difficult, but interesting the findings. Generations ago, literacy was not as prominent, and many people could not spell their own names. You may have trouble deciphering handwriting and there may also be typos in records. Name misspellings are common in historical documents, especially with immigration records.

With expanding popularity of genealogy, there are many historical associations which can offer assistance in your research. Most public libraries also have available resources. Internet sites are an invaluable tool to connect family members and researchers. You can post your own family tree so distant relatives can find you. Many sites also offer family history classes. Watch your family tree grow and bloom as you discover more about your ancestors. Create an eternally rewarding gift to your family's future.

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