Welcome to this week’s roundup of the latest news and updates from around the main genealogy sites! As family historians and genealogists, it’s crucial to stay informed about the newest resources, features, and insights that can aid us in our quest to uncover the past. Whether you’re a seasoned researcher or just starting your family history journey, my weekly digest aims to bring you valuable information that can enrich your exploration. So, without further ado, let’s dive into this week’s highlights.
5 U.S. Autumn Celebrations Brought Over from Other Countries
This blog post from Ancestry discusses the origins of five popular U.S. autumn celebrations: Thanksgiving, Halloween, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, and the harvest festivals that were held by early Native Americans. The post also provides some tips on how to celebrate these holidays with your family.
Read more: https://blogs.ancestry.com/cm/5-u-s-autumn-celebrations-brought-over-from-other-countries/
Donna Kelce: An Ancestry Story
Ancestry tells the story of Donna Kelce, a woman who used their platform to research her family history. Kelce’s research revealed that she is related to several famous people, including the Eagles’ Jason Kelce and Travis Kelce. The post discusses Kelce’s experience of using Ancestry, and it highlights the benefits of DNA testing for genealogy research.
Read more: https://blogs.ancestry.com/cm/donna-kelce-ancestry/
Was Your Family Part of History?
Another one from Ancestry. This one discusses the importance of preserving family history. The post encourages readers to research their family history and share it with their loved ones. The post also provides some tips on how to get started with genealogy research.
Read more: https://blogs.ancestry.com/cm/was-your-family-part-of-history/
Cumberland Parish Updates
FindMyPast announces the release of new parish records from Cumberland, England. The records include baptisms, marriages, and burials from the 16th to the 19th centuries.
Read more: https://www.findmypast.co.uk/blog/new/cumberland-parish-updates
After 70 Years of Searching, She Finally Found Her Siblings Thanks to a Smart Match on MyHeritage
MyHeritage tells the story of a woman who used the platform to find her siblings after 70 years. The woman was adopted as a baby, and she had never been able to find her birth family. However, after she took a DNA test on MyHeritage, she was able to connect with her siblings. The post discusses the woman’s experience of using MyHeritage, and it highlights the power of DNA testing to help people connect with lost loved ones.
Popular Baby Girl Names Over the Past 100 Years
This blog post from MyHeritage discusses the most popular baby girl names over the past 100 years. The post also provides some tips on how to choose a name for your baby.
Read more: https://blog.myheritage.com/2023/11/popular-baby-girl-names-over-the-past-100-years/
Remove 2-Week Sign-In Requirement
FamilySearch announces that the 2-week sign-in requirement has been removed. This means that users can now access FamilySearch records without having to sign in every two weeks.
Read more: https://www.familysearch.org/en/blog/remove-2-week-sign-in
New Consistency Checker Email Notifications
This blog post from Geni discusses the new consistency checker email notifications. The new notifications will alert users when their family tree has errors that need to be corrected.
Read more: https://www.geni.com/blog/new-consistency-checker-email-notifications-110717.html
New Genetic Report on Insomnia
23andMe discusses a new genetic report on insomnia. The report identifies genetic variants that are associated with an increased risk of insomnia.
Read more: https://blog.23andme.com/articles/new-genetic-report-on-insomnia
Couples Shape Each Other’s Sleep
This blog from 23andMe discusses a new study that found that couples shape each other’s sleep. The study found that partners who have similar sleep patterns tend to sleep better than partners who have different sleep patterns.
Read more: https://blog.23andme.com/articles/couples-shape-each-others-sleep
Heirloom Recipes
Find a Grave discusses heirloom recipes. The post provides some tips on how to find and preserve heirloom recipes, and it also includes a few recipes to get you started.
Read more: https://news.findagrave.com/2023/11/16/heirloom-recipes/
Researching Section 28
This from the National Archives UK discusses Researching Section 28. Section 28 was a section of the British Nationality Act 1948 that allowed people from British colonies to become British citizens. The post provides some tips on how to research your ancestors who were born in a British colony.
Read more: https://blog.nationalarchives.gov.uk/researching-section-28/
Histories of Knowledge About Volcanoes in the Caribbean
The National Archives UK discusses the histories of knowledge about volcanoes in the Caribbean. The post discusses how volcanoes have shaped the history and culture of the Caribbean, and it also provides some tips on how to research the history of volcanoes in the Caribbean.
Read more: https://blog.nationalarchives.gov.uk/histories-of-knowledge-about-volcanoes-in-the-caribbean/
A New Feature at Geneanet: Hints
Geneanet discusses a new feature called Hints. Hints are suggestions for new records that you may want to add to your family tree. The post provides some information on how to use Hints, and it also includes a few examples of Hints.
Read more: https://en.geneanet.org/genealogyblog/post/2023/11/a-new-feature-at-geneanet-hints
My name is Anthony, the founder of Genealogical Footsteps. I have over 20 years of dedicated experience in family history and genealogy (although I am not a professional genealogist). I hold BA in history, and am considering further education (despite my age). My journey in genealogy has led me to remarkable discoveries and projects, particularly where my Cypriot genealogy is concerned. I am passionate about uncovering the stories behind names and have helped friends and family connect with their heritage, including those with Cypriot, Celtic, and Viking ancestry. Click here to read more about me.
