Enough of this, drat it.

[ysobelle]

I know my name. I know my parents' names. I know my grandparents names. I know I had two great grandmothers names Sarah. I know my paternal grandmother had several brothers. My maternal grandmother had several sisters. One of my great grandfathers was Abraham. He was the first Cohen.

AND THAT'S ALL I KNOW.

I'm looking for someone to help me with this. Seriously. I have GOT to track Abraham and find out what his father's name was before it was changed in this country. I want to know what my ancestral surname is, dammit! I'm only a Cohen because my father's line is Kohanim. Not that that's a bad thing-- I'm quite proud that we can trace ourselves back to Great-great-great-great-great Grandfather Aaron and Great-etc-Uncle Moses.

But damn! I need HELP!

Comments

[hederaivy.livejournal.com]

I'm thinking there's a geneology dept at Temple that might be able to help you out. Other than that, I'm at a loss.
I tried tracing my own paternal ancestors many years ago but only got to my great-great grandfather. He came to Canada from Scotland around 1850, but the records all got burned. There were a hell of a lot of fires in courthouses, it seems.

Why is it so important to you to trace the name back? I'm just wondering because there's not much we can do to change the past. It's what we do with our own lives and our futures that really matters. (I think history got spoiled for me by my first mother in law)

[laurensa.livejournal.com]

You might try contacting the Church of Latter Day Saints. They have a simply mind-boggling genealogy department.

I understand your frustration. My dad's side has been traced as far back as the 16th century, but on my mom's side, we can't find any records beyond my great-grandparents on the paternal side. My grandmother was adopted, so we're completely stymied there.

As for the importance of tracing a name--it's not a matter of wanting to change the past obviously, but it's fascinating to know what has shaped your family, and how your family may have affected historical events. I find it fascinating that my ancestors fought under Cromwell, that other members of the same family fled to Canada because they were loyal to George III, and that the spelling of our name has been unchanged since the 16th century.

[scarletwildfire.livejournal.com]

There's also a $500 (? - at least when Dad bought it for mom several years ago) Genealogy program for your 'puter. It's entitled something like 'Family Genealogy', if you want the actual name I'll ask the 'rents.

It searches shitloads of data bases an helps come up with all kinds of death records, birth records, marriages that kind of thing. It includes all the bells and whistles you can think of, as well.

Genealogy (though I don't personally have the time to devote) is somewhat a family project on my mother's side. We are lucky enough to have two different lines traced back 14 generations. Alas, my father's side is only into the great-great grandparents... and since an Aunt (whose whole family is Mormon) couldn't get any further with the Temple's help, I doubt I could ever do a better job.

Good luck - a lot of times it takes a ton of work, and perserverence to pull out new info and then you finally trace back to the place that would have more to discover they burned down 50-100 years ago.

[well-artesia.livejournal.com]

I think you can get 3 free days on Ancestry.com if you're new. I spent three solid (free) days on there last summer and learned a ton. Like that my maiden name isn't German/EasternEuropean - it's Dutch. And that I can trace my father's father's father's father (etcetc) back to the 1400's when they came here and were deeded a certain island just off what's now NYC. I'm related to the original non-native owners of Riker's Island... go fig!

Anyway - a lot of people have filled in a lot of info. You might want to give it a shot (at least for the free period.)