This glossary defines terms used throughout the site. The goal is clarity, not jargon. Definitions reflect how words are used here, even when those uses differ slightly from academic or technical definitions.
Basic Genealogical Terms
Ancestor — A person from whom you are descended.
Descendant — A person who descends from a particular ancestor.
Lineage — The line of descent connecting generations within a family.
Surname — A family name passed through generations; also called a last name.
Structure & Organization
Family Hub — A central page for a surname that provides context, timelines, geographic anchors, and links to individuals and related families.
Nuclear Family — A household unit consisting of parents and their children. Used here as a structural lens, not a value judgment.
Extended Family — Relatives beyond the nuclear family, such as grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and in-laws.
Connected Families — Different surnames linked through marriage, migration, or shared community.
Records & Evidence
Primary Record — A document created close to the time of an event, such as a birth certificate or census record.
Secondary Source — A record or publication that interprets or summarizes earlier information.
Oral History — Family knowledge passed through memory, storytelling, or personal testimony.
Inference — A conclusion drawn from patterns, context, or probability rather than direct documentation.
Dates, Places & Movement
Approximate Date — A date range or estimate used when exact information is unavailable.
Jurisdiction — The administrative authority (county, parish, state, nation) responsible for creating a record.
Migration — Movement from one place to another, whether temporary or permanent.
Immigration — Migration that crosses national or political borders.
Narrative & Interpretation
Story — A narrative explanation built from evidence and context; not fiction.
Context — Historical, geographic, social, or cultural information used to explain records.
Pattern — Repeated behavior or information across time or generations that supports interpretation.
Privacy & Ethics
Living People Policy — Guidelines used to protect the privacy and dignity of living individuals.
Redaction — The intentional removal or summarization of sensitive information.
Stewardship — The responsibility to preserve family history thoughtfully and respectfully.
A Closing Note
If you encounter a term elsewhere on the site that is unclear or unfamiliar, this glossary may grow to include it. Clarity is part of the project’s responsibility.