One of the most interesting about researching your genealogy tree is to discover your family name history. It has only been in the last few centuries that people have actually used a last name. Tracing your roots frequently identifies changes in spelling and even complete changes in our family's last name for a variety of reasons. Some are as simple as an extra or missing "t" in the name. Some are far more complex. Someone in your ancestry may have decided to change the name completely because of religious or ethnic persecution. All of these changes create a real problem for someone trying to search for their ancestry.
Another phenomenon that we see in genealogy, when we search for our roots, is the fact that frequently the same first name appears generation after generation. The name does not always go from father to son, but might reappear in a cousin's lineage. These family names are carried through generations as a sign of respect for both living relatives as well as important individuals in your ancestry.
Take the time to review the names that are in your family's genealogy records and try to find those missing elements. Trace the history behind the names that you find in your search for your roots and the important individuals that make your family what it is today. Have a look at my "Name Origins" page to learn about a few key tools that will help you research your heritage.
