Category Archives: A-Z Challenge

H is for History

Posted on April 9, 2025 by Julie Goucher

Our Genealogical pursuits are underpinned with the history relevant to the country where our ancestors hailed from, and also by wider current affairs. Our people, much like us today did not live in isolation. They, as we are, were affected … Continue reading →

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G is for Groups and Societies

Posted on April 8, 2025 by Julie Goucher

The range of material that is key to unravelling our family histories is quite astounding. In the modern world with the commercial organisations holding rafts of data it is easy to believe that the material has always been available in … Continue reading →

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F is for Family

Posted on April 7, 2025 by Julie Goucher

Let me start by asking what is Family? Is the definition that you might find in a dictionary consistent? Has the meaning changed over the years? Has it broadened or As any former student of the One-Name Studies courses knows … Continue reading →

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E is for Europe

Posted on April 5, 2025 by Julie Goucher

Researching European ancestry is many things, from frustrating, saddening, exciting, challenging, and many other emotions. I tutor the Researching Ancestors in Continental Europe course for Pharos Tutors which starts in May 2025.  The course which runs over five weeks is … Continue reading →

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D is for Directories

Posted on April 4, 2025 by Julie Goucher

Directories enables us to see a snapshot in time, whether that is a home or a business address. If you look at the image here which shows three directories from Guildford in Surrey, representing 1953, 1955 and 1963. I casually … Continue reading →

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C is for Culture

Posted on April 3, 2025 by Julie Goucher

On the face of it culture might not have relevance to genealogy or family history. Frequently and more important in our ever changing world, things that are central to our heritage fade into the past. Replicated by the passing of … Continue reading →

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B is for Borders

Posted on April 2, 2025 by Julie Goucher

Borders  are easy to cross and frequently invisible.  They are consistently impacted by a multitude of factors, with those factors being variable, depending on perception or wider implications. In essence, borders is not a topic for which there is black … Continue reading →

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A is for Alphabet

Posted on April 1, 2025 by Julie Goucher

One of the challenges genealogists encounter is the spelling of names, surnames and places. The challenge rather depends on several things. People write what they think they hear, which is impacted by unfamiliarity of accents, dialects and other languages Challenging the … Continue reading →

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Announcing A-Z Challenge 2025 #AZChallenge

Posted on March 11, 2025 by Julie Goucher

I frequently teach and present on surnames and researching in Europe, but rather than be specific on either of those topics or others I present on, this year the A-Z theme is going to be focused on: Research considerations Resources … Continue reading →

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Zeal about Surnames #AZChallenge

Posted on April 30, 2024 by Julie Goucher

I am hopeful that the various posts over the course of the A-Z Challenge, which has been about surnames, surname research and registering a One-Name Study has been enjoyable and given you plenty of scope for ideas and thoughts. You … Continue reading →

Posted in A-Z Challenge 2024 - | 4 Comments