Category Archives: European Ancestors

Book Review – Son of Mine by Peter Papathanasiou

Posted on September 28, 2019 by

In this beautifully written memoir Peter Papathanasiou tells the story of two lives: his own, and that of his mother. From a starting point in modern Australia, the book reaches back to the period after the Second World War, focusing … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Reviews, Books, European Ancestors, Genealogy, Who Do You Think You Are? (WDYTYA?) Magazine | Leave a comment

Review of #FamilyTreeLive

Posted on May 31, 2019 by

I had hoped to get this review published earlier, but other deadlines and domestics I am afraid played a part in the delay. After a gap of a year in the UK without a significant genealogical show or event it … Continue reading →

Posted in #FamilyHistoryLive, European Ancestors, Genealogy, One-Name Studies, Presentations, Surnames | Leave a comment

European Ancestors – Britain and the European Union

Posted on May 28, 2019 by

Firstly, this is NOT a political post. It is simply, (if only it was!) a time frame in the history of Europe. I have no intention of sharing my personal vote in the Referendum in 2016 or in the EU Elections … Continue reading →

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European Ancestors – Portuguese Surnames

Posted on May 26, 2019 by

Rather similar to Spanish surnames, Portuguese ones are divided into: First names – Nomes Proprios Last names – Apelidos Last names are formed from surnames representing the heritage from both sides of the family. Such as: First names – Jose … Continue reading →

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European Ancestors – Regions of Unified Italy

Posted on May 26, 2019 by

Continuing with the migration of the European Ancestors material. Italy is divided into 20 regions. Those marked with * indicate they have a degree of autonomy and can enable legislation at a local level. The Country is broken down further … Continue reading →

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European Ancestors – Spanish Surnames

Posted on May 26, 2019 by

Continuing with the European Ancestors material. In Spain children typically are given their first name followed by two surnames. The first surname represents their father’s surname and the second represents their mother’s surname. Since 1999, the gender equality laws have … Continue reading →

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European Ancestors – Researching in Portugal

Posted on May 25, 2019 by

The obligation to keep church parish records began on 11 November 1563 following a session of the Council of Trent. There are three distinct phases of that researchers in Portugal should be aware of. Between 16th and the end of … Continue reading →

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European Ancestors – Surnames

Posted on May 25, 2019 by

If you are researching an European surname there is a chance you are capturing every instance of that surname wherever you locate it irrespective of whether it connects to your own family or not. The concept of examining the details … Continue reading →

Posted in European Ancestors, Genealogy, One-Name Studies, Pharos - Introduction to One-Name Studies course, Surnames | Leave a comment

European Ancestors – Channel Islands

Posted on May 24, 2019 by

The Channel Islands is made up of five different islands, each one represented by their own flag, as illustrated here. The islands are Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark and Herm. The islands are located in the English Channel close to the Normandy coastline … Continue reading →

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European Ancestors – Isle of Man

Posted on May 24, 2019 by

Most well known as the venue for the TT Motorsport races, the island is located in the North Sea between Great Britain and Ireland The Isle of Man is a British Crown Dependency, which is self governing, however, Britain is … Continue reading →

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