Genealogy Research
Genealogy Research entails the compiling of all basic genealogical data about one's ancestry. Its aim is to produce a chart including all of a person's ancestors, and then to continue with a detailed search on some of them. Thus, Genealogy Research precedes Family History Research. As the main archival source for Genealogy Research, parish and civil registration registers are generally used.
The primary genealogical documents (birth/baptism, marriage and death records) give basic facts about ancestors and their area of residence, and provide the ground work for a description of one's family history.
It is normally possible to trace Czech or Slovak ancestors with relative reliability back to 1700, and in some instances even further. To begin the search, it is necessary to have at least one reference point (at least the place of birth, marriage or death of one of your ancestors). Dates do not need to be precise. The most important pieces of information are the location and the religion. However, the place must fall within the area of the Czech or Slovak Republics for us to be able to assist you in your search.

The final product of Genealogical Research is the Family Tree.
painted Family Tree from the 18th century


There are several methods as to how to proceed in creating the Family Tree.



A. Making Pedigree (Ancestry) Chart

The objective with a Pedigree or Ancestry Chart is to trace all the direct ancestors of one person, through both the male and female lines. Direct ancestors´ siblings are not included. This chart is completed backwards, from a single known person (descendant) in the present time, to unknown persons (ancestors) in the past. Thus this format is ascending in nature. It shows each set of parental couples and increases exponentially as you move backwards in time. In each generation, the number of ancestors is double the number of the previous generation.
If "n" equals the number of a generation (n=1 being the generation of the starting person, n=2 the generation of his/her parents, n=3 of grandparents etc.), then the total number of direct ancestors in the "nth" generation is " 2n-1" and the total number of persons mentioned in the chart from the 1st to the nth generation is " 2n - 1 ". If there are any people in the chart who were related, but then married each other, we would then find a decrease in the total number of ancestors. The Pedigree (Ancestry) Chart helps to prove a person´s line of descent, and to create a genetic study.
See the diagram of Pedigree (Ancestry) Chart below :

Pedigree (Ancestry) Chart



B. Making Descendant Chart on one direct line

A Descendant Chart on one direct line shows the direct male-line ancestors only (father, grandfather, great-grandfather, etc.), including their families (wives, brothers and sisters). However, this chart does not take any interest in the descendants of the other family members. Of course, it is also possible to concentrate specifically on a female ancestral line. This format also works its way backwards and is therefore ascending. When this process is complete, we have reached the earliest known ancestor (the progenitor). This chart can be used in the description of a family history, but not of an ancestral history, because the Descendant Chart includes only one ancestral branch from all of the lines included in the Extended Descendant Chart.
See the diagram of Descendant Chart on one direct line below :

Descendant Chart on one direct line

[ ] = male O = female [#] = direct male-line ancestor



C. Making Extended Descendant Chart on all lines

An Extended Descendant Chart on all lines is completed forwards, from the earliest known ancestor (the progenitor) to all of his descendants (with their spouses) in the present time. The progenitor is a direct ancestor in the direct male-line (i.e., generally a person holding the ancestral surname). This chart can include either all descendants in the male or female line (with their spouses) or all traceable descendants. If it concerns only the descendants in the male line, then their main common attribute will be their uniform surname. This format therefore shows all the collateral ancestral branches coming down from a single couple at the top. It flows in a descending manner. There is a possibility that some related descendants might marry each other and then we would find a decrease in the number of descendants. The Extended Descendant Chart may be used in the description of an ancestry history, as well as in genetic and demographic studies.

See the diagram of Extended Descendant Chart on all lines below :
Extended Descendant Chart on all lines

[ ] = male O = female



D. Making Kin Chart

The completion of a Kin Chart is the most challenging project. It includes Descendant Charts on all lines of all direct ancestors in both the male and female lines. Thus, the work begins with the compilation of an Ancestry Chart and continues with the construction of Descendant Charts on all lines of all branches of the Ancestry Chart. The Kin Chart includes all of the descendants coming down from the many different family couples at the tops of all the Descendant Charts in all lines. It allows you to discover all of the people who are related to the starting person. The Kin Chart may be used in describing and comparing the many ancestral histories, and in genetic and demographic studies. But this type of chart is not commonly used because it is a vast undertaking.