Establishing relationships
Document an unsuccessful search
Finding nothing is useful when the search scope is known. It prevents repetition and supports choosing another source without prematurely denying an event.
Read the guide ↗ROOT & GENEALOGY
Establishing relationships
A shared name does not prove a relationship. Build a timeline, compare clues and make conclusions traceable by citing the records you used.
Suggested route
- Separate people with the same name
- Study witnesses, neighbours and godparents
- Trace women in archival records
- Document an unsuccessful search
- Build a timeline and resolve conflicts
- Cite sources so evidence can be found again
- Historical dates and calendars
Your expected result
Your result is a reviewable conclusion with evidence, conflicts and open questions. Leave uncertain relationships unresolved and identify the record that could confirm or reject them.
Establishing relationships
Separate people with the same name
Matching first and last names are not enough to attach a record to an ancestor. Treat each candidate separately until several clues agree.
Read the guide ↗Establishing relationships
Cite sources so evidence can be found again
A useful citation lets another researcher locate the same record. It is also needed for negative findings or uncertain readings.
Read the guide ↗Establishing relationships
What to do when research stalls
A stalled search often involves scope, coverage or identity. Return to proven facts before searching every website.
Read the guide ↗Establishing relationships
Build a timeline and resolve conflicts
A timeline brings events and evidence together without hiding conflicts. It helps distinguish people and identify the next record to seek. Keep one row per statement, even for conflicting dates of one event.
Read the guide ↗Establishing relationships
Trace women in archival records
Name variations and household-head descriptions can obscure a woman’s life. Reconstruct it from several sources, preserving each name form in context.
Read the guide ↗Establishing relationships
Study witnesses, neighbours and godparents
A person’s network helps distinguish namesakes and interpret moves. It gains evidential value when independent records connect the same people.
Read the guide ↗Establishing relationships
Historical dates and calendars
Preserve a date as written before normalising it. Calendar, language and year conventions may explain differences between documents.
Read the guide ↗Establishing relationships
Austria: choose central or local archives
Choosing the repository comes before name searching. State Archives guidance identifies central administrative traces and distinguishes public career, parish records and residence. These needs do not necessarily lead to the same holder.
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