How far back can family histories be traced? Not for us, but for other people.

[viper37]

Up to Adam&Eve. 

But there's some confusion from there to a more recent period, so with absolute certainty, only to the first of my family who emigrated to New France in the 17th century.

I'm probably also related, through my mother's side to Étienne Brulé, the first European to see the shores of the Great Lakes.  The French and English texts differs on the way he died, the only thing sure is he was killed by Hurons who thought him to be a traitor.

[garbon]

Up to Adam&Eve. 

But there's some confusion from there to a more recent period, so with absolute certainty, only to the first of my family who emigrated to New France in the 16th century.

I'm probably also related, through my mother's side to Étienne Brulé, the first European to see the shores of the Great Lakes.  The French and English texts differs on the way he died, the only thing sure is he was killed by Hurons who thought him to be a traitor.

I bet you are descended from Lilith.

[Josquius]

I don't know anyone personally, but I read that some of the Irish nobility are able to trace their ancestry back to about 500 BC.  Prior to the arrival of Christianity, though, their geneology would have been rememberd through oral history, so it's hard to know how accurate those ancestors are.

I find that a bit hard to believe given that even in the first millenium the Irish kings are legendary. Checking wikipedia (I know, I know, but its quick and generally isn't totally bollocks), the first confirmed one doesn't pop up until 846 AD.


I have trouble going back even into the 19th century. My family was(/is) mostly pretty poor and insignificant. I only have vague ideas of people who may have been my ancestors in the distant past via my rare family name and the history surrounding that- but it could well be that my ancestors are nothing to do with the minor nobles who originated the name and were just peasents originally from that village who decided to use it as a surname when they went off elsewhere.
I am interested in tracing it more properly but don't have the money, transport and access to do so. One thing I did discover quite recently from my grandad though which I was not aware of was that my great grandad changed the spelling of my name from a far cooler variant to its current form because he thought it sounded common.


Thinking about this- trying to look at it from a maths angle.
There used to be a few thousand people, now there are a few million people. Therefore it stands to reason that if a famous historical person had a bunch of kids and you know his line survived for a few generations before you begin to lose track of them all (i.e. they most likely have descendants in the modern day) then the chances are quite decent that they could well be your ancestor somehow.
You do after-all have 2 parents, 4 grandparents, 8 great grandparents, etc.....

[The Brain]

You do after-all have 2 parents, 4 grandparents, 8 great grandparents, etc.....

See: Kentucky

[Caliga]

Thinking about this- trying to look at it from a maths angle.
There used to be a few thousand people, now there are a few million people. Therefore it stands to reason that if a famous historical person had a bunch of kids and you know his line survived for a few generations before you begin to lose track of them all (i.e. they most likely have descendants in the modern day) then the chances are quite decent that they could well be your ancestor somehow.
You do after-all have 2 parents, 4 grandparents, 8 great grandparents, etc.....

I think that nearly everyone alive today is descended from *somebody* famous/noble/whatever, so people's claims about this sort of thing don't impress me, though I guess they can sometimes be mildly interesting.

[Caliga]

You do after-all have 2 parents, 4 grandparents, 8 great grandparents, etc.....

See: Kentucky

[Valmy]

There used to be a few thousand people, now there are a few million people. Therefore it stands to reason that if a famous historical person had a bunch of kids and you know his line survived for a few generations before you begin to lose track of them all (i.e. they most likely have descendants in the modern day) then the chances are quite decent that they could well be your ancestor somehow.

True and the entire game of family histories is to discover how.

The knowledge that I am most definitely descended from Charlemagne somehow is not very interesting...if I know who all those people are that I am descended from him through...well then that is good stuff.

[Valmy]

I think that nearly everyone alive today is descended from *somebody* famous/noble/whatever, so people's claims about this sort of thing don't impress me, though I guess they can sometimes be mildly interesting.

I think you are sort of missing the point

Heck even being the son or grandson of somebody famous doesn't make me any better (though I would have the privlege of knowing them and maybe inheriting some of their property).

The entire point is simply to make that journey through history and get to meet these people and know a bit about their stories and their lives.  It is just an interesting and personal way to explore history not to show that you are the 1,657th in line to the Duke of Lancaster.

[Caliga]

Didn't I say that I find it interesting in my reply?

[Valmy]

Didn't I say that I find it interesting in my reply?

Didn't I say you are only sort of missing the point?

[Savonarola]

I don't know anyone personally, but I read that some of the Irish nobility are able to trace their ancestry back to about 500 BC.  Prior to the arrival of Christianity, though, their geneology would have been rememberd through oral history, so it's hard to know how accurate those ancestors are.

I find that a bit hard to believe given that even in the first millenium the Irish kings are legendary.

I got it from Peter Berresford Ellis book "The Celts."  I haven't tried to verify it through more research.

[Neil]

I wonder if Siegebreaker knows who his Russian ancestor is?

[Sheilbh]

The mother of a friend of mine is from some very old Venetian-Maltese family.  Apparently they can trace themselves back to the Paleologi.

[Valmy]

The mother of a friend of mine is from some very old Venetian-Maltese family.  Apparently they can trace themselves back to the Paleologi.

When Jaron restores the Byzantine Empire it will be nice to know who he can put on the throne of Constantine.

[jimmy olsen]

I think that nearly everyone alive today is descended from *somebody* famous/noble/whatever, so people's claims about this sort of thing don't impress me, though I guess they can sometimes be mildly interesting.

I think you are sort of missing the point

Heck even being the son or grandson of somebody famous doesn't make me any better (though I would have the privlege of knowing them and maybe inheriting some of their property).

The entire point is simply to make that journey through history and get to meet these people and know a bit about their stories and their lives.  It is just an interesting and personal way to explore history not to show that you are the 1,657th in line to the Duke of Lancaster.

But what if your neighbor is 1,657th in line to be the Duke of York?  He could be plotting against you right now!