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While more than 7 out of 10 French people say they are interested in their roots and many try to trace back to the origins of their family tree, have you ever wondered what the origins of genealogy are?
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The Larousse defines genealogy as the “science that deals with the search for origins and the study of the composition of families.” Has this always been the case?
Because genealogy is one of the oldest sciences and present in many cultures, its origin is inseparable from religions and the first gods.
The work “Theogony” by the Greek poet Hesiod, which provides an account of the origin of the gods, is considered by some as one of the foundational works of genealogy. Just like the Iliad and the Odyssey, which recount the family ties of gods and mortal humans and lay the foundation for Greek mythology.
Also, Confucius, born on September 28, 551 BC, was the starting point of a descendant genealogy counting more than 80 generations and 2 million people. This family tree is today recognized as the largest genealogical tree in the world.
Later, the Bible, in the Book of Genesis, attempts to prove the family ties between God’s chosen ones and Adam. It also includes a list of Noah’s descendants with the Table of Nations as well as the lineage between Jesus and King David within the Family Tree of Jesse, an artwork recognized as one of the first representations of a genealogical tree with branches and a trunk.
This principle of family lists can be found in many civilizations, such as the Vikings, the Egyptians (with the List of Abydos - an engraving listing the 76 predecessors of Seti I), the Romans (who kept records of lineages within each family clan), and the Arabs who sought to establish a link with the prophet Muhammad.
The main idea behind these genealogies was mostly to legitimize a religion, a deity, a leader, or even a people.
During the Middle Ages, the Christian Church spread a new type of genealogy, hagiographical genealogy, or the recounting of the lives of saints. Thus, clerics associated saints with kings to ensure their influence. At this time, the Family Tree of Jesse was still used to represent familial relationships. The study of family ties was all the more important as Christian canon law forbade marriage between blood relatives, which led to the creation of the first baptism, marriage (and consanguinity dispensations), and burial registers.
For many years, genealogy was primarily useful for guaranteeing nobles a “nobility of blood” and thus their right to enjoy privileges. As noble titles were verified during nobility reforms, they had to prove the titles of their ancestors over several generations to avoid fines. In 1595, the position of Genealogist of the King’s Orders was created, which grouped experts in charge of authenticating noble genealogies. Another interest in justifying a noble lineage: the hereditary transmission of titles and tax privileges. This interest would later lead genealogy to be qualified as “a science occupied with flattering vanities and preserving a perishable social order, an inheritable legacy of the centuries of obscurantism” by the encyclopedists of the Age of Enlightenment.
At the same time, Pierre d’Hozier, a man of Marseilles origin, became Judge of Arms of France – that is, a royal officer in charge of certifying nobility. Like a noble title, he passed this role on to his descendants. French genealogist, he is considered as one of those who made genealogy a science. Through his position and among other things, he wrote the Genealogy of the Principal Families of France (in 150 volumes!).
But with the French Revolution, the tone changes and genealogy is somewhat discredited as noble titles were given to anyone who could buy them. This science fell more or less into oblivion while, in parallel, civil registers became increasingly rigorous and accessible. It was not until the end of the 19th century that genealogy was practiced again, but still mainly by the bourgeois population.
Nowadays and since the mid-20th century, genealogy is a pastime that has become more democratic, a passion for many. It is practiced for the pleasure of the investigation, for history, to better understand oneself, or for the many discoveries to be made. Whether you are an investigative genealogist, a collector genealogist, an amateur or professional genealogist, the search for one’s family roots and filling out one’s family tree are activities accessible to all today.
Note that religion is still present in genealogy today. This is the case for the Mormons (Family Search) who baptize their dead and, as a result, have been digitizing and compiling world archives for several decades now.the digitization and compilation of global archives. These archives are available online for many people.
Today, the resources available to us are numerous and accessible on the Internet, which greatly facilitates the research of genealogists. Genealogy associations play an important role as they provide registers (often indexed) and other publications on local history – enough to advance a bit more in the discovery of the daily life of our ancestors.
And you, why are you interested in genealogy?