Common Mistakes in Genealogy – and How to Avoid Them

Common mistakes in genealogy and how to avoid them to build a solid and reliable family tree.

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Genealogy attracts more and more amateurs, curious to reconstruct their family history. But like any discipline, it requires method, rigor, and critical thinking. However, it is easy to fall into certain classic mistakes that can distort entire branches of a family tree.

In this article, we review the most frequent mistakes – and most importantly, we explain how to avoid them to turn your research into a true genealogist's work.

1. Not Starting with What You Already Know

Before even opening a register, many beginner genealogists forget to capitalize on what already exists: family memories, annotated photos, family books, administrative papers.

👇 How to avoid this mistake?
Always start by interviewing your relatives and gathering all family documents. You will save precious time and avoid going in the wrong direction.

2. Moving Too Quickly Back in Time

The excitement of the beginning often leads to rushing through generations... without consolidating the foundations.

👇 Good practice:
Proceed generation by generation. Try to validate each piece of information and each family link with at least two matching sources: birth, marriage, death certificates, censuses, etc.

3. Blindly Trusting Online Trees

Collaborative platforms are a goldmine... but also a minefield. Errors spread quickly from one tree to another, especially in the absence of sources.

👇 Expert advice:
Use online trees as indicators, never as proof. Always cross-check with official archives.

4. Forgetting Name Variants – Orthographic Changes

A "Lefèvre" can also be called "Lefèbvre", "Le Febvre", "Lefébure", or have changed their name during immigration. Name spellings evolve by region and over time, especially before the standardization of records.

👇 How to adapt?
Record all orthographic variations you encounter and be flexible in your searches to explore regional or phonetic variants.

5. Neglecting Women in Lines

By tradition, some genealogies focus solely on the patronymic line... risking ignoring half of the family history.

👇 Why is this a mistake?
Maternal lines are often rich in stories, migrations, inheritances. They bring valuable depth to your family history.

6. Misinterpreting Records

A forgotten word, an identical first name, a misread date... and an entire branch collapses.

👇 The method:
Take the time to read, reread, and have others review. Compare records with each other. Do not hesitate to ask for help on specialized forums and to train in paleography.

7. Not Documenting Your Research

Hours spent in archives... and no trace of the sources? This mistake will one day prevent you from verifying, correcting, or sharing your data.

👇 Our recommendation:
Systematically note the source of each piece of information. Use a source manager (like on Geneafinder!) to keep everything in order. Also use Geneafinder's printables – free templates to download and print – to keep track of your research.

8. Thinking Genealogy is an Exact Science

An ancestor can disappear, lie about their age, change identity. All families have their mysteries. And not all archives have survived over time.

👇 Final advice:
Stay curious, but humble. Genealogy is a patient quest that tolerates doubt and accepts areas of uncertainty.

Conclusion: Become an Enlightened Genealogist

Avoiding these mistakes means gaining rigor, pleasure, and reliability. By following these best practices, you will build a solid genealogical tree that you will be proud to pass on.

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