Ascendant vs Descendant Genealogy: Which Method to Choose?

Explore the differences between ascendant and descendant genealogy and their benefits to choose the best approach.

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In genealogy, two main methods structure our research: ascendant genealogy, which involves tracing the line of one's ancestors, and descendant genealogy, which allows exploring the lineage of a given ancestor. These approaches are complementary, but their goals and benefits are very different.

In this article, we help you choose the method that suits your project... or to combine both!

Ascendant Genealogy: Tracing the Origin of Your Roots

What is it?

Ascendant genealogy starts with a reference person (you, a parent, a grandparent), also called the "root person," and traces back generation by generation to ancestors: parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, etc. It follows an inverted triangle tree that gradually widens.

The Benefits

• Easy to start : you often begin with information already known in the family.
• Clear structure : each generation theoretically doubles the number of individuals, which makes the method easier.
• Historical perspective : this approach provides insight into your social, geographical, and cultural origins.

The Limits

• Exponential volume : the further back you go, the more ancestors you need to research.
• Archive blockages : gaps or lack of old documents can slow down research.

Descendant Genealogy: Finding Cousins... and Creating Bonds

What is it?

Descendant genealogy starts with an ancestor or identified couple, and traces down through their children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren... up to the present day. The goal is to reconstruct the entire lineage of an ancestor.

The Benefits

• Finding distant cousins : this is the ideal method to reconnect forgotten family branches or organize family gatherings.
• Exploring the history of a lineage : descendant genealogy sheds light on the trajectory of a name, a family, or a property.
• Creating a living connection : it can lead to exchanges, document or photo sharing, or even family meetings.

The Limits

• Meticulous work : a single ancestor from the 19th century can have hundreds of descendants.
• Scattered sources : you often need to cross-reference data from multiple locations and families.
• Limited recent sources : finding information about living descendants can be more time-consuming and complex.

Some Concrete Examples

• Do you want to discover the origin of your last name? Ascendant genealogy will guide you to the first traces of your surname lineage.
• You found a couple of ancestors born in the 19th century and wonder how many descendants they have today? Start descendant research to follow the evolution of this branch... and perhaps discover living cousins!

Which Method to Choose?

• Start with ascendant genealogy if you are a beginner or want to explore your origins.
• Prefer descendant genealogy if you are looking to find cousins, conduct a collaborative family project, or write the story of a notable ancestor.

In any case, you can combine both: trace several generations back in ascendancy, then explore a descent from a key couple.

👍With Geneafinder, both are possible! Your family history awaits on Geneafinder.  

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