7 Family History Questions: Discovering Your Roots and Heritage

Have you ever wondered about your ancestors? Where they came from, what their lives were like, and what challenges they faced?

It’s a shame to miss out on your family’s story. Your ancestors’ experiences may have valuable insights into who you are. Just think of the stories you could uncover and the connections you could make. Below, we’ll explore seven key questions to ask yourself as you start your genealogy research.

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Essential factors for crafting family history questions

Multiple factors can play into heritage questions to ask your family members:

• Generational gaps: The most important factor to be mindful of is the generational gap between you and your elderly relatives. The boundaries on acceptable topics have changed over the years, and beginning with a sensitive could start the interview on the wrong foot.
• Emotional fatigue: Start with easy questions and get a feel for what the interviewee is going to be willing to discuss. Some memories can be especially painful, so break the interview into multiple sessions to avoid emotional fatigue. You can also allow the relative to decline to answer sensitive questions — you’re not interrogating them after all.
• Question scope: I once asked my maternal grandfather — who served in the Philippines at the end of World War II — If they still had horses in the 1st Cavalry Division. Having asked a yes or no question, I got an answer it kind without elaboration. As an interviewer, you should frame your questions so they are open-ended. Yes or no alternatives only produce yes or no answers.
• Active listening: Finally, be an active listener and notice when the interviewee goes of on a tangent. Also, allow them to direct the conversation to places you may not have thought about — you may learn a fact you didn’t know about.

7 foundational family history questions

1. Do you know the names and birthdays of your parents and siblings?

The first bits of information you are seeking when you start a family tree are the names and dates of relatives from recent living memory. You can collect in an interview by asking:

These are yes or no questions, but you can immediately follow them up with more detailed ones based on the answers.

2. Did anyone in the family come from a culture or ethnic heritage that stood out from the norm of that time and place?

I have found that many of the stories claiming “Native American” ancestry to be untrue after trying to verify them with documentation and DNA tests. I think the family members actually believed the stories, but they didn’t hold up under further research.

3. Where was our family from before we came here?

You may come across some great stories about ships crossing the ocean to bring hopeful immigrants to the land of opportunity, or you may find fascinating stories about the Oregon and California wagon Trails.

You can also supplement this question with the following:

• Do you know why we ended up in this area?
• What caused our ancestors to leave where they were?

4. Can you recall who if any of our ancestors took part in a historically significant event?

It’s amazing where this questions can lead. A lot of supporting characters played an important role in history, aside from those we read about in books. Some descendants I interviewed had no idea their ancestor was involved in moments that changed the country or the world.

You can also supplement this question with the following:

• Did any of our relatives fight in the American Civil War?
• Do you know which side they fought for and what their role was in the war?
• How about other wars?

5. Do you know of or have a family Bible or other document where names and dates of relatives are recorded?

Even if your interviewee doesn’t have these, they may be able to at least verify their existence and possibly even give you clues as to where they may have ended up.

» Learn more about researching in diaries and journals

6. Which if any of our relatives were wealthy and/or influential?

I have found ancestors in my family tree who lost all their wealth for one reason or another, to the point where their descendants would never have guessed that they were wealthy. Even small business ownership can provide enough information about an ancestor and increase the probability they appear in other records and historical accounts.

You can also supplement the question with the following:

• Which if any of our relatives owned their own businesses and what were they?

7. Was anyone divorced or adopted, went to prison, was murdered or murdered someone, etc.?

Your relative may be willing to share a tidbit of information that was long held secret, or they may be bent on taking these stories to their grave. Oftentimes, curiosity wins the day — giving you enough information to help your research.

I also like to ask my interviewees what individuals who have passed on were like. It’s much more valuable to learn those details specific to them and their relatives in the context of the events they lived through; those details that exist nowhere else but in their heads.

Note: I always transcribe and attest to my interviews, date them, and have them notarized for authentication purposes. I figured this would be valuable after coming into the possession of several genealogical “notes” supposedly written by certain ancestors.

How to balance generic and in-depth questions

Effective genealogy research requires flexibility and adaptability. While you can prepare generic questions and follow-ups, be ready to ask unexpected questions based on your conversations.

By actively listening to your interviewees, you can identify opportunities for deeper exploration. For example, when asking my grandmother about meeting my grandfather, I followed up on details she mentioned, leading to new insights I hadn’t anticipated.

Start your journey to unexpected findings

My research has yielded surprising discoveries: homicides, relatives with criminal records, and even a possible connection to George Washington. I have used DNA analysis to uncover illegitimate children, while old newspapers have helped me discover other family secrets.

Platforms like MyHeritage have been a companion all throughout my genealogy research. By digitizing government records, they make it easier and more affordable to explore family histories. While traditional methods like travel and library research remain valuable, you can save a lot of time by using these platforms.