What Is Genealogy
Genealogy is the science of kinship and family origins. Its aim is to gather, verify and connect data about ancestors and descendants across generations.
Genealogy or family history
Genealogy (from the Greek genea - family, and logos - word, science) studies kinship and family origins. It is often equated with family history, but the two are not the same: genealogy primarily establishes who is whose ancestor or descendant, while family history more broadly encompasses the way of life, occupations, events and stories that shaped a family over time.
Why people research their roots
The reasons vary: a desire to know one's identity and heritage, a gift to family and future generations, a historical interest in the time and region where ancestors lived, or the need to preserve what time would otherwise erase. Researching roots often brings unexpected discoveries and connects generations who never met.
Sources in Croatia
Croatia offers rich sources: parish registers of births, marriages and deaths, archdiocesan and diocesan archives, parish archives, the Croatian state and local archives, census records, military records, land registers and urbaria. Most parish registers date from the 17th and 18th centuries, and their preservation depends on the individual parish and historical circumstances.
What the research process looks like
Research moves from the known toward the unknown - from what the family already knows, step by step backward, verifying every detail against the original document. The limits of research are usually the 17th or 18th century, depending on the preservation of parish registers and sources for a given region.
What a family tree is
There are two forms: a chart - a clear, graphic representation of kinship - and an artistically crafted tree - a hand-drawn, illustrated work that makes the tree a framed heirloom for the home or a family gathering. Both rest on the same verified data, but differ in purpose and craft.
What you should prepare
The more data you have at the start, the deeper the research goes: names and surnames of ancestors, dates and places of birth, old documents and certificates, photographs, family stories and legends. Sometimes the smallest detail - a nickname, a trade, a house number - opens the door to generations back.