Family Tree Research + Family Ancestry by Dana

Some 25 years ago, I heeded the call of family tree research. I knew almost nothing about my ancestors beyond my grandparents' generation. Little did I know how thrilling it would be to discover the long lineages from which I come. There is a true feeling of belonging when you become familiar with those who lived before you.

For those who may be related to me, I've compiled this list of immediate family surnames. I love to collaborate with other genealogists whose research coincides with mine.

All of my family trees can be found on Ancestry.ca. 

Genealogy research is made all the more challenging when there are adoptions. Very often adoptions were kept secret. Sometimes a different family member raised a child as their own or children were placed in homes to await a new family. This was the case for my father. 

Thanks to the arrival of DNA testing, it is now easier (but not easy) than ever to find biological families. DNA results paired with traditional family tree research can offer us whole new insights.

I started the search for my dad's biological family in 2012, four years after my dad's death, with an application to the Children's Aid Society of Ontario. I received back heavily redacted documents concerning his adoption in 1934. The next step was to take an Ancestry DNA test. I asked my mother and younger brother to participate in order that I might have DNA to compare against.

Once the results were back, I set about creating mirror family trees on Ancestry using what little information I could glean from the government documents and the DNA results.

Since then, I have spent many hours researching, digging, and querying wherever the trail led me. I spent a considerable amount of money on DNA experts because, honestly, I never could understand how it all worked.

I am so pleased to have discovered a family history that was otherwise lost to me.

Of Interest: My Irish Catholic O'Donnell lineage changed their surname to MacDonald around 1870