Latin for Genealogists

Important notice: The ME-205 Latin for Genealogists course is a mandatory Methodology course and a prerequisite to ME-302 - Palaeography: Reading and Understanding Historical Documents as of 1 January 2025. All students who have not finished the full Intermediate Methodology Certificate by 12-31-24 will need to add this course to your program. For those who have completed Basic and Intermediate Methodology Certificate, the course will be an elective option.

Optional Print Course Material: Latin for Genealogists

*Course materials will only be sent to students who are registered in the course. 

Latin is a complex language. Why learn a “dead” language? Genealogists experience Latin through historical documents. The surprise to most learning a language not used conversationally is how much Latin is used still today in business, medical, and legal documents.

Though you’ll learn what you need for historical research, enjoy how Latin enhances and helps you understand business, legal, medical, and scientific terminology in today’s modern world, too. One more benefit, Latin is the foundational language to many still spoken. Understanding basic terms means your sleuthing skills in Latin-based languages like French, Italian, Portuguese, and Romanian. There are others in the Romance Languages. But you’ll be closer to solving brick walls with this arrow in your quiver.

This course provides guidance and introduces  basic written Latin, as well as an understanding of sentence structure. A number of word guides are provided and aid in the comprehension of how Latin words are used sentences. Example entries of Latin documents from different countries are shown along with transcriptions and translations. Be sure to study these  samples for familiarity.