Enrollment options
Optional Print Course Material: Eastern European: Problem Solving
*Course material will only be sent to students who are registered in the course.
This course focuses on six of the most common Eastern European genealogy research problems and the methods to solve them. We will begin with the issue of names and the problem of spelling. Next, we will address the problems of identifying the name of the ancestral town or village and locating places those places using current borders. Then, we will review the issue of records access (especially how to acquire records that are not online) and address the challenges of reading records in unfamiliar languages. Finally, we will discuss the basics of what it means when your DNA test results indicate Eastern European ancestry.
Course Length: 7 weeks
MODULE 1
GETTING THE ANCESTOR’S NAME RIGHT
Why Spelling Counts
Determining an Ancestor’s Original Name
Surname Research Basics
How to Overcome Name Obstacles
Three Categories of Name Changes
Resources for Researching Names
Polish Surnames / Naming Patterns
Czech & Slovak Surnames / Naming Patterns
Hungarian Surnames
Russian Surnames
Ukrainian Names
Jewish Names
Name Changes—Myths, Misconceptions & Misnomers
Ellis Island Name Change Myth
Search Tips
Recommended Reading & Resources
MODULE 2
THEY CAME FROM WHERE? PROBLEMS WITH PERPLEXING PLACE NAMES
Why are place names so perplexing?
Best Sources for Finding a Town/Village Name
“Hit or Miss” Records
Other Resources
Tracking Down Fellow Villagers
Tips to Make Sure You Have the Right Location
Recommended Reading & Resources
MODULE 3
WHERE IS THAT? RECONCILING CURRENT & HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY
General Guidance
Dealing with Multiple Places Which One is Correct?
Determining Name Variations
Missing Villages
Shifting Borders & Ancestral Migration
Old versus Present-day Place Names
Old Magyar (Hungarian) Place Names
Place Name Conversion Tips
JewishGen
Recommended Reading & Resources
MODULE 4
WHY CAN’T I FIND THE RECORDS?
Where are Eastern European records located?
Use the Resources of the Family History Library
How to Get Records When They’re Not Online
Write to Archives
Visit the Archive
Missing or Incomplete Records How to Handle Gaps & Conflicts
Finding Records of Yesterday in Today’s Eastern Europe
Recommended Reading & Resources
MODULE 5
WHAT DOES THIS SAY? READING FOREIGN RECORDS
Overview of Languages
Paragraph vs. Columnar Records
Languages of Jewish Records
How to Dissect Key Eastern European Records (Paragraph vs. Columnar)
Column Headers
Recommended Reading & Resources
MODULE 6
WHAT TO DO WITH DNA RESULTS
My DNA Test Results Indicate Eastern European—Now What?
Ethnicity Estimates
Reference Panels by Company
Brief Comparison of Tests & Testing Companies
Merging DNA Results with Your Genealogy Paper Trail
Recommended Reading & Resources