El inglés usado en Genealogía

[Ben Diaz]

Aqui tienen una lista de vocablos en inglés con su significado. Aunque ustedes siempre trabajen con el Castellano en algun momento se encontrarán con algunas de estas palabras en Inglés que tienen un significado distinto porque se usan asi en genealogia. Otras son tipicamente inglesas, por ejemplo, soundex.

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GENEALOGY GLOSSARY
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GENERAL TERMS >>

Record - Information about an event. Example: birth record.

Certificate - An official document typically issued by the government recording an event. Example: birth certificate.

Certified Copy - A copy of a document certified as a true copy of the original by some authority with a seal, signature, or stamp.

Collection - A compilation of records distinguished by source, record type, or other criteria.

Index - A list of records typically organized alphabetically. Indexes can be printed in book form, microfilm, microfiche, or found electronically on the web or CD-ROM.

Oral History - Facts, traditions, and stories passed from one generation to the next by word of mouth.

Primary Source - A first-hand account of a particular event. Primary sources may include: written letters, personal interviews, speeches, diaries, etc. Also known as an original source.

Secondary Source - A second-hand account of a particular event. Secondary sources interpret and summarize information based on primary sources and other secondary sources - not personal experience. Secondary sources may include: newspaper articles, television, websites, textbooks, etc.

Microfilm - Contains miniature copies of original documents on transparent film. This film is stored on reels and interpreted with a microfilm reader.

Microfiche - A sheet of microfilm with miniature copies original documents arranged in a grid pattern. This film is interpreted with a microfiche reader.

Circa - Estimated date. Example: circa 1940.

Soundex - A method used to group names that sound alike, but are spelled differently. Genealogists use Soundex to determine possible variants of an ancestor's surname, as it is not uncommon for spelling to change from generation to generation.

Double-Metaphone - A method used to group names by pronunciation. Designed as an improvement to Soundex and Metaphone, Double Metaphone is considered more precise and sophisticated than its predecessors.

Surname - Also known as last name or family name.

Immigrant - A person who moves from one country to another. Also known as an emigrant.

Occupation - Is the type of work that a person does. Example: carpenter. Also known as profession.

Deceased - A person that has passed away.

Decade - A period of ten years. The U.S. Census was taken every decade beginning in 1790.

Century - A period of one hundred years. Example 1800 to 1900.

Veteran - A person who has served on active duty in the armed forces and was discharged or released.

Pensioner - Someone who receives as pension fund. A pension is a benefit paid to a person for military service.


FAMILY TREE TERMS >>

Family Tree - Visualization of ancestry or pedigree. Recorded in GECOM file.

GEDCOM - A standard file format for genealogical information. An acronym for Genealogical Data Communication.

Family Group Sheet - A basic form containing information about one family unit (parents and children). Dates and locations of vital events like birth, marriage, and death typically included.

Pedigree Chart - A basic form that charts a person's family tree (siblings, parents, uncles, aunts, grandparents, great-grandparents, etc). Each new generation adds another branch to the tree. Also known as a Family Tree Chart.

Generation - People of approximately the same age, living at the same time.

Ancestor - A person you descended from. Also known as a progenitor.

Genealogy - The study of family history.

Brick-Wall - An obstacle or dead end in your family history research. Oftentimes a brick-wall is only a temporary setback.


RELATIONSHIP TERMS >>

Progeny - Descendants of a common ancestor.

Heir - Someone entitled to receive an inheritance. Inheritance may include: property, possessions, titles, etc.

Sibling - A person who shares at least one parent in common with you. Also known as a brother or sister.

Half Brother or Sister - A person who only shares one parent in common with you.

Step Brother or Sister - A stepparent's son or daughter (not a blood relative).

Spouse - A person that you marry. Also known as husband or wife.

Stepparent - A person that your mother or father marries that is not your biological parent (not a blood relative).

Stepson or daughter - A child your spouse conceived in a previous relationship (not a blood relative).

Son or Daughter-in-Law - The spouse of your son or daughter (not a blood relative).

Mother or Father-in-Law - The mother or father of your spouse (not a blood relative).

Paternal - Descending from your father's line.

Maternal - Descending from your mother's line.

Cousin - Your aunt or uncle's child. Your cousin has the same grandparents as you. Also known as a first cousin.

Second Cousin - The child of your first cousin once removed. Your second cousin has the same great-grandparents as you, but not the same grandparents. Likewise your third cousin has the same great-great grandparents as you, etc.

Removed - Describes people from different generations. Once removed means there is a gap of one generation; twice removed means there is a gap of two generations. Example: your cousin once removed is your parent's cousin.

Nephew or Niece - Your sibling's son or daughter.

Grand Nephew or Niece - Son or daughter of your nephew/niece.

Uncle or Aunt - Sister or brother of your parent.

Great Uncle or Aunt - Uncle or aunt of your parent.

Grandparent - Mother or father of your parent.

Great Grandparent - Mother or father of your grandparent.


TECHNICAL TERMS >>

Upload - Is to transfer a file from your home computer to remote location. Example: upload your GECOM to a website.

Download - Is to retrieve information from a remote location to transfer to your home computer. Example: download your GEDOM from a website to save or view on your home computer.

PDF - Acronym meaning Portable Document Format created by Adobe Systems. This electronic file format allows you to view and print historical documents easily.


RECORD TYPES >>

Public Record - Information recorded by local, state, or federal government agencies available to the public. Examples include: vital records and court records.

Vital Record - Records of important life events including birth, death, marriage, and divorce. Details may include: name, date of event, parents, and spouse.

Adoption Record - Record of the legal placement of a child with parents other than his or her own. These records are typically confidential.

Military Record - Record of a person's military service. Details may include: date of enlistment, rank, term of service, discharge date, death date (if applicable), awards/ honors, etc.

Census Record - The census is an official record of the population. The U.S. Federal Census was first taken in 1790, and has been taken every decade thereafter. U.S. Federal Census records are confidential for 72 years, so the latest census records available for public view are from 1930. Census record details may include: name, family members, age, state or country of birth, parents' birth places, year of immigration, address, marriage date and status, occupation, etc.

Passenger Record - Record of a person traveling on a ship from one country to another. Passenger records come from passenger lists which were submitted to customs officials. Passenger lists were required by the United States government starting in 1820. Details may include: name of passenger, port of departure, port of arrival, final destination, and name of ship.

Immigration Record - Record of a person who moves from one country to another. Details may include: name of immigrant, age, gender, departed country, final destination.

Naturalization Record - Naturalization is the process by which a foreigner can become an American citizen. There are several different types of naturalization records including: Declarations of Intention, Naturalization Petitions, Naturalization Depositions, and Certificates of Arrival. Details may include: name of person, age, birth place and year, immigration year, ship name and arrival port, signature.

Newspaper Record - Information about a person or event printed in a local, state, or country-wide newspaper publication. This could record an ancestor's personal achievement, participation in a club, activity, or other notable event.

Obituary Record - Record of a person's death. Obituaries typically are written by an immediate family member to commemorate the life of the deceased, and relay information about funeral arrangements to the community. These records are printed in local newspapers and may include: name of the deceased, death date, city/ state of residence, family members, notable achievements, date and place of funeral. Also known as an obit.

Church Record - Religious institutions keep official records about their congregations and important events like christenings, baptisms, marriages, and burials. Details may include: name of person, event type, date, location, name of church and/or parish, and witnesses.

Land Record - Indicates that a piece of property is owned by a particular person. Also known as a deed. Details may include: name of owner, location, purchase date and/or period of ownership.

Civil Record - A non-criminal government record which may be a vital record, adoption record, immigration record, etc.

Criminal Record - A government record related to a criminal infraction.

Probate Record - Court record relating to a deceased person's estate or will. Record may be a: will, estate inventory, list of heirs, etc.

Intestate - The condition of a deceased person's estate if no will was executed.


IMPORTANT COLLECTIONS >>

Social Security Death Index - A database created and maintained by the Social Security Administration containing over 85 million death records of individuals with U.S. social security numbers. The majority of records are from 1962 to present. Each record includes: name of deceased person, last residence, birth date, death date, state Social Security Number was issued in, social security number (depending on the source this may or may not be provided).

International Genealogical Index (IGI) - A database of millions of historical records of people living between 1500-1900, held by the Latter Day Saints Church (LDS). The IGI is a compilation of various public sources and contributions. The IGI is free to search at http://www.FamilySearch.org.

UKBMD Index - An index of birth, marriage, and death records from England and Wales from the General Register's Office (GRO). The index spans from 1837 to 2005. Information included in each record depends on the type of event and year recorded. Referencing the index record may assist researcher in ordering a certificate.


ORGANIZATIONS AND INSTITUTIONS >>

Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints - A church with headquarters in Salt Lake City, Utah with a growing world-wide presence. Also known as the LDS Church or Mormon Church. The religion puts special emphasis on genealogical research and has gone to extensive lengths to collect and maintain historical records, as well as make them available and easily accessible to the public. The LDS Church runs the Family History Library, the largest genealogy library in the world, and the website www.FamilySearch.org.

Family History Library - Located in Salt Lake City, Utah, this is the largest genealogical library in the world with records from over 100 countries. The library is run by the LDS Church. Public access is free. Branches of the library are called Family History Centers, of which there are over 4,500 operating world-wide. Your local Family History Center is a great source of historical records and genealogical information.

National Archives and Records Administration - The National Archives is an independent agency with headquarters located in Washington, D.C (acronym NARA). NARA is charged with keeping and preserving the nation's records. It houses important historical documents like the Constitution, Declaration of Independence, and Bill of Rights, as well as many collections of interest to family historians including: military records, immigration records, passenger lists, naturalization records, census records, photographs, and more. The official NARA website is http://www.archives.gov/.

National Genealogical Society - An organization begun in 1903 with a mission preserve and promote access to historical documents (acronym NGS). They hold the annual NGS Family History Conference. The NGS website is http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/.