The Year Ahead – December 9

In the January/February 2024 issue of Family Tree Magazine, they have introduced The Year Ahead, 366 genealogy tips will make 2024 your best research year yet by Lisa A Alzo. Lisa mapped out a day-by-day research plan.

December 9 – Debunk heraldry myths – and see if you really have a “family crest” – at www.familytreemagazine.com/heraldry/coat-of-arms-history-resources.

When I used to volunteer for a Genealogy Library, I remember one patron who came into the library saying how his family has a coat of arms that he purchased it from a store. I tried explaining how Coat of Arms really work, but he was having nothing of it.

Thus, if your ancestor had a coat of arms, and you are the proper heir to those arms, congratulations. As for the rest of us, if we are lucky, we might find a coat of arms for a person who shares a surname with us.

Remember to have fun and Just do Genealogy!