Ancestry

Maps, atlases, and gazetteers are essential tools for genealogists. Maps can be topographical (emphasizing land forms) or historical (emphasizing historical events), though either type can show cultural features, such as the town and creek names that are so important for research. Tell us in the comments below where this map is from and discover more in the Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers Collections on Ancestry: https://bit.ly/3nKs6yo

From July 1st to November 18th 1916, Allied forces fought their way through one of the deadliest battles in modern history. More than 100 years later, two lost World War I artifacts helped reunite a soldier’s surviving son with a piece of his father’s history.

Looking to start your family history journey, but not sure where to begin? The Canada, Find a Grave Index, 1600s - Current collection is a fantastic resource for novice genealogists looking to grow their family tree. This collection offers photos, biographies, obituaries, images of grave markers and more that can help you start filling in the blanks on your ancestors lives. Explore the collection here https://bit.ly/3mW1DO8

A conflict like no other, Allied victory in 1945 was achieved through the courage of men and women from across Canada and the world. This Remembrance Day, we invite you to commemorate by sharing your ancestors' WWII stories.

An obituary is one of the most useful records for uncovering lost details about the lives of your ancestors. For many, obituaries serve as a "biographical sketch," noting important details about an ancestor's family tree and offering a wealth of information that creates promising new research avenues for geneoalogists. The Canada, Obituary Collection, 1898 - Current, offers millions of obituaries from newspapers all across the country. Explore the collection today. https://bit.ly/3nfQ3xy

Does your family have a proud of history of serving in the armed forces? The Canada, Militia and Defence Force Lists, 1832, 1863 - 1939 collection includes comprehensive lists of Canadian officers for almost 80 years. This collection notes details such as rank, unit and dates of service. promotion, transfer and retirement. What’s the most interesting family history tidbit you’ve found in this collection?

Watch this historian react to World War II newsreels.

She broke barriers in the skies of WWII to carry on a family tradition. As part of the RAF Ferry Command, Gloria Large joined thousands of Canadians delivering planes from Quebec to the European front and inspired a new generation of aviators.

On this day in 1917, the Canadian Corps captured the ridge at Passchendaele after weeks of fighting under terrible conditions. Did any of your ancestors serve in this historic battle?

Couldn't get enough of yesterday's transcription challenge? You might consider getting involved in the Ancestry World Archives Project. Our volunteers from around the world are helping to create searchable record indexes from digitized records - and many of the historical records available on our site are made searchable by their dedication and hard work! Learn how to get involved: https://bit.ly/2EMrVlz

He braved hidden dangers at the edge of the world and paid for it dearly. After the Japanese occupied the Aleutian Islands, Sidney Vassey joined thousands of Canadian and American troops to take it back.

A top secret force in the Canadian military, the Cree Code Talkers were responsible for developing a top-secret communication system based on the Cree language. Intended to pass on critical information between Allied forces, the codes developed by these these Métis and First Nations soldiers were never cracked by the Allies enemies - and helped win the war: https://bit.ly/3lSxBKB via The Canadian Encyclopedia

Think your transcription skills are up to scratch? Test them out with this blast from the past postcard from our Canada, Historical Postcards, 1893-1963 collection. Can you decode the message? Comment below.

With Remembrance Day just around the corner, there’s no better time to start digging into your family’s connection to WWII. Join us on Thursday October 29th at 1:00 PM ET for a very special Ancestry Extra session with ProGenealogist and military expert Simon Pearce, as he answers your most pressing military family history questions LIVE. Make sure to add your questions into the comments below, and Simon will try to answer as many as possible.

Starting in 1941, thousands of Canadian women worked in top-secret factories across the country to produce munitions to send to Allies overseas. Do you have any bomb girls in your family tree? https://bit.ly/3l8Klgf

More than 1.9 million men, women, and teenagers served as Civil Defence Volunteers during WWII in the United Kingdom, working as air raid wardens, first aid workers, firewatchers, and more. The UK, World War II Civil Defence Gallantry Awards, 1940-1949 collection includes the records of those volunteers rewarded for their acts of bravery on the home front. Digitized copies of evidence submitted to the Committee on Civil Defence Gallantry Awards includes details on the name and age of the person, as well as their actions of merit. Can you spot any of your ancestors in the records?

Happy Thanksgiving Ancestry Canada! Family traditions come in all shapes, sizes and flavours, from your great-grandmother's pecan pie to sitting round the fire and sharing old family stories. Tell us about some of your family's favourite Thanksgiving traditions.

From August 8 to November 11, 1918, the Canadian Corps and Allied forces pushed the Germany army from France and through Belgium to Mons. This drive, known as "Canada's Hundred Days", resulted in a series of battles that ended in German surrender and the end of WWI. Did any of your ancestors participate in the offensive? https://bit.ly/3krwW2D

This Family History Friday, we're delving into how to research the women in your family history to mark the start of Women's History Month. To trace female ancestors consider exploring land deed records. Although some women in the 19th century did own land, the majority of land transactions were between men but the records often name the wife. The Canada, Soldier Homestead Grant Registers, 1918-1931 collection can help document family relationships and place individuals in a specific time and place, allowing you to sort people and families into neighborhoods and closely related groups. Explore the collection: https://bit.ly/30NNN7M

Researching your Commonwealth WWII ancestors can prove to be challenge, but when records are scarce or unavailable, a good genealogist knows to turn to more unconventional resources to learn more about their family history. To help you break through your genealogical brick walls, we've brought in Ancestry Anne to show you how to leverage historical newspapers to discover your family's WWII story, and share her tips on how to make the most of Newspapers.com. Make sure to comm...ent below with your questions about using newspapers in your research, and Anne and our team will answer as many as we can over the hour (6 PM - 7 PM ET). As per usual, if you can't make the session, you can always watch the webinar at a later date by going to "Videos" on the Ancestry Canada Facebook page. To help you with your family's military history, we'll be opening up free access to Newspapers.com from November 6 2020 at 7:00 PM EDT to November 11 2020 at 11:59 PM: https://bit.ly/32mHatQ

From battalion nicknames to personal interviews - check out these tips from the team at Newspapers.com on how to leverage historical newspapers for your military family history research https://bit.ly/2GBaKEl

Nicknamed the "Sawdust Fusiliers", Canadian forestry units helped build aerodromes, prepared railway ties, and provided a never ending supply of timber for Allied forces on the Western Front. Ancestry Canada Advisory Board member Brian Glenn explores his grandfathers' connection to the iconic Canadian Forestry Corps - and looks at how these lumberjack units helped lead Canadian forces to victory in World War I: https://bit.ly/31yO9Q2

From 1914-1919, the Canadian Expeditionary Force proudly served overseas in World War I, becoming one of the most effective Allied military organizations on the Western Front. The World War I CEF Attestation Papers, 1914-1918 collection contains the details of the men and women who enlisted and served. These highly detailed records contain valuable information about Canadian WWI personnel, including addresses, birth places, next of kin, and even some physical descriptions. Have you found any of your ancestors' attestation papers?https://bit.ly/3dxVHrg

Did your AncestryDNA results show a surprising amount of Scottish ancestry? Take this chance to learn more about your Scottish roots with the launch of two new Scottish collections, including Registers of Deeds, 1619 - 1859. Deeds are an incredible resource for family historians as they can give interesting detail on financial transactions on land, property or an apprenticeship which your ancestors may have completed. Have you made any breakthroughs in your Scottish family history research?

Curious about why your AncestryDNA results have changed? Click to learn more about the recent update to our Ethnicity Estimates: https://bit.ly/2FcQmsC

Did you know the wills proved by the Prerogative Court of Canterbury represent the largest collection of pre-1858 wills for England and Wales? Wills not only hold information such as a name, date, and place for the testator, but they are also a great source for family relationships. They also detail the instructions given or items bequeathed to family heirs - and these details can help you learn about an ancestor’s occupation, property or residence, painting a fulsome picture of your ancestors' lives. Spend your weekend exploring the updated England & Wales, Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858 collection https://bit.ly/34caEuw

Did you know October is Women's History Month in Canada? To celebrate, this week's Family History Friday dives into an important female suffrage collection on Ancestry. On April 26, 1918, legislation was passed granting women in Nova Scotia the right to vote. The Nova Scotia, Canada, Petitions in Favour of Female Suffrage, 1918, collection includes first time voter registration requests for Nova Scotia of this year. Many of the individuals requesting to be added to the voter rolls were women registering to vote for the very first time. These records detail the names, towns and occupations of Nova Scotia's first female voters, marking a historical moment for their families, as well as for Canadian women. Can you spot any of your female ancestors? https://bit.ly/2GayLCb

From the early days of New France to present day, more than 17 million immigrants have made their way to Canada from around the world. This Thanksgiving, take time to celebrate and discover your family's Canadian immigration story with Ancestry Canada Advisory Board Chair and genealogist, Lesley Anderson. Join us on Tuesday, October 13 at 2 PM EDT as Lesley walks through her process for tracing the immigration history of your ancestors, dishes on some of her go-to immigration collections, and takes a deep dive into the Canadian National Railway Immigrant Records, 1937 - 1961 - one of Ancestry's largest Canadian record collections for immigrants from Central and Eastern Europe. Add your questions in the comments below and Lesley will answer as many as possible.

Couldn't get enough of yesterday's transcription challenge? You might consider getting involved in the Ancestry World Archives Project. Our volunteers from around the world are helping to create searchable record indexes from digitized records - and many of the historical records available on our site are made searchable by their dedication and hard work! Learn how to get involved: https://bit.ly/2EMrVlz

Think your transcription skills are up to scratch? Test them out with this blast from the past postcard from our Canada, Historical Postcards, 1893-1963 collection. Can you decode the message? Comment below.

Known as the Forgotten Battle, the Aleutians campaign marked one of two invasions on U.S. soil during WWII, fought under harsh conditions and difficult terrain on the tiny island chain off the coast of Alaska. Working together with the U.S. military, Canadian forces helped retake the islands from the Imperial Army, stopping Japanese forces from gaining a key foothold in North America. Did any of your ancestors serve in the campaign?

From 1942 - 1944, the Royal Canadian Navy and the RCAF engaged with German forces in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, fighting to keep Canadian shipping lanes open to provide men and supplies to Allied forces in Europe. For the first time since 1812, enemy ships inflicted death and devastation in Canadian inland waters, sinking more than 27 ships, including a civilian passenger ferry. Did any of your ancestors serve in the Battle of St. Lawrence? Share their stories for the chance to be featured in something special for Remembrance Day.

Happy Thanksgiving Ancestry Canada! Family traditions come in all shapes, sizes and flavours, from your great-grandmother's pecan pie to sitting round the fire and sharing old family stories. Tell us about some of your family's favourite Thanksgiving traditions.

AncestryCA this #FamilyHistoryFriday we’re hitting the books. For many students and teachers, back to school will look different this fall. Whether you're in the classroom or staying home, what better way to get into the school spirit than by looking through old yearbooks? The Canada, Selected School Yearbooks, 1901-2010 collection is an indexed collection of middle school, junior high, high school, and college yearbooks from across Canada. Yearbooks are rich with information and images which act as a great family history resource for your genealogical research, placing people in historical context and creating life stories surrounding individuals that are sometimes only known by names and dates. Explore the collection: https://bit.ly/340X510

What's in a name? For a genealogist - quite a bit! Ancestry Canada Advisory Board Member Janice Nickerson talks about the challenges of navigating names in genealogical research, dealing with pesky misspellings, and her tips for dealing with your name-related roadblocks: https://bit.ly/33TFwQB

Have you noticed that your AncestryDNA results look a little different? Learn more about our new ethnicity estimate update for 2020: https://bit.ly/3hUUISg