Customized Genealogy Research By Experienced Professionals

The first step to creating your family tree is to collect the information you already have by compiling your documents and family stories. After compiling what you know, you may notice missing details or unidentified ancestors. Finding all the necessary details and discovering new ancestors can mean detailed, time-consuming research. What if your schedule or genealogy experience doesn't allow for that? The professional genealogists at Trace are here to help. Our genealogists have the ability to access record collections in the United States, Europe, and other corners of the globe to accurately build out your family tree for multiple generations. The success of the research depends upon the nature of the records available in the time periods and locations in which your ancestors resided.

‍Contact Traceyourpast.com today and see how we can help you build your family tree, accurately and efficiently.

Walls prevent us from seeing what is on the other side; they divide our yard from our neighbor’s, or our dining room from our kitchen. A genealogical brick wall divides us from our ancestors. At some point in their research, genealogists will hit a brick wall on most of their ancestral lines. The appearance of this barrier makes us wonder if we will be able to research this family line back any further.

Brick walls take many forms: ancestors with common names, ancestors who moved frequently, unknown maiden names or village names. These brick walls appear insurmountable for many reasons. One may lack access to records, not have the necessary language skills, not have the research skills required for the problem, or may even be researching the wrong person.

No matter the reason for your brick wall, there is no reason to give up hope. The professional genealogists at Traceyourpast.com can help you understand the nature of your brick wall and devise a strategy to break through it. There are avenues to continue your research, whether through traditional genealogy alone or in combination with genetic genealogy techniques.

Trace has a global network of professional genealogists and subject matter experts, including historians, forensic genealogists, DNA experts, religious leaders, university professors/scholars, and archivists. Our network makes it possible to address even the toughest research challenges. FamilySearch estimates that over 90% of records relevant to family history research have not been digitized. We are not limited to the small percentage of records that are online or to a few local repositories. We are able to access the world’s records wherever they are located and in whatever form.

Break through your brick wall by scheduling your genealogy consultation with Traceyourpast.com and unlock the power of collaborative research.

DNA testing has become a popular tool for identifying ancestors and for verifying genealogical leads. DNA, nature’s instruction book for life, is passed down from one generation to the next. Consequently, every person shares snippets of their DNA with their ancestors and living relatives. Analysis of your DNA will allow our genetic genealogists to identify your genetic cousins and other biological relatives. By comparing your paper genealogy with that of your DNA cousins, common ancestors can be identified and research challenges resolved.

DNA analysis is often the only way to answer complex genealogy puzzles and break through brick walls. These difficult cases can include ancestors with unknown parentage, who were adopted, or who had common surnames. Additionally, depending on the type of DNA test taken, you can verify the surname of a male ancestor, identify an individual’s ethnic background, and discover your long-lost ancestor. Keep in mind that our ancestors may have known things about themselves that they didn’t want other people to know. Some ancestors may have hidden the true parentage of children, while other ancestors may have disguised their ethnic background. Consequently, this may bring forward some unanticipated results. Our genealogists treat genetic information with the utmost respect for privacy and provide context and explanations for any findings.

‍Traceyourpast.com was one of the first major genealogy research firms to combine the science of DNA testing with traditional family history research. Our talented team of DNA experts provides personal assistance to individuals and families by interpreting your genetic results, from companies such as AncestryDNA, FamilyTreeDNA, and MyHeritageDNA, in the context of traditional genealogical information. Our DNA experts have a passion for genetic genealogy, a genuine love for people, and a gift for making the technical understandable.

For those who prefer a more hands-on approach, Trace also offers our DNA Academy—designed specifically for DIY researchers who want to confidently interpret their own DNA results. This self-paced course provides step-by-step guidance, practical strategies, and expert insights to help you understand your matches, build your family tree, and break through research challenges using genetic evidence. Whether you’re just getting started or looking to deepen your skills, DNA Academy empowers you to take control of your own genetic genealogy journey with the support of professional-level instruction.  Enroll in the DNA Academy today.

Many people who emigrated from Europe between the early 1800s and the mid-20th century came from Eastern Europe, a region historically shaped by the influence of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the German states, and the Russian Empire. The territories once governed by these powers include present-day Poland, Ukraine, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Russia, Estonia, and others. Over generations, shifting borders, political upheaval, and migration patterns created a complex historical landscape. Communities often included a mix of ethnic groups, languages, and religious traditions, all of which can complicate genealogical research today.

In many areas of Eastern Europe, villages were known by multiple names depending on the language of the governing authority or the local population. A single town might have both German and Polish names, while communities in Ukraine and surrounding regions often included families practicing Greek Orthodox, Greek Catholic, Roman Catholic, or Jewish faiths. Repeated conflicts, including wars and internal unrest, led to the loss or fragmentation of records. Although many valuable documents have survived, they are often housed in regional archives that remain only partially cataloged, making them difficult to locate and access without specialized knowledge.

Genealogical research in Western Europe presents a different but equally important set of opportunities and challenges. Countries such as England, France, Germany, Ireland, and the Netherlands often have more centralized or well-preserved record systems, including civil registrations, parish registers, and census records that extend back several centuries. At the same time, researchers must navigate language differences, historical jurisdiction changes, and regional variations in record-keeping. While many Western European records are now digitized, others remain in local archives or church repositories and require in-person access. A strong understanding of regional history and record systems is essential for successful research.

Researchers at TraceYourPast.com can help you overcome the challenges of tracing your European ancestry, whether your roots lie in Eastern or Western Europe. Our team has the expertise to accurately identify your ancestor’s place of origin and navigate complex historical jurisdictions. Our researchers in Salt Lake City have access to the extensive collections of the Family History Library, including microfilmed and digitized European records. In addition, our on-the-ground researchers in European countries can visit local archives, access records not available online, and conduct targeted research in the regions where your ancestors lived.  

‍Contact Traceyourpast.com today and ask how we can help you locate your Eastern European ancestors.

One of the most common outcomes of family history research is the creation of a genealogy or pedigree, a chart that begins with you and traces your line back through as many direct ancestors as can be identified. Pedigrees can be visually striking and enjoyable to explore, offering a concise reference to your lineage. However, they only tell part of the story. What they cannot capture are the details of your ancestors’ lives, the challenges they faced, or the ways they experienced the world around them.

A pedigree shows relationships, but it does not tell a story. True family history goes beyond names and dates. It brings together records, context, and narrative to reveal how your ancestors lived and how their lives intersected with broader historical events.

‍TraceYourPast.com can help you move beyond charts and transform your research into a meaningful narrative. Rather than placing your ancestors into boxes on a page, our team helps you tell their stories through carefully crafted writing that connects individual lives to historical context.

You may already have the foundation needed to begin. Census records, newspaper articles, vital records, and family stories all provide valuable pieces of the puzzle. When combined with your personal interests and research goals, these sources help shape the direction of your family history. You might choose to focus on your family’s immigration experience, trace a lineage through generations, or document a specific chapter such as military service or life in a particular community.
It is common to feel uncertain about whether you have too much information or not enough. Both situations can make writing feel overwhelming. The experienced writers at TraceYourPast.com know how to evaluate, organize, and interpret available evidence, blending individual details with historical research to create a clear, engaging narrative. The result is a family history that not only documents your ancestors, but also brings their world to life for future generations.

Humans move. It is part of our story. No matter where you live today, and especially if you are in a region shaped by migration, there is a strong chance your ancestors came from somewhere else. TraceYourPast.com can help you bridge that distance, connecting the place where your family settled to the place they once called home.

Discovering an immigrant ancestor’s place of origin, often called a point of origin project, begins with a careful examination of records created after their arrival in a new country. These may include passenger lists, census records, obituaries, church registers, and naturalization papers. The goal is to find a document that identifies a specific hometown. Details such as a precise birthplace, date of birth, names of relatives, and date of arrival are essential for correctly identifying your ancestor in records from their country of origin.

When direct records do not provide enough information, research does not stop there. Our team expands the search by reconstructing the community around your ancestor. Friends, neighbors, and extended family members often traveled together or followed one another to new destinations. By tracing these connections, it is often possible to uncover clues that lead back to the original village or region.

Identifying an ancestral hometown requires persistence, expertise, and sometimes a bit of luck. Even when a precise location cannot be confirmed, the records uncovered during the process reveal meaningful details about your family’s journey and settlement. Whether your ancestors arrived in the United States, Australia, or elsewhere, the researchers at TraceYourPast.com have the experience and resources to help uncover their origins and tell the story of how your family came to be where it is today.