On my dad’s side, my aunt has done unbelievable amounts of research and compilation; I’ve spent countless hours looking through the books and photos she’s collected and reading the charts. Her work inspired me to begin my own exploration.
I stayed up far too late last night, er, early this morning digging through old Civil War military records, census counts from the 1800′s, and immigration papers. An obituary from 1904, written in Swedish on Illinois Freight stationary is now scanned into the computer where I can pull it up at will. Centuries of photos, memorabelia and information digitized might be helpful for tracing ancestry but there is something much more “real” about feeling the chapped leather of the real Swedish Bible or running fingers on the cold gravestones. I finally called it a night when I tapped as far back on one strain of paternal family as I could get: circa 1490. Wow.
My father’s lineage is Mansson and Monson. In the early 1900′s a Mansson son came to America and changed his surname to Nyquist. And so we’ve been ever since. My paternal grandmother’s side of the family arrived in America nearly a century earlier and took the surname Lofdahl.
Why not keep their native names? I smiled the first time I saw the manner in which surnames were formed back in the mother country. One 3rd great grandfather is named Lars Nilsson. His father is Nils Andersson. His father is Anders I am guessing, but I haven’t found that information yet. Lars’s mother is Cathrina Nilsdotter. Her father was Nils. So that would make me Natalie Jonsdotter, sharing the same last name as my four-times-great-grandmother, Catharina Jonsdotter born in 1785.
The faded faces on hundred-year-old photographs jump out at me. One of them looks just like my cousin–it’s her great, great grandmother. Another is haunting in its solemnity. I wish I could peer through the edges of the frame and jump into their lives. What were they really like? What was life like for my ancestors in Sweden? What did my many-times-great grandfather look like when he was my age?
Born 07 Apr 1807 in Mangstorp, Nyed, Varmland, Sweden. Typing the names and finding the birth records and marriage certificates is like a treasure hunt. It is a satisfying search–unearthing a legacy of family which makes me feel secure. These are my roots. Could my ancestors who immigrated from Sweden have ever pictured the multitude of descendents who would carry their names and bear their image? A hundred years from now, what great-great grandchild might look like me?
I started from scratch with my grandparents on my mom’s side of the family. With the help of databases and family trees, as of this morning I’ve managed to trace a line all the way back to Wildelphe de Sax and Clodius Franks in the late 300′s A.D. — and I’m still digging. My goal is to see if I can find a direct lineage (father of father and so on) to the time of Christ.
When I found the family name that kept going back and back and back through the Middle Ages I could hardly keep from bouncing with excitement. Sometimes when I would be on a really interesting trail I’d forget to sleep or eat til a family member brought me back to reality. But by now I’ve probably bored any readers still with me. What can I say…I love history, treasure hunts, and my family!
I also enjoy tracing my genealogy and found yours very fascinating – especially those first century names! How cool!
You’re not the only girl who wants to subscribe to Ancestry! I love that kind of stuff, but so far I haven’t gotten anywhere. It could have something to do with the fact that my great great grandfather was running from the German government because of his Jewish wife. You have inspired me anew. I can’t believe you could trace all the way back to Herod!
You’re not the only girl who wants to subscribe to Ancestry! I love that kind of stuff, but so far I haven’t gotten anywhere. It could have something to do with the fact that my great great grandfather was running from the German government because of his Jewish wife. You have inspired me anew. I can’t believe you could trace all the way back to Herod!
You’re not the only girl who wants to subscribe to Ancestry! I love that kind of stuff, but so far I haven’t gotten anywhere. It could have something to do with the fact that my great great grandfather was running from the German government because of his Jewish wife. You have inspired me anew. I can’t believe you could trace all the way back to Herod!
Wow, Natalie, that’s so fascinating! Where do you find all this information? I’ve often thought it would be interesting to see what sort of people might be in my background, but I really don’t know where to start. And I don’t know anything farther back than my great-grandparents!
Hi Natalie!
I just had to comment, after reading about your Swedish ancestors. I’m Swedish myself, with lots of relatives who emigrated to the USA over 100 years ago. I still live in Sweden(not the part you’re from though). I also LOVE genealogy, and am very lucky to have a relative who is related to both my mother and father(although they are not related at all), who has done extensive research which is so exciting to follow. My lines(except for my Finnish grandmother and my paternal great grandfather) are traced all the way back to the 15th century, and all my ancestors seem to have been farmers with the names Jöns Jönsson, Per Jönsson, Lars Persson etc. Not as interesting as some of yours!=) There are some interesting stories about some of them though, apparently one of my ancestors was believed to be a witch! She was very evil and one day she dissappeared, like she had said she would. They searched for her everywhere but didn’t find her… Strange!
My ancestors took new names, usually the name of the farm they lived on. I have a Finnish/Sami surname(because my family come from a place near the Finnish border which was taken by a great great grandfather a long time ago.
BTW, I have commented here before, (not often) and am a Christian woman with many beliefs and opinions in common with you YLCF “people”!=) Have read this blog for a long time!
OK, now I’m done!=)
/Sofia
I also find geneology fascinating. Like you I love to imagine the living, breathing lives of people who had no idea I would ever live or care.
I also found some branches of my anscestry much harder to trace than others….alas! But I also was thrilled to discover Hebrew blood, far-past as it was. 
Agrippa and Herod I…now THAT is fascinating! 
Hi Natalie,
We’re related! Our descendents are traced to 0006 and Charlemagne, Pepin, Clodius, etc. are in our line. I’ll have to get out my copies and go through them and see if I can help you out any…but it won’t be until next week as we have company and a Career Group Scavenger Hunt to host this weekend. Meanwhile, I copied your post so it’s in front of me.
Have a great time researching and a great weekend!
Love, Betsy
I have been working on my family genealogy research for 4 years. I started out using free databases online, but my mom and I finally subscribed to ancestry.com and I love it! I’m a college student and it is often tempting to work on genealogy research instead of studying. Ancestry.com currently has tons of military records that are free for viewing until the anniversary of D-day (June 6th).
Wow, how interesting! My grandmother is very into this sort of thing- I think you’d like her. Keep us updated if you find out any more!
-Bethany
How interesting! Like some other readers I’m wondering what are the best resources for tracing lineages.
Thanks for sharing!
Hi Natalie!
We’re related too, as I’ve found Charlemagne in my line. I can’t wait for finals to be over so I can get back to hunting!
I like to learn more of my ancestry, too, especially fascinating stuff like – my great grandmother being the seamstress for the ladies in waiting of the Queen of England! I have a love of sewing – and it’s no wonder – it’s in my blood! The ladies used to say their clothes were so well made and finished that they bragged they could wear them inside out! This has inspired me to excellence in my own sewing.
You have inspired me to go further back into my history, Natalie – ours is only traced into the 1700′s so far. But how do you research something when it’s in, say, dutch? all my ancestors are originally from Holland.
I’ve been a reader here for awhile, but not a frequent commenter… when I saw this entry, I just had to say something! I, too, like to look up my family history!
I’d love to know more about my ancestors and what they were like!
I don’t think I’ve gotten as far back as you have, though… now I’m inspired to do more searching!
How did you ever find that much info from so far back in history?
You got that far back! Amazing…
You know, I’m not all that sure that I believe you. Forgive my skepticism. If you did, please give us some more hints!
I would love to do something like that for my family tree. It has already been traced back to the 1800s..and I know I’m Irish in heritage, but not much more.
Natalie–
I was at Gettysburg with my students last week, and our guide was from Minnesota–as was my dad (who has been with the Lord now for 2 years). Imagine my surprise when our guide took us to the Minnesota monument and graveyard, in which he took such pride, and we stood in front of a grave with my last name on it! I’d love to ask my dad if he knows anything about it, but I guess I’ll have to do the research now on my own….your post has inspired me and made me think it’s possible! I’ll work on pulling his military record this summer to see if there is a connection!
Hope the wedding plans are going well–I have some fun news to share. Will be in touch soon! (Last week of school!–eeek!)
Be well!
I do not usually comment- but I had to on this post. I am a genealogy buff too, and I believe I am the only one in my family. I have gotten back to 800AD with the kings of Scotland-grandfathers-and I am related to the British Royal family (19th cousin to princes). I am also related to Jonathan Edwards, Aaron Burr-the guy who shot Alexander Hamilton in a duel. On a different side of the family I am a descendent of the Mayflower too.
I took over my aunts work, and she had not done very much research. The best way to start is to get names from grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc…. Then, you can use rootsweb.com or familysearch.org to look them up and look at other peoples family trees. Ancestry.com is really good, but it is too expensive for me. Luckily, one of my friend’s grandma has it and has let me use it. They usually have several free days a year, and as someone said the Military records are free right now. I have worked for 2 years now, and do it in my spare time.