Genealogy & DNA research

Genealogy quiz

How much do you know about genealogy?

Genealogy quiz

Six questions about records, evidence and DNA. Choose the best answer to each question.

1. Two people have the same name and live in the same village. Is that enough to identify them as one person?Yes, name and place are sufficient.No, also compare dates, relationships, occupation and other records.Only if the surname is unusual.

2. What is a sound first step in new family research?Copy as many names as possible from online trees.Start with the earliest known ancestor.Define the question and record what is already known with confidence.

3. Two records give different birth years. What should you do?The oldest record is automatically correct.Choose the date used most often.Consider the informant, when each record was made and what other evidence exists.

4. A DNA match shares a substantial amount of DNA with you. Does that prove one exact relationship?Yes, every centimorgan total has one relationship.No, different relationships can share overlapping amounts of DNA.Only when the match has a family tree.

5. A person is absent from a digital index. Does that mean the record does not exist?Yes, digital indexes are complete.No, try name variants and consult original registers or other finding aids.Only with a common surname.

6. How should you use someone else’s online family tree?As final proof if it contains many people.As a lead, checking important connections against records.Never; online trees have no value.

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