How do I find out if I'm related to someone famous?

Question

I've been trying to figure out if I'm related to someone famous. Is there a reliable website I could go on? Thanks!

Answer 1

A specific website such as you imply just does not excist.  You can do basic genealogical research. As to your being related to someone famous, I will say, "Yes you are". It is just a matter of how far back in time you go.

In the book, "Mapping Human History: Discovering the Past Through Our Genes" by Steve Olson, Mr. Olson claims that every one alive on earth today is descended from Nefertiti, Confucius, and Julius Caesar (through his illegitimate children).

You should start by asking all your living relatives about family history.  Then, armed with that information, you can go to your public library and check to see if it has a genealogy department.  Most do nowadays; also, don't forget to check at community colleges, universities, etc.  Our public library has both www.ancestry.com and www.heritagequest.com free for anyone to use (no library card required).

Another place to check out is any of the Mormon's Family History Centers.  They allow people to search for their family history (and, NO, they don't try to convert you).

A third option is one of the following websites:

http://www.searchforancestors.com/...

http://www.censusrecords.net/?o_xid=2739...

http://www.usgenweb.com/

http://www.census.gov/

http://www.rootsweb.com/

http://www.ukgenweb.com/

http://www.archives.gov/

http://www.familysearch.org/

http://www.accessgenealogy.com/...

http://www.cyndislist.com/

http://www.geni.com/

Cyndi's has the most links to genealogy websites, whether ship's passenger lists, ancestors from Africa, ancestors from the Philippines, where ever and whatever.

Of course, you may be successful by googling: "john doe, born 1620, plimouth, massachusetts" as an example.

Good luck and have fun!

Check out this article on five great free genealogy websites:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article...

Then there is the DNA test; if you decide you want to REALLY know where your ancestors came from opt for the DNA test. Besides all the mistakes that officials commonly make, from 10% to 20% of birth certificates list the father wrong; that is, mama was doing the hanky-panky and someone else was the REAL father. That won't show up on the internet or in books; it WILL show up in DNA.

I used www.familytreedna.com which works with the National Geographics Genotype Program.

Answer 2

Like Tebs said, trace your family history, Try http://www.v1g.org they offer so many different records that relates back to your family history, and its half the price as any other genealogy site. This would be a great first step

Answer 3

Simple really, you just trace your family history, from you , through your parents, grandparents, great grandparents and so on back, record all members of the family at each generation, and then research the family of each married and single member of each generation, that should show up any famous people that you are related to. You will be very lucky to find a website on which you can find your own ready made family history,  that would only be possible if a close relative has already done all the work and entered it onto a site, and unless each entry in that history has references, as to source/s etc., you would then have to check the whole history yourself to verify it's authenticity. All websites are only as reliable as the data on them, and a lot of the data is nothing but garbage, so beware !!

Answer 4

nope... ask the old ppl in your family... there is no website unless someone in your family made a family tree.

sorry

good luck