Tracing Your Aristocratic Ancestors: A Guide for Family Historians

by Anthony Adolph

Overview

Do you believe you are descended from the aristocracy, or even from royalty? Or do you have a line of descent from a blue-blooded family, but want to know more? How far back do noble and royal lines go? How do coats of arms work, and how can heraldic records tell you more? How can genetics help you find your aristocratic origins?In Tracing Your Aristocratic Ancestors leading British genealogist, Anthony Adolph explains how to decode family stories, to find the truth and prove your descent from blue-blooded forebears. His book shows you how to expand your aristocratic pedigree sideways and backwards, incorporating heraldic records and printed pedigrees such as those in Burkes Peerage. In a series of concise, fact-filled chapters he explains how to find out about and prove aristocratic ancestry, defines who is blue-blooded, and describes all the sources that researchers can use to explore this fascinating subject. Under Adolphs guidance, you will travel back into the distant past, using cutting-edge DNA technology and arcane genealogies, back to the evolution of the human race, and the point where real ancestors fade into mythical ones Adam and Eve, the heroes of old and, ultimately, the very gods themselves.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781783376490
Publisher:	Pen & Sword Books Limited
Publication date:	01/31/2020
Series:	Tracing Your Ancestors
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	224
File size:	48 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Anthony Adolph (www.anthonyadolph.co.uk) is a well-known genealogist who has made a special study of the history of aristocracy and of all the research resources that can be used to delve into this absorbing field. He is a regular contributor to the major genealogy magazines and websites, he has appeared as resident genealogist and co presenter of television and radio programmes for Channel 4 and Radio 4, and his books include Tracing Your Family History, Tracing Your Scottish Family History, Who Am I? and The King’s Henchman.

Table of Contents

Introduction 1

Chapter 1 A Note about Family Trees 4

Chapter 2 The Likelihood of Finding an Aristocratic Ancestor 8

Chapter 3 False Starts 15

Chapter 4 Finding and Proving Aristocratic Ancestry 23

Chapter 5 Clues from Surnames 32

Chapter 6 Heraldry 39

Chapter 7 Who were the Aristocrats? 52

Chapter 8 Records of the Nobility and Gentry 65

Chapter 9 The Visitations 70

Chapter 10 Burke's Peerage 82

Chapter 11 Original Sources 95

Chapter 12 Genetics and DNA 116

Chapter 13 Routes to Royalty 127

Chapter 14 Royal Roots Abroad 139

Chapter 15 Clans and Kings of Scotland and Ireland 151

Chapter 16 Welsh and Ancient British Roots 167

Chapter 17 Saxons, Vikings and Normans 183

Epilogue: 'My Ancestor was a God!' 187

Select Index 195

Editorial Reviews

"offers an overview of the demographic history of the aristocracy in Britain, noting the near-certainty that all of us with any British ancestry descend from pre modern gentry. royalty. and of course the ancient Armenians, who scholars agree are the earliest royal dynasty which can be concretely connected genealogically to modern people of European descent with any degree of confidence."

The American Genealogist