October is Family History Month

While October marks Family History Month, this is a great activity for many seniors and families to do together. It gives them the opportunity to reminisce about their past and it gives others the opportunity to learn more about their life. There are many different tools available through websites like Ancestry.com that allow people to map out their family tree and even connect with other relatives.

In the United States, more than 50% of the population can’t name their maternal and paternal grandparents. Family History Month, when people all around the nation celebrate their ancestral roots, is a great time to fill in those gaps.

In 2001, hoping to encourage the nation to recommit to home and family, Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah proposed legislation that would designate October as Family History Month. The event would encourage U.S. families to celebrate their heritage through research and education. The Senate passed the bill unanimously.

As family trees grow, preserving and celebrating family heritage may be more important than ever. Understanding where someone comes from can promote a deeper sense of connection to the past and the places ancestors came from. Family history research may even help family members create stronger relationships in the present by highlighting their family’s evolution.

Since Family History Month began, family historians have embraced the spirit of the event, encouraging others throughout the nation to explore their lineage. These days, with so many tools readily available, it’s easier than ever. From simple at-home DNA testing kits to searchable online resources and platforms, family history research is more accessible than ever before.

Over the years, Family History Month—and how it’s celebrated—has been shaped by a constantly evolving world. To better understand this month-long event, it’s helpful to look at a timeline of the national legislation, technological breakthroughs, and genealogical developments that have made Family History Month what it is today:

1934 - The National Archives were established to preserve U.S. federal records.

2001 - Senator Orrin Hatch proposed designating October as Family History Month. The resolution was passed unanimously, and the nation celebrated Family History Month for the first time.

2010 - Who Do You Think You Are? an American genealogy documentary series premiered in the United States, inspiring many viewers to research their family histories.

2024 - The National Archives plans to have more than 500 million pages of historical records digitized and available to the public.

With the growth of Ancestry® online site, the popularity of genealogy-related television shows, and the rise of affordable DNA testing kits, family history research has surged in popularity. With it, participation in the celebration of Family History Month has increased, bringing the joys of family history research to families across the nation. With 31 days to celebrate, people will have plenty of time for activities that honor their current family and their heritage. Even if someone is exploring family history research for the first time, they can get the whole family involved with these simple activities.

Create a family tree: You can build your family tree by yourself or with loved ones.

Interview relatives: Ask an older relative about their life and write down the information and stories they share.

Learn about your surname: Your surname can reveal a lot about your family history, including an ancestor’s occupation or where they lived. On Ancestry, you can discover the meaning and origin of your last name through a simple surname search.

Learn about your geographical origins: Learn about the culture and history of your ancestors’ birthplaces by looking at maps, atlases, and written accounts of the region.

Tell your own story: Contribute to your family’s written history by penning your own story. Write about your childhood, career, daily life, or whatever strikes your fancy.

Visit ancestral places: Visiting a place that had meaning to your ancestors can bring your family history to life in a way that words on paper can’t. Consider a road trip to the church where your grandparents were married or the graveyard where a great-great uncle is buried.

Test your DNA: Using a simple at-home kit from AncestryDNA®, you can find out where your family story may have started, even down to the regions they may have lived. You can also find DNA matches of living people who share part of your DNA.

Mark your calendars for other family-related celebrations: If you’re ready to embrace your familial history, you won’t want to miss Genealogy Day, which is celebrated on the second Saturday of March, and National Family Health History Day, which takes place on Thanksgiving. The latter is meant to encourage families to talk about health issues that may affect them or their loved ones, particularly if they have genetic conditions that may be passed from generation to generation.

However someone chooses to celebrate Family History Month, they should get started by tracing their own family history and sharing it with their children.