Welcome to the blog of Darrell Gibbs. Here, you’ll find regular updates and more.
Whether you’re a family historian looking for tips and inspiration or a fan of Darrell’s blog which is a must-read. Don’t forget to subscribe to our mailing list to stay up-to-date on all the latest posts and news.
Researching an Ancestor Who Had No Surname
How do you identify an ancestor when the record gives only one name? These 10 strategies show how location, age, maternal kinship, associates, estates and successive returns can reconstruct enslaved families through a network of evidence.
Nearly 4 Million Enslavement Records Are Now Searchable
Nearly four million records from 20 former British colonies are now searchable online. Learn how to trace one-name ancestors, follow mothers and children across returns, identify estates, and continue the search into post-emancipation records.
Can’t Find Your Ancestor?
A 21-Point Genealogy Search Checklist You know your ancestor existed. You have a name, an approximate date, perhaps a location—and yet every genealogy search seems to produce the same frustrating result: No results found. Don’t assume the record does not exist. Names were misspelled. Ages were wrong. Boundaries changed. Records were never indexed. Handwriting was…
The 15-Step Genealogy Research Workflow
Turn genealogy questions into well-supported answers with this practical 15-step research workflow. Learn how to define your question, identify the right records, search beyond indexes, investigate family and associates, evaluate evidence, document your findings, and develop your next research step. A systematic approach can help you research smarter and break through stubborn family-history brick walls.
25 Essential Resources for Tracing Your Family Ancestry in 2026
Discover 25 essential resources and updated strategies for tracing your family ancestry in 2026. Learn how to use historical records, archives, newspapers, DNA, AI-assisted searches and cluster research to build a more accurate family tree.
15 Essential Genealogy Charts and Forms Every Beginner Needs in 2026
The right genealogy charts and forms turn scattered names, dates, records, and DNA clues into an organized research system. Discover the 15 essential worksheets every beginner should use in 2026—and learn what to record, how to use each one, and where to find reliable free templates.
The DNA From Your Mother’s Mother
Discover how mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) can help uncover mysteries along your direct maternal line. Learn how mtDNA is inherited, what haplogroups and DNA matches can reveal, how ancient DNA fits into the picture, and how combining genetic evidence with traditional records can help solve stubborn maternal genealogy brick walls.
14 Genealogy Search Strategies for Finding Hidden and Unindexed Records
When your ancestor doesn’t appear in a genealogy search, it doesn’t mean the record doesn’t exist. Discover 14 practical strategies for finding hidden and unindexed records, from browsing original images and searching alternative spellings to exploring archives, newspapers, family networks, and full-text search tools. Learn how to move beyond the search box and uncover family-history…
MyHeritage Adds Y-DNA
MyHeritage has introduced Y-DNA analysis, giving many existing DNA users a new look at their direct paternal ancestry. Discover what Y-DNA haplogroups can reveal, how the new feature works, and when FamilyTreeDNA’s high-resolution Big Y-700 test may help solve a difficult paternal-line genealogy mystery.
Effective Research Strategies for Family Historians
Pip: There’s a moment in every family historian’s life when a name on a document stops being a stranger and becomes someone you’re responsible for remembering — and Darrell Gibbs has built an entire site around that moment. Mara: That’s the territory we’re covering today — how to get started in genealogy, what research strategies…
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