Related Sponsors

Native American Ancestors

Home » Genealogy » Genealogy - Difficult Searches » Native American Ancestors
Posted by Your Guide on July 6, 2006 9:34 PM

Almost everyone has a family legend that some ancestor was a Native American. If your ancestors lived in areas where there was a notable tribal presence, it is possible that you will find Native Americans in your ancestry. Start with what you have heard and work through what you can prove. There are more records than you would expect available for Native American research.

Some tribes kept records before American settlers came around. Some tribes kept no records at all and some tribes kept better records than others. Many Native American families have continued the tradition of passing down family lore through stories. If your family has those stories write them down now, even if you need to note at the bottom that the information is currently unproven. Don't wait until you can prove or disprove the stories to document them.

Other records that may include information helpful in your search include:

• Church Records
• Probate Records
• School Reports
• Removal Records and Emigration Rolls
• Enrollment Records for each Tribe
• Annuity Rolls for Native Americans on reservations or "Half-Breed" farms
• Census Records (Look for words like "Mulatto," not just "Indian.")
• Land Allotment Records
• Mission Settlement Records

Things to watch out for:

As Native American names were Americanized, their tribal name may have been changed to an Americanized name. Changed names and interchangeable use of tribal and Americanized names often causes confusion in the search. If a Native American could not read or write English, others would have written their name for them.

If you find a name on one of the tribal rolls that matches your ancestor's name, don't just assume it is the same person. Do your homework and know more about your ancestor than their name in order to prove the connection.

Many tribes have closed their membership rolls to new members, but will still allow people to search for ancestors to prove Native American heritage. DNA research may also show Native American bloodlines in some, however, DNA evidence will not be enough for tribal admission. Actual ancestral evidence of a certain degree of Native American bloodlines, with names, birth certificates, etc. is still required for tribal membership.



Next Page: African American Ancestors

Related Articles