They, on the other hand, place their last names first and their first names last (get that?). There are several ways of getting a surname. The last names of women could be altered when they undergo marriage. The so-called patronymics, on the other hand, allow people to be identified through their paternal parent s surname. After gathering all these, read on for the free stuff offered on genealogical sites: Genealogical forms for downloading like charts as basis for the family tree, calendar (used for research), forms for note taking, deed indexes (grantors and grantees), checklist for libraries or archives the researcher visited), journals and worksheets for research, table of contents, index for marriages (statewide), and vital records. In order for you to efficiently trace your ancestors, research on genealogical records like the census, cemeteries, tax records and the likes. The next step is to identify your ancestor s last owner or master. Not all black were slave before the civil war because some of them were already called free man. These claims, outrageous as they may be for modern people, helped clans and tribes to build stronger ties within families and groups. Genealogy was also a way to claim dominance over another tribe. Early genealogical research was passed on through oral tradition but when societies began to learn how to write, records of family history began to appear. Search pictures and photos It is also helpful if you go and search through family picture albums, especially the old ones. Do not forget to check any writings at the back of the pictures to see if noted there are dates or details. Looking at photographs that have been framed is also a good idea. Usually, there are obit notices that are stored at the back of picture photo frames. Carpenter, Cook or Cooke and Smith. Other names such as Taylor, Bishop, Miller and Carter all describe what an individual's ancestors did for a living. Searching for your family name A lot of resources online may be used to help you find out more about your roots. These sites contain more than 600 million surnames in their databases and there are family trees that are linked.