Tracing Your Family Name History There was a time in human history when people did not have surnames and it wasn t because they couldn t read or write. It wasn t until the 12th century when surnames began to be used in Europe. but it was only given to a few. Surnames were not much of a concern in areas where the population was smaller and people did not have a difficult time referring to one another or getting confused as to who was who. Often, these sites include a database of millions of family names, enough to get you started on the right foot. Family history sites also allow their members to communicate by providing details of a submitter's contact information. Members can then exchange information and facts online, making their genealogy research easier and more convenient. With all these, one might be tempted to ask, are these really for free? Well, let s just say that most of these free stuff are without charge for a number of days. Beyond that, it would be up to the researcher if he would like to continue using the free stuff . Again, such a tedious task as genealogical work could be made easier (or even fun) nowadays. When all else fails... Conducting your genealogy search to trace your family history can be exciting work. It can also be very exhausting. If you don t want to do your own genealogy search, hire someone who can do it for you. The Board of Certification of Genealogists in Washington, D.C. and the Association of Professional Genealogists in Denver, Colorado have a pool of researchers that can do the job for a fee. After searching for a while, the individual will be able to get some vital information such as the relative s name, social security number and last known address. Another place to get help in the family history search, which is still, is from the census bureau. The United States as well as other developed countries has put this database online for family members to see. Interview, interview, interview It is advisable that you list all the family members you know and would like to conduct an interview with. You can also consider the other relatives you could interview via phone or thru email, that is if they would be unavailable in person. However, it is best that you first ask your own relative s permission if they are willing to let themselves be interviewed.