Genealogy Chat

The way I understand it, the figure '1 in 200 of us are related to Genghis Khan' relates to the fact that 1 in 200 men in the West share the same Y chromosome with Genghis. But he, in his turn, must share his Y chromosome with HIS ancestors, so it doesnt really amount to much in the way of information, does it? I often have a good titter when I see 'my' family, earnestly recorded by many Mormons as being the descendants of one man, Justinian, who left these shores around 1603. I have seen the actual baptism record on my travels round the PRs - it says 'Justinia' and she is a daughter! Marjorie

That counts me out then I am with the majority 199 of 200 not related to GK.

Tina I think it was Dave...........or 100x great Uncle Dave to you! lol Jeanette x

according to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genghis_Khan Genghis khans real name was Borjigin Temüjin - Borjigin being the family name anyone got that in their tree?

Regarding the ability to get back to the 12th 13th 14th centuries, I wonder how many of these trees really stand up to scrutiny. For some years now I have been working on a link between G B and U S for one particular person who went, it is believed, about 1660. Very difficult to impossible to find passenger lists let alone the ship. IGI shows the person here in a variety of locations and his marriage was anywhere from Kent to Yorkshire to Scotland and Ireland .... or maybe he only married on arrival in the States so the IGI cannot be correct with all of them. Then there is the matter of surnames as you should be aware that for the most part they did not come into existence until 13th to 15th centuries. Another American had a tree back to ..... but when I checked it out found that the wrong line had been taken in 1830 and that threw the entire tree. IF you are offered a tree back to pre 1500 then please check EVERY detail along the line - old maxim: You dont get something for nothing.

Now I come to think about it (I saw that programme on TV as well), Genghis Khan was really his title rather than his actual name. Can anyone remember what that was? I want to know if anyone has traced their ancestors back to him yet!

1 in 200 !! What was Mrs Genghis Khan maiden name ?

That make a lot of sense. I''ve been living in Utah (Mormonland) for the last few years and when locals have found out I do genealogy they've shown me their trees as they all have Brirish roots. It doesn't surprise me that they all have trees as I know the LDS have to do that, what does surprise me is how far back they've all gone! The ones I've seen have all been inherited from past family (rather than having done their own research), yet they go back to the 12/13/14th centuries! How??? Most of us are stuck in the 16/17/18th centuries, and we have easier access to the records, and the modern technology to help us! From what I understand, they were mostly done by professional researchers about 30-40 years ago. I'm not saying that the LDS trees are all wrong, I'm just surprised how far back they've managed to go. Just jealous I guess!!

Hi, In Victorian times a lot of fake trees were created for rich American clients (and nouveau riche British ones). A lot of these are still in circulation and some are on the IGI. There was an article about this in a Family History magazine last year. Gwynne

Natalie, Sir Walter Raleigh was a pal of Elizabeth I's and set sail to find her potatoes and tobacco. and to thank him she put him in the Tower! At least I think that was him!! The next King, James I lopped off Walter's head to help him quit his smoking habit!!

Hi TC, glad to see you out and about. No matches for Genghis Khan, I just looked! Tina

Who is Sir Walter Rayleigh again? I know the name i just cant remember who he is?

What did they say on tv the other day - 1 in every 200 people are related to Genghis Khan!

I have ancestors with the surname of Henry. It's a real pain. I keep getting 'matches' which are listed as Henry I, Henry II, Henry III etc etc etc. I know Henry VIII put it about a bit, but I must confess to having reservations about there being so very many people all using GR who are related to him!

If I believe the pedigrees, I am descended from Sir Walter Raleigh's Aunty Joan. Lots of pedigrees were printed, largely in Victorian times. Generally, the more famous you were, the more likely the family tree is to be correct. Having said that, I've seen six (or is it nine!) different family trees for Sir Walter. It is very easy to tack yourself onto a printed family tree, but there are a good many out there which have boys becoming fathers aged five, or women giving birth aged sixty five. It's fun discovering you are related to someone famous, but much more fun to do your own research and not accept someone else's mistakes as fact.

For example: i found Anne Boylen (Henry 8th second wife) and her siblings George and Mary born in 1500's. They've each been added about 10 times by different people. I think i saw some other kings and Queens in 17th - 20th century!.

Im fascinated with history especially the royal family eg the Tudors and Stuarts etc. This is probably a very stupid question but ive noticed loads of famous names from hundreds of years ago have been added. Have people just added them on or has any one actually discovered they are related to them?