| Trevor Dumbleton | | | | Cherokee. There were many other nations |
| For those of Native American descent, | | | | around the Cherokee, and some folks |
| one of the easiest genealogies to trace | | | | would simply call themselves Cherokee to |
| is Cherokee genealogy. Thanks to the | | | | save a lot of confusion. Thus, a person |
| Cherokee being one of the most | | | | might have grown up believing they were |
| Anglicized of the nations, they put down | | | | Cherokee, but their Native American |
| much more of their history in writing | | | | grandfather or great-grandmother would |
| than many other nations. | | | | not show up on the Cherokee genealogy. |
| | | | This is a strange but very true fact of |
| However, just because it is the easiest | | | | life for those who know they are |
| lineage to trace does not mean that it | | | | descendents of Native Americans, but |
| is actually easy. The record is not | | | | cannot figure out anything past one |
| entirely complete, after all, and there | | | | name. |
| are many other problems involved. Not | | | | However, for those who are Cherokee and |
| least among this is the fact that many | | | | know it, and can find the proper names |
| Native Americans used two names in their | | | | for their ancestors, Cherokee genealogy |
| dealings with other people. One was the | | | | is very complete. There are many books, |
| name to the tribe. The other was an | | | | papers, and websites that are dedicated |
| Anglicized name that included a surname. | | | | to showing family trees. If you can |
| It is very difficult to trace one | | | | trace the names properly, you will be |
| particular person, just because one name | | | | able to go back quite a ways into the |
| might show up on one document, and the | | | | past and find many of your ancestors. |
| other name on another document. Unless | | | | For those who can manage it, Cherokee |
| a person knows both names that the | | | | genealogy is a rich mine of information |
| person went by, this habit could chop | | | | about the names and places where your |
| off the family tree at a person whose | | | | ancestors were born, lived, and died. |
| Anglicized name shows up as a parent, | | | | If you have the time and the energy and |
| but whose birth certificate cannot be | | | | the knowledge that you need, you can |
| found, simply because the Native name | | | | trace your ancestry back to men and |
| was used. Thus, Cherokee genealogy | | | | women living as natives on the shores of |
| searches often come up with the dead end | | | | the New World. So give Cherokee |
| of a mysterious name. | | | | genealogy a try figure out that much |
| As well, many people claim Cherokee | | | | more about your family. |
| ancestry, but were not actually | | | | |