Welcome to the Shonson Family page at Surname Finder, a service of Genealogy Today. Our editors have compiled this checklist of genealogical resources, combining links to commercial databases along with user-contributed information and web sites for the Shonson surname. As additional sources for vital records, original documents, vintage photographs and surname-based DNA projects are discovered, this page is updated to offer the best list for researching Shonson ancestry. Share this page on Twitter!
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The Shonson Family Tree
It is quite possible that someone else has already performed work on a Shonson family tree, so be sure to examine some of the sources listed below carefully. Have you struck a Shonson brick wall? Read "Newspapers Can Be A Treasure Trove Of Genealogical Details" for some helpful advice.
Best Tree Collections for Discovering Shonson Ancestors
Patronymics is the practice of naming children using the given name of the father, grandfather, or other male ancestor followed by a suffix. In the case of Shonson, it is possible that one of your English ancestors was given the patronym for being the "son of Shon." Please read "Patronymics and Other Naming Patterns" and "Patronymics: Help Not Hindrance," for further details.
Shonson Genealogy
Many things can go wrong when a record collection is indexed. If you're having diffculty finding Shonson ancestors in a particular database at one site, try finding it on another and compare the results. If you want to know How do I find my Shonson family in the census?, then read this frequently asked question.
Top Five Genealogy Databases to Search for Shonson
Historical newspapers give us the ability to discover ancestral history through eyewitness accounts.
There are currently matching Shonson records at Ancestry.com!
Start exploring this online Shonson family history resource today.
Death Records
Military Records
Origins of the Shonson Surname
It is quite possible for two people with the Shonson last name to have been given that surname for entirely different reasons. Discovering the country from which your Shonson ancestors originated can often yield additional clues for the meaning of the surname. Keep in mind that it was not unusual for a last name to be altered as an ancestor entered a new country.
Shonson DNA Projects
While DNA testing cannot conclusively tell you if two Shonson ancestors were related, it can easily prove if they weren't. Be sure you understand what types of research issues each different DNA test can address before you spend any money. If you're not sure how DNA testing could aid your Shonson research, read "Basics of DNA Family History Research".
Shonson Family History
Every family has a different history, and every document you discover about your Shonson ancestors will help paint a picture that can be shared with your relatives. Our team of seasoned experts are here to help you learn about different aspects of genealogy. Reading "Faddish First Names" may help you think of some different tactics to compiling your Shonson family history.
Photo Collections
Networking with Shonson Researchers
In doing genealogy research, we surely don't want to reinvent the wheel; in researching your Shonson surname, posting a message query can help you connect with distant cousins and others who may be working on the same lines, some of whom may have advanced the research or solved some of the hard problems, but are willing to share. The article "Looking for John Smith - Focusing a Query" provides some valuable tips for posting successful Shonson queries.
You may also want to consider posting a query to the Community Message Boards at Genealogy Today to get assistance from other researchers on your most elusive Shonson ancestors.
Shonson Achievements & Celebrities
Web Sites & Blogs with Shonson Research
If you are having difficulty locating records for the last name of Shonson, contact the folks at ProGenealogists for a free research estimate. You may also find it helpful to read, "When, Why and How to Hire a Professional Genealogist."
RootsWeb search of US Naturalization Records
RootsWeb search of Obituary Daily Times
RootsWeb search of Social Security Death Index
To recommend your web site/blog for inclusion on this page, please submit a link to the user-contributed directory at Genealogy Today. Your web page may appear once its content has been reviewed by our editors.
Upcoming Shonson Family Reunions
One key to a successful Shonson reunion is preparation, and for the family researcher that means getting the word out in advance on what to bring (such as the family photo collection); arranging for the display of shared information; and planning activities conducive to sharing; and one of the best ways to get others to participate is in bringing something of your own to share such a picture pedigree, compiled family history or biographical sketch, or even a copies of a treasured photo as a gift for each family -- you may even want to consider putting together a reunion newsletter in advance to be distributed at the reunion, asking for help in solving one or more specific family mysteries: you never know who might have insight they are willing to share, one-on-one. The article "Family Reunions Don't Always Turn Out as one has Pictured" may provide you with tips for hosting a successful Shonson reunion.
See Also
Surname Finder, The Shonson Genealogy and Family Tree Page [on-line resource], New Providence, NJ, USA: Genealogy Today LLC, 2014.
