Welcome to the Jackson 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 Jackson 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 Jackson ancestry. Share this page on Twitter!
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The Jackson Family Tree
Everyone has different reasons for building a family tree; your personal motiviation will influence whether the Jackson family tree has more depth or breadth. Have you struck a Jackson brick wall? Read "Searching and Organization" for some helpful advice.
Best Tree Collections for Discovering Jackson 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 Jackson, it is possible that one of your English ancestors was given the patronym for being the "son of Jack." Please read "Patronymics and Other Naming Patterns" and "Patronymics: Help Not Hindrance," for further details.
Jackson Genealogy
Keep an open mind when searching through Jackson records. Years ago many people were unable to read and write, thus a given ancestor's name could be spelled in a variety of ways depending on who recorded it. If you want to know How can city directories be used to help my Jackson research?, then read this frequently asked question.
Top Five Genealogy Databases to Search for Jackson
Census records are among the most useful records available for family tree building.
There are currently matching Jackson records at Ancestry.com!
Start exploring this online Jackson family history resource today.
Death Records
Military Records
Origins of the Jackson Surname
There are no clear, concise answers to why or how one of your Jackson ancestors took on the surname. It may have been based on their occupation or a distinguising physical trait. Were you aware that Jackson is a common Quaker surname? The article "Tracing Quaker Ancestors" may be helpful for your research. Keep in mind that it was not unusual for a last name to be altered as an ancestor entered a new country.
Jackson DNA Projects
While DNA testing cannot conclusively tell you if two Jackson 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 Jackson research, read "Utilizing DNA in Family History Research".
Jackson Family History
Every family has a different history, and every document you discover about your Jackson 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 Jackson family history.
Photo Collections
Networking with Jackson Researchers
When you've come up against a brick wall in your genealogy research, posting a message board query can help; one of the biggest benefits is that message board queries are accessed through search engines, which means even someone not specifically engaged in genealogy but interested in your subject may find your query and bring valuable new information to the table -- it happens! The article "The Art of Posting Queries" provides some valuable tips for posting successful Jackson 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 Jackson ancestors.
Jackson Achievements & Celebrities
Did you know that Jackson was the 13th most popular surname in the 1990 census of the United States?
Web Sites & Blogs with Jackson Research
If you are having difficulty locating records for the last name of Jackson, 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.
Recently Discovered JACKSON Clippings and Mentions
Upcoming Jackson Family Reunions
Notifying everyone in advance to bring old photos and documents can bring big rewards, making a special place at the reunion (maybe even a special Jackson booth) where people can come at their leisure to sit, look and chat; in addition to information and clues that might be written on the back of a photo, every photograph has a story and serves as an excellent stimulus to recall -- people might comment not only on the people in the photo, but also on what's in the background, or they might have information around where the photo was taken or the event -- just be sure to have someone there to capture new information. The article "A Great Way to Unite a Newly-Found Family" may provide you with tips for hosting a successful Jackson reunion.
See Also
Jaskson Jacson Jachson Jacksen Jackso Jacks
Surname Finder, The Jackson Genealogy and Family Tree Page [on-line resource], New Providence, NJ, USA: Genealogy Today LLC, 2023.