Welcome to the Opa 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 Opa 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 Opa ancestry. Share this page on Twitter!
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The Opa Family Tree
Everyone has different reasons for building a family tree; your personal motiviation will influence whether the Opa family tree has more depth or breadth. Have you struck a Opa brick wall? Read "Know Where to Begin Your Genealogical Search" for some helpful advice.
Best Tree Collections for Discovering Opa Ancestors
Opa Genealogy
Sometimes two people can look at the same handwritten record, and come up with different spellings of the name. Be creative when searching for your Opa ancestors -- we often search for misspellings intentionally to see if we missed any records. If you want to know Where can I find naturalization records for my Opa ancestors?, then read this frequently asked question.
Top Five Genealogy Databases to Search for Opa
Census records are among the most useful records available for family tree building.
There are currently matching Opa records at Ancestry.com!
Start exploring this online Opa family history resource today.
Death Records
Military Records
Origins of the Opa Surname
There are no clear, concise answers to why or how one of your Opa ancestors took on the surname. It may have been based on their occupation or a distinguising physical trait. Keep in mind that it was not unusual for a last name to be altered as an ancestor entered a new country.
Opa DNA Projects
DNA testing for genealogy continues to improve. If you had some of your Opa relatives tested several years ago, it may be worthwhile to have them retested. Likewise, as DNA testing companies have gathered more results and samples, you may be able to find more matches if you search again with your test results. If you're not sure how DNA testing could aid your Opa research, read "Utilizing DNA in Family History Research".
Opa Family History
Every family has a different history, and every document you discover about your Opa ancestors will help paint a picture that can be shared with your relatives. Whether you are a beginner or expert genealogists, knowing How do I find my Opa family history on the Internet? is always useful.
Photo Collections
Networking with Opa Researchers
In the course of genealogy research, collaboration is key -- we really cannot do it alone, and one of the great benefits of participating in community message boards is building relationships that not only enlightens our research but strengthens bonds across the miles. The article "The Art of Posting Queries" provides some valuable tips for posting successful Opa 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 Opa ancestors.
Opa Achievements & Celebrities
Web Sites & Blogs with Opa Research
If you are having difficulty locating records for the last name of Opa, 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 Opa Family Reunions
Whenever possible, consider holding the family reunion in place where you have a strong Opa family history, which provides opportunities to share stories and visit cemeteries or old home sites; you may even want to consider as a one-day activity, having each family take on the task of gathering information from the local courthouse, school district, public library, etc. -- this, of course, requires advance planning and assignment, but could generate considerable interest and results. The article "A Great Way to Unite a Newly-Found Family" may provide you with tips for hosting a successful Opa reunion.
See Also
Surname Finder, The Opa Genealogy and Family Tree Page [on-line resource], New Providence, NJ, USA: Genealogy Today LLC, 2023.
