Welcome to the Woolsey 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 Woolsey 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 Woolsey ancestry. Share this page on Twitter!
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The Woolsey Family Tree
It is quite possible that someone else has already performed work on a Woolsey family tree, so be sure to examine some of the sources listed below carefully. Have you struck a Woolsey brick wall? Read "Soundex Sorts Out Family Names" for some helpful advice.
Best Tree Collections for Discovering Woolsey Ancestors
Woolsey Genealogy
Many things can go wrong when a record collection is indexed. If you're having diffculty finding Woolsey ancestors in a particular database at one site, try finding it on another and compare the results. If you want to know When were Woolsey births first recorded in the United States?, then read this frequently asked question.
Top Five Genealogy Databases to Search for Woolsey
Historical newspapers give us the ability to discover ancestral history through eyewitness accounts.
There are currently matching Woolsey records at Ancestry.com!
Start exploring this online Woolsey family history resource today.
Death Records
Military Records
Origins of the Woolsey Surname
It is quite possible for two people with the Woolsey last name to have been given that surname for entirely different reasons. Discovering the country from which your Woolsey 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.
Woolsey DNA Projects
While DNA testing cannot conclusively tell you if two Woolsey 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 Woolsey research, read "When do you use DNA?".
Woolsey Family History
Every family has a different history, and every document you discover about your Woolsey 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 Woolsey family history.
Photo Collections
Networking with Woolsey 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 "Looking for John Smith - Focusing a Query" provides some valuable tips for posting successful Woolsey 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 Woolsey ancestors.
Woolsey Achievements & Celebrities
Did you know that Woolsey was the 5072nd most popular surname in the 1990 census of the United States?
Web Sites & Blogs with Woolsey Research
If you are having difficulty locating records for the last name of Woolsey, 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 Woolsey Family Reunions
One key to a successful Woolsey 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 Woolsey reunion.
See Also
Surname Finder, The Woolsey Genealogy and Family Tree Page [on-line resource], New Providence, NJ, USA: Genealogy Today LLC, 2023.
