Category: Immigration

4 Birthright Citizenship Facts Genealogists Should Know

For nearly 150 years, all individuals born on US soil have automatically gained US citizenship. What is birthright citizenship, and what does it mean for genealogists?

Tracing Ancestors Who Entered Via Canada or Mexico

Your immigrant ancestors may have arrived over the Canadian or Mexican border—even crossing multiple times. Here’s how to trace them.

Tips for Tracing an Early Scottish Immigrant

Researching your Scottish ancestors? Check out these tips for linking a 1700s South Carolinian back to his hometown in Scotland.

Understanding Chain Migration

Immigration is a hot topic these days, and a lot of people are using the phrase "chain migration". What exactly does that mean? We're here to explain.

Search New York Passenger Lists for Free

Ellis Island opened to New York-bound immigrants in 1892. But the free Ellis Island website has added New York ships' passenger lists all the way back to 1820. We'll show you a list and give you search tips for finding your ancestor's record.

Chain Migration: How I Found My Welsh Ancestors

In my previous post, I discovered that there was more to my Welsh ancestors' immigration than I thought. Follow along as I explore the chain migration of Daniel and his family.

free family tree chart

Debunking Three Myths About Your Immigrant Ancestors

When America's immigrant heritage comes up, you hear myths that obscure our ancestors' true experiences. Here are three of the most common, debunked.

Follow the Leader: My Welsh Ancestors’ Immigration

Here's how I traced the migration of my Welsh ancestors to America.

Tony Shalhoub Shares His Father’s Immigration Story at the Tony Awards

The "Monk" actor reflected on the sacrifices his ancestors made so he could pursue his dreams. Here's what we found about his father, who immigrated to the United States from Lebanon in 1920.

What a Foreign-Born Population Map Tells Us about America

We often call America a melting pot, and historical data backs that nickname up. This foreign-born population map shows the diversity in 19th-century America—and lays the groundwork for America today.

15 Websites for Finding Immigration Records

Online resources for researching immigration records are abundant. Start your searches for ships’ passenger lists and other documents at these 15 websites.

Ethnographic Maps: Manhattan Nationalities

See the ethnic makeup of your ancestor's community with ethnographic maps, like this one of Manhattan in 1890.

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