What is the furthest someone has ever been able to trace their ancestors back to?

Question

Whenever I look at my family trees, we only seem to be able to go back a handful of generations.

Is there a record of generations that someone, or you, have been able to go back in your family tree?

Answer 1

Reliably or not?

If you can get to Charlemagne, you can get to Adam, and a number of people have done so. 70% of the people in the world with English, Franch, German, Swiss, Northern Italian or BeNeLux roots can get to Charlemagne. You have to believe the Bible and all those geezers who lived to be 320 to take that line.

The DNA company I used says

"The chance that a match does not exist due to infidelity or unreported adoptions occurs 2%-5% of the time per generation."

http://www.familytreedna.com/faq.html#q3.1

That means that by 20 generations at the worst and 50 at the best, every ancestor you have will be false, maybe, because those 2% or 5% add up to 100% after that many generations. Or, you could have one line of poor white trash where they were all false by the 4th generation, due to a run of really smooth-talking milkmen, and another that went back 37 generations with complete accuracy, due to strong morals and women so homely only their Hubbies could love them.

Before 1700 or so the only reliable records were of rich and/or noble people. They fooled around a lot, and lied about it just as much.

I go back to Charlemagne (42 generations) by one of Henry II's bastards; at least he looked enough like the King that HRH made the little tyke an Earl. His mom may have lied to get the kid a good start in life; she may not. I passed on the line to Adam.

Answer 2

Hey Rachel O,

I am lucky. I hooked up with some heavy duty researchers. So, they have linked with absolute certainty to Charlemagne - so, that goes back with Historic accuracy to Cleopatra, and her ancestors are well know also. So, if you figure every 100 years is 5 generations, then about 100 generations +. There is a point of being rediculous. And I think anything past your 15th generation becomes - just for fun.

Along the way, William the Conqueror, etc. Knights, Kings, and queens. Believe it or not.

I have to the Mayflower documented, and DNA links me tightly to the other researchers.

If you use the GEDCOM files available at LDS - Family Search, you can get back very far. But that is not necessarily documented, and does not preclude the Milkman.

More important, is the family tree in the past 12 to 13 generations. Those people contribute more to who you are than going back any further. I have over 8000 names in my data base now. of that only 1/4 are verified with documentation in my possession.

Here are some web sites, check some of my other genealogy questions for many other sites. Use GENFORUM to talk with people interested in the same surnames you are.

The LDS GEDCOM files can be merged into the Family Tree Maker software - saving time too.

Answer 3

Through lineages, my father had traced one line all the way back to biblical times. Other than that, my main sources only go back to the late 1700s. I'm still searching as my surname was changed during the Civil War of England in 1611.

I have the prior surnames and am corresponding now with some living in England, the source of my lineage.

Added note: Silvatungfox's father couldn't have gone to the Salt Lake temple for genealogy work. He had to go the genealogy archives which is not part of the temple. Interesting story, nevertheless.

Answer 4

Currently my family has been recorded and traced back to 1898.

When you are doing geneology research some of the best sources are actually the Mormons who have probably the largest record base for geneology research.

My Dad tells a story of how he was going to the temple in Salt Lake City to do some research (we are not mormons) and because he was wearing a suit they automatically assumed he was some kind of elder of the church and would not let him wait his turn in line but insisted he go ahead of everyone else.

There are numerous sites online that can help you with research, although sadly most are not free.

Joining geneology groups can sometimes be fruitful, talking with relatives (especially the oldest ones) can usually give you some places to start checking for birth, death and census records.

Answer 5

The longest family tree in the world today is that of the Chinese philosopher and educator Confucius (551 BC-479 BC). He is a descendant of King Tang (1675 BC-1646 BC). The tree spans more than 80 generations and includes more than 2 million members. An international effort involving more than 450 branches around the world was started in 1998 to retrace and revise this family tree. Personally, my paternal bloodline (Bullard/Buller) is documented and proven as far as circa 1634 in America and continues to circa 1485 Barnham, England... erm... that's AD, of course. ;)

Answer 6

I recently found that I am a descendant of William the Conqueror (1066). And, since I am descendant of him, I must also be a descendant of his less famous but still historically known ancestor, Hrolf, the first Duke of Normandy.

Answer 7

Two of my ancestors signed the Magna Carta, and I an illegitimate descendant of King Henry VIII (along with countless others!).

Answer 8

I have a 400 year old family tree, the guy that started it was called Gabriel. I can't trace my mum's family tree back very far though.

Answer 9

The farthiest i have back is Robert E lee, the thing is with southern records they were not kept well so they have issues trying to get ahold of them. On the other side of my family it goes back to Poland about 250 years ago

Answer 10

My family tree goes back to 1189 and we have the papers to prove it. Plus old royal letter patents. Philip I of Spain letter granting my family it title.