Ancestor search Archives

Why you should look for unclaimed assets?

roccagroup — Mon, 05 May 2025 06:00:00 +0000

Did you know that billions of dollars in unclaimed assets are waiting to be claimed?

Many people are unaware that they may be entitled to money sitting in dormant bank accounts, forgotten savings accounts, uncashed checks, or unclaimed insurance payouts, waiting for their rightful owners or heirs to claim them.

The Shocking Reality of Unclaimed Assets

Unclaimed assets are more common than most people realize. Here are some staggering statistics:

Over $49 billion in unclaimed funds are held by state governments and agencies in the U.S..
In the UK, estimates suggest that between £15 billion and £50 billion are unclaimed across various financial products.
Similarly, in Belgium, nearly €483 million remains unclaimed in old bank accounts.

In 2022, U.S. state governments returned $3 billion in unclaimed property to rightful owners, but billions more remain unclaimed.

Why Do Assets Go Unclaimed?

There are many reasons why financial assets go unclaimed, including:

Change of Address: People often move, switch financial institutions, or change jobs and forget to update their contact details, which can result in lost communication.
Forgotten Accounts: Individuals sometimes open multiple accounts or financial products throughout their lives and may lose track of them, especially if they remain unused for years.
Name Changes: Changes due to marriage or other reasons can complicate the process of matching current records with old accounts or products.
Clerical Errors: Mistakes in record-keeping, such as misspelled names or outdated addresses, can hinder financial institutions from reaching the rightful owners of accounts.

Could You Be Entitled to Unclaimed Assets?

It’s possible that you or your relatives have unclaimed assets waiting to be discovered. These could include forgotten life insurance policies, investments, uncashed checks, bank accounts, or other assets. Reclaiming these funds not only provides a financial boost but also ensures that money rightfully returns to its owners.

Why Should You Search for Unclaimed Assets?

Ignoring unclaimed assets means leaving behind money that rightfully belongs to you or your family. Claiming these funds is your legal right. Whether it amounts to a few hundred dollars or thousands, reclaiming your money is always worthwhile. Searching for unclaimed funds can provide financial relief and can be used for savings, investments, or debt repayment. By looking for unclaimed assets, you ensure that the money from past generations stays within your family instead of being transferred to the government or a designated state fund.

How to Easily Check for Unclaimed Assets with WIOLP

Fortunately, searching for unclaimed assets is easier than ever. WIOLP provides an AI-powered search engine that allows individuals to find dormant unclaimed assets linked to their name or family members. Simply enter your name (or the name of a deceased relative), and WIOLP will scan the database to find potential matches.

If you’ve never checked for unclaimed assets, now is the time to do so. You could be sitting on assets you didn’t even know existed. Start your search today; the process is simple, fast, and secure, and it could lead to a pleasant financial surprise.

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What are dormant accounts?

roccagroup — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 07:00:00 +0000

Dormant accounts, also known as inactive or unclaimed accounts, are financial accounts or financial products that have not been used or accessed for an extended period of time.

These accounts may include bank accounts, pensions, savings accounts, checking accounts, insurance policies, cryptocurrencies, investment portfolios, and more that were left untouched by their rightful owners for years.

Over time, if no activity occurs, these accounts are classified as dormant by financial institutions.

When Does an Account Become Dormant?

The exact timeframe for an account to be considered dormant varies by institution and jurisdiction. Typically, an account is labeled dormant after a specific period of inactivity, such as 12 months to 15 years or more, depending on the account type and governing regulations.

Why Do Accounts Become Dormant?

There are many reasons why accounts fall into dormancy. Some of the most common include:

Forgotten Accounts: People may forget about old savings accounts, investments, or pensions, especially if they move or switch institutions.
Unclaimed Estates: Accounts linked to deceased individuals often remain dormant if heirs are unaware of their existence.
Change of Contact Information: If account holders fail to update their addresses, phone numbers, or email addresses, financial institutions may lose the ability to reach them.
Life Events: Relocations, divorces, or illnesses can cause people to lose track of their financial accounts.

What Happens to Dormant Accounts?

When an account is deemed dormant, financial institutions are required to follow specific protocols, which may include:

Attempted Contact: Financial institutions may try to contact the account holder or their beneficiaries via mail, email, or phone.
Transfer to a Dormant Accounts Fund: In some jurisdictions, unclaimed funds from dormant accounts are transferred to state fund, where they are held until claimed by the rightful owner.

How Can You Reclaim Dormant Accounts?

WIOLP platform provides tools like the AI Match Finder for searching extensive databases of inactive accounts, helping you find accounts linked to your names or your ancestors. With new records regularly added, the chances of finding a connection are growing every day.

You’ll typically need identification, proof of relationship (if claiming for an ancestor), and documentation linking you to the account.

Follow the financial institution’s process for reclaiming the funds, which may include filling out forms and undergoing verification checks.

Why It Matters

Dormant accounts collectively hold billions of dollars in unclaimed assets worldwide. These funds could be life-changing for individuals and families who can successfully reclaim them. By understanding what dormant accounts are and how to locate and claim them, you can potentially uncover hidden financial opportunities.

For more tips and resources on dormant accounts, explore WIOLP’s Knowledge blog and start your search today.

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How to use the WIOLP Search Engine

roccagroup — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 13:50:57 +0000

The WIOLP search engine, powered by AI Match Finder, is a powerful tool for globally locating dormant accounts and reclaiming lost financial assets. With its advanced AI Match Finder and user-friendly filters, the platform simplifies the search process and helps you find accounts that might be tied to your ancestors. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to use the search engine effectively, complete with practical examples to maximize your success.

To get started, start here and sign up.

Searching Tip

Why combinations of names and last names are important? Considering name variations is crucial when searching for unclaimed inheritance. Historical records often contain discrepancies, and exploring these variations can significantly improve your chances of success.

1. Spelling Errors:
Typos and inconsistencies are common in historical records. Examples include:

William vs.Willem
Elizabeth vs.Elisabet
Johnson vs. Jhonson

2. Nicknames:
Many individuals used nicknames throughout their lives. Examples:

John may appear as Jack or Johnny
Mary may be recorded as Molly

3. Middle Names:
Middle names are often omitted or abbreviated. Examples:

David A. Smith might appear as David Smith or D. Smith

4. Marriage and Divorce:
Name changes due to marriage or divorce can add complexity. Examples:

Sarah Jones might become Sarah Miller after marriage
After a divorce, she might revert to Sarah Jones

5. Translations:
Names may be translated differently across languages. Examples:

Pedro (Spanish) could appear as Peter in English
Anna (German) might be listed as Anne

6. Historical Record Keeping:
Early record-keeping practices often led to variations, especially in handwritten documents. Examples:

MacLachlan might be written as McLaughlin
Catharine might appear as Katherine

7. Anglicized Names:
Immigrants often anglicized their names for easier pronunciation. Examples:

Søren (Danish) might become Soren or Suran
Giovanni (Italian) might appear as John

8. Historical Changes:
Spelling and naming conventions evolve over time. Examples:

Christian might have been written as Christen in older records

By exploring all possible variations and combinations of names and last names, you can uncover hidden accounts that may be listed under slightly different names. This comprehensive approach significantly increases your chances of success.

Step 1. Start with Basic Name Searches

Start by entering the first and last name of the person you are searching for in the search form. The search engine will analyze the information and generate results from the database of dormant accounts. This is your initial broad search to identify possible accounts linked to the name.

If you’re unsure of the exact spelling, don’t worry – AI Match Finder will suggest alternative spellings and combinations based on your query.

Example:

Searching for “Johnathan Miller” may also suggest variations like “Jonathan Miller” or “Jon Miller“. Also, use a Last name combination like “Müller” or “Miler“.
If your ancestor’s name is “John Michael Carter” input the full name into the respective fields. If you’re unsure about the middle name, leave it out.
Entering “Anna-Marie Smith” could reveal suggestions such as “Anne Marie Smith” or “Anna M. Smith“.
If the search is too broad, refine it by adding a middle initial, such as “William T. Johnson“.

Try combinations of names

Try combinations of last names

Searching Tip

When researching historical records, be prepared to encounter various variations and combinations of names and last names.

In the registration records, including registration documents, often contain discrepancies in name spellings due to factors like:

Recorder: The person recording the information might use their own spelling conventions.
Period: Variations in language and writing styles were common across different historical periods.
Origin: Names might be adapted to the language used in the document’s location.

It’s not uncommon for a single individual to have multiple recorded names.

Examples:

combinations of names: Johnathan – Jonathas (French) / Jonasan (Japanese) / Jonatan (Spanish, German, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian) / Gionata (Italian), or e.g. Elizabeth – Isabella (Italian) / Isobel (Scottish) / Isabel (Spanish) / Elisabeta (Romanian) / Elisabete (Portuguese) / Élisabeth (French)
combinations of last names: Rakoczi/Rakoczy/Rakocy, or e.g. Forgach/Forgacs/Forgac, or e.g. Raphanides/Raffanidesz/Rafanides.
Additionally, second names: Anna Maria/Anna-Maria or e.g. Anna Carolina, or e.g. Yves Edgar might be present.

These variations stem from the limitations of the classical Latin alphabet in representing non-Latin sounds during the Middle Ages. Solutions like “ph = f“, “ie = í“, “eu = oj“, and “gy = ď” were used, further contributing to diverse spellings.

Step 2. Refine Results with Filters

The search engine offers several filters to help you narrow down the results and identify the most relevant matches. Use filters such as date of birth, nationality, and last known residence to narrow down your search.

These filters are especially useful if the initial search has too many results.

Example:

For “Maria Gonzalez” adding a filter like Nationality: “Mexican” or Date of Birth: “12/15/1950” can help pinpoint the correct individual.
Searching for “David Brown” with Last known residence: “Chicago, Illinois” will prioritize matches from that region.
Filtering by Date of Birth: “03/22/1920” ensures the results are relevant to your ancestor, not someone with a similar name from a different era.

Step 3. Utilize AI Match Finder Suggestions

If you are uncertain about specific details, the AI Match Finder will analyze your query and suggest alternative spellings, name variations, or potential matches. It can detect patterns and recommend relevant combinations of names that you may not have considered.

This feature is particularly helpful when names have multiple spellings or were recorded differently in historical records. That might help identify accounts if some records are incomplete or inconsistent.

Sometimes, the person you’re searching for won’t yield direct results. In such cases, widen your search to include family members who might be linked to the same assets.

If you need to generate new suggestions for a different name or person, click the “Reset suggestions” button. This will clear the previous suggestions and allow the AI Match Finder to generate new combinations based on your new input.

Example:

If you search for “Raymond Albertini,” the AI Match Finder might suggest combinations of first names “Reynaldo” or “Rinaldo” and combinations of last names “Albertin” or “Alberti“.
For “Katherine Brown” the AI Match Finder may propose “Catherine” or “Caterina” as alternatives for first names and “Braun” or “Brun” as alternatives for last names.
If your ancestor had dual nationalities, like “Peter Schmidt” the AI Match Finder might recommend filtering by both German and American nationalities “Peter Smith” to explore all possibilities.

Step 4. Review and Select Potential Matches

Once the results are displayed, review each entry carefully. Check known residence, dates of birth, nationalities, residence, or financial institutions to make sure they are consistent with your ancestor’s history.

If you lack sufficient information about your ancestors to continue your search, you consider exploring genealogical resources on MyHeritage and then keep searching for lost inheritance again on our platform.

Learn more about: How to find out information about relatives, 8 Rules for properly recording names, or Search ancestor’s name

Example:

An account for “Laura Evans” shows a last known residence in London, but your ancestor lived in Los Angeles. This might indicate it’s a different person.
A match for “Weber” lists a birthdate of 00/00/1981, which aligns with your records. This is a strong lead worth pursuing.
If a match for “Emile Burnier” shows a Switzerland nationality and your ancestor was born in Geneve, this is likely accurate.

Searching Tip

If you don’t find a match right away, don’t be discouraged. Try variations and combinations of first and last names, or search using the names of other ancestors who may have been associated with the accounts. Keep in mind that our database is regularly updated with new accounts, while others may leave due to expiration. To increase your chances, make it a habit to search regularly and explore different possibilities.

1. Don’t Find a Match Yet?
Try broadening your search by exploring variations, nicknames, and alternative spellings. Here’s how to refine your approach:

Expand Variations: Try alternate spellings, nicknames, abbreviations, or translations of the names you’re searching for. For example, if searching for Elisabeth, try Elizabeth, Elisabet, or Lisbet.
Broaden Search Parameters: If you can’t locate the individual, search for close relatives, such as parents, siblings, or spouses, who might appear in associated records.
Use Common Patterns: Research common naming conventions for the specific time and place you’re investigating – such as patronymic names or regional spelling norms.
Check Related Records: Include broader date ranges and life situations. Sometimes, indirect records like marriage, immigration, or probate files can help confirm connections when direct matches are elusive.

2. Select Potential Matches:
When presented with potential matches, review them. When reviewing results, don’t dismiss partial matches too quickly. A record that’s close but not exact may still belong to your target. Consider the following steps to identify the most likely connection:

Cross-Reference Details: Compare the names, dates, nationalities and residences in the record with the information you already have. Even a partial match could indicate a potential lead.
Account for Name Variations: Remember, slight differences in spelling or formatting (e.g., William J. Smith vs. Wm. Smith) don’t necessarily rule out a match.
Investigate Associated Records: Look for accompanying details, such as relatives’ names, occupations, or addresses, to confirm potential matches.

If you’re not sure, save them and keep track of potential matches for future reference. Sometimes additional searches or new information can confirm a connection later.

Step 5. Contact the Financial Institution

When you find a potential match, click the “Select” button to proceed. WIOLP will send you an email with detailed information about the account and contact details for the relevant financial institution holding the dormant account.

Using the information provided in the email, reach out to the financial institution. Be prepared to verify your identity and provide documentation proving your relationship to the account holder.

You might need to provide his birth certificate, a death certificate, and documents proving your familial relationship, such as a family tree or will.

Example:

For the “Henry J. Miller” account, your email may include details about an account in a financial institution based in London. Reach out to the financial institution with the information provided to initiate the claim.
After selecting a match for “Michael Johnson” your email may include details about an account in a bank based in New York. Reach out to the bank with the information provided to initiate the claim.
A match for “Fatima Khan” might connect to a savings account held in Dubai. Use the contact details from the email to verify and initiate the claim.

Searching Tip

Once you’ve identified a potential match, reaching out to the financial institution is a crucial step to claim an unclaimed asset. Here’s how to do it effectively:

1. Contact the Financial Institution:
Use the contact information you received via email to connect with the institution and begin the process of verifying your identity and claiming your inheritance.

2. Provide the Necessary Information:
Submit the details you received in the email to the institution, including the Dormant Accounts Claim Form attached to the email, and ensure all required fields are accurately filled out.

3. Prepare the Necessary Documents:
To verify your identity and your relationship to the deceased, you’ll likely need to provide key documents. These might include:

For individuals:

Birth certificates (child’s birth certificate naming parents)
Name change certificate
Adoption Certificate
Court Orders e.g., guardianship
ID card or passport
Marriage certificate or civil partnership certificate
Separation or divorce certificates
Death certificates of the deceased
The last will, testament, or certificate of inheritance
Power of attorney for a third party who represents a claimant (where relevant)

For companies and other legal structures:

Company incorporation certificate
Legal succession agreement
Power of attorney for a third party who represents a claimant (where relevant)

Other documents (if available):

Bank account statements, retirement account statements, credit card statements
Financial product purchase agreement
Investment agreement
Trust accounts statements
Stock, bond, and other asset ownership certificates
Insurance documents – life insurance policy
others

Make sure these documents are readily available and properly organized before contacting the institution.

4. Follow the Institution’s Instructions:
The financial institution will provide guidance on the next steps required to claim your inheritance. Follow these instructions carefully to avoid delays or complications.

5. Keep Records of All Communication:
Maintain a thorough record of every communication you have with the institution. This includes keeping track of dates, the names of representatives you speak with, and any reference numbers provided. This documentation will help you monitor your progress and resolve any issues or disputes that may arise along the way.

By following these steps and staying organized, you’ll increase your chances of successfully claiming your unclaimed asset.

This information is for general guidance only and may not be applicable to all situations. Please consult with a qualified legal professional for specific advice regarding your individual circumstances.

Pro Tips for Success

Start Broad, Then Narrow: Begin with minimal filters and add more details as needed to refine your search.
Be Persistent and Thorough: Searching for dormant accounts may require trying multiple filter combinations. If you don’t find results initially, try variations of names, addresses, or other criteria.
Check Regularly: WIOLP updates its database periodically, so make sure to revisit your search for new results regularly.
Stay Organized: Ensure your documents are accurate and ready before contacting the financial institution.

Using the WIOLP search engine with its advanced AI Match Finder and tailored filters, you can efficiently locate dormant accounts and uncover lost financial assets.

Follow these steps, and you’ll be well on your way to claiming what’s rightfully yours.

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The hidden treasure of dormant accounts: Forgotten money

roccagroup — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 07:00:00 +0000

Have you ever considered the number of financial products you’ve opened over the years? Whether it’s a savings account, investment, pension fund, or insurance policy, these financial products can quietly slip from your memory. You’re not alone in this; many people, including your family members, also save money in various forms.

During life changes – such as moving homes, switching jobs, or changing financial institutions – people often lose track of where accounts were opened, where funds were deposited, or which financial products were purchased. Additionally, when a loved one passes away, their financial accounts may go unnoticed by heirs, leading to even more unclaimed funds.

Unfortunately, many of these accounts and products remain dormant, with money that rightfully belongs to their owners or heirs sitting unused.

The Hidden World of Dormant Accounts

Dormant accounts are a fascinating yet often overlooked part of the financial landscape. A dormant account is simply a bank account or financial product that hasn’t been accessed or used for an extended period.

There are various reasons why accounts become dormant. Perhaps you switched banks and forgot to transfer the balance, or maybe a long-lost account from your first job slipped your mind. Regardless of the reason, these forgotten funds do not just disappear – they can accumulate in financial institutions, sometimes for decades.

Why It’s Important to Act

Leaving money in forgotten accounts isn’t just wasteful; it can have broader implications. In some cases, accounts may continue to incur fees, which diminish the balance over time. Furthermore, failing to claim these funds means your money could eventually be forfeited to financial institutions or transferred to the state – a process known as escheatment.

That money could be used more effectively – whether for paying off debt, investing in your future, or enhancing your quality of life. Reclaiming forgotten money can be a significant change for your finances.

How WIOLP Can Help

Uncovering dormant accounts may seem like an impossible task, comparable to searching for a needle in a haystack, but it doesn’t have to be. WIOLP, an innovative global platform, specializes in helping individuals and families locate their forgotten assets in financial institutions worldwide.

Take Control of Your Finances

The money you’ve saved or deposited over the years should work for you and your family. By proactively searching for and reclaiming dormant funds, you can safeguard your financial future perhaps even uncover an unexpected windfall.

Start your search with WIOLP today and transform dormant funds into opportunities for you and your family. Who knows? You might rediscover a forgotten treasure waiting just for you.

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Dormant accounts: Past, present, and future

roccagroup — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 09:16:10 +0000

In the intricate web of global finance, dormant accounts represent a unique challenge. These forgotten or abandoned financial assets not only reflect individual circumstances but also broader societal trends, from historical migrations to modern technological advancements. Dormant accounts exist today, continue to arise, and will emerge in the future. But why?

Why Dormant Accounts Exist

Dormant accounts have been a part of financial systems for centuries. They exist when account holders stop interacting with their financial institutions, often for reasons such as:

Migration and Displacement: Historical events, such as World War II or mass economic migrations, led to accounts being abandoned as individuals relocated and lost access.
Life Changes: Marriage, divorce, death, or simple forgetfulness can cause people to lose track of their finances.
Institutional Barriers: Name changes, outdated contact information, or the dissolution of banks can make it difficult for institutions to reconnect with account holders.

Why Dormant Accounts Are Arising Today

The modern era has brought new challenges and opportunities, leading to the continued rise of dormant accounts:

Global Mobility: More people than ever are migrating for work, education, or lifestyle changes. Each move often involves opening new accounts while leaving old ones behind.
Digital Banking Proliferation: While digital banking has made account access easier, it has also led to a surge in people opening multiple accounts for various services. Many of these accounts are eventually forgotten.
E-Commerce and FinTech Growth: Subscription services, online wallets, and app-based financial tools contribute to micro accounts, which can easily become dormant after minimal use.
Aging Populations: In many parts of the world, aging populations are contributing to the growth of dormant accounts, as elderly individuals may lose financial oversight or pass away without proper estate planning.

Why Dormant Accounts Will Arise in the Future

The forces driving dormant accounts are unlikely to abate. In fact, new trends suggest their growth will continue:

Technological Innovation: As the financial landscape diversifies, more people will engage with decentralized finance (DeFi), cryptocurrencies, and global banking platforms, increasing the potential for unclaimed or inaccessible assets.
Continued Globalization: The interconnected world means more movement, more accounts, and inevitably more forgetfulness.
Data Overload: With the sheer volume of financial tools available, individuals may lose track of their accounts amidst the noise of modern life.
Generational Transitions: As wealth is transferred across generations, incomplete records or lack of awareness may lead to further dormant accounts.

The Way Forward

While dormant accounts are an inevitable part of financial systems, their impact can be mitigated:

Leveraging Technology: AI-powered platforms like WIOLP are revolutionizing the way dormant accounts are identified and reclaimed. These tools can analyze patterns, trace name variations, and connect accounts with their rightful owners.
Cultural Awareness: Highlighting the prevalence of dormant accounts can inspire people to take proactive steps to locate forgotten assets, ensuring their financial legacies remain intact.

A Call to Rediscovery

Dormant accounts tell stories of migration, innovation, and human oversight but also emotional issue, often tied to forgotten inheritances or lost opportunities. They are a testament to the dynamism of the global economy and a reminder of the importance of maintaining financial connections. Whether you’re an individual curious about your family’s financial history or a financial institution looking to tackle this issue, now is the time to act.

At WIOLP, we’re helping individuals and institutions uncover dormant accounts through our innovative AI-powered search engine. Let’s turn forgotten assets into found opportunities – because every account tells a story worth discovering.

Are you ready to start your journey to reclaiming what’s yours?

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Reasons and ways that lost inheritance

roccagroup — Thu, 25 Jul 2024 13:37:11 +0000

Lost inheritance is caused by loss of contact with an owner which is a common issue caused by various causes, and is something that happens at any financial institution anywhere in the world. See the causes that caused the loss of the inheritance and also how to find the inheritance.

Is unclaimed inheritance waiting for you?

Discover the secrets of dormant accounts, understand how they form, delve into your family history, and embark on your journey to find lost inheritance with WIOLP’s global search platform.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel

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8 Rules for properly recording names

roccagroup — Sat, 16 Mar 2024 17:03:03 +0000

When recording genealogical data, there are a few rules to follow about names, dates, and locations.

Record Names in Their Natural Order
Record names in their natural order – first, middle, last (surname). Using entire names whenever possible facilitates lineage tracing. If a middle name is unknown, you may substitute an initial if you have one. Names should be written exactly as they would appear on a birth certificate or spoken out upon introduction, with no commas required.

Record Surnames in All Capital Letters
Capitalized last names provide easy scanning on pedigree charts and help to distinguish the surname from the first and middle names. Ethan Luke JAMES makes reading a tree more simple than Ethan Luke James.

Use Maiden Names for Women
If you know a woman’s maiden name (surname at birth), write it in parentheses. You may include or exclude a husband’s surname; just be consistent. When you do not know a female’s maiden name, write her first and middle name followed by empty parentheses. For example, to record Mary Elizabeth, whose maiden name is unknown and who is married to John DEMPSEY, write Mary (Elizabet) Elizabeth or Mary Elizabeth DEMPSEY.

Record All Previous Names
If a woman has had more than one husband, enter her first and middle name then her maiden name in parentheses, just as you normally would. You should then record the surnames of any previous husbands in the order of marriage. For a woman born Mary (middle name unknown) CARTER who married first Jackson SMITH and then William LANGLEY, record her name as Mary (Carter) SMITH LANGLEY.

Include Nicknames
If you know of a nickname that was regularly used for an ancestor, put it in quotes after their first name. Do not use it in place of a given name, and do not put it in parenthesis. If the nickname is common (e.g., Kim for Kimberly), it is not necessary to enter it; only more unique nicknames must be noted. If a woman named Rachel was often referred to as Shelly, write her name as Rachel “Shelley” Lynn BROOK.

Include Alternate Spellings of Names
Include alternate spellings if your ancestor’s surname has changed spelling throughout time. Illiteracy and name change due to immigration are two possible causes for changing one’s last name. Ancestors who could not read or write frequently spelled their last name phonetically (e.g., by sound), resulting in minor variations over generations. Record the surname’s oldest usage first, then all subsequent usages that are known. For example, write Michael Andrew HAIR/HIERS/HARES.

How to find out information about relatives? You can find it here.

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How to find out information about relatives

roccagroup — Sun, 10 Mar 2024 17:39:13 +0000

For those of you who are blessed with living elderly relatives, you still have access to a treasure trove of memories, details, and more. You can supplement all your online and other methods of research with interviews specifically geared toward these elderly relatives so you can gain valuable information.

Why interviewing is Key to uncovering Family history

Today you have the benefit of being able to conduct much of your research online while also compiling important papers and documents, journals, or diaries directly from family members.

Yet, supplementing these with actual interviews with your relatives can add a whole new personal dimension and provide special insight into the emotions, traditions, cultures, and events throughout the span of their lifetimes. They can help you uncover details, discover surprises, and tie in history with your particular family.

You can gain insight into all the names, dates, and events and establish a more thorough history of a family member’s lifetime experiences. You can also gain context surrounding historical eras first-hand.

Start by making a list of how many elderly relatives you have, where they live, and how you can best interview them (face-to-face, over the phone, or by video conferencing).

What questions to ask

Start with the basic biographical questions about such things as full names, places of birth, and the towns or cities they grew up in or moved to at some point in their life. You can also let them help confirm other relatives’ names and dates of marriage, death, or immigration. All of this will provide you with a timeline or chronology to confirm and build upon.

Use this list of family history interview questions to help you get started, but be sure to personalize the interview with your own questions as well.

Questions about their childhood:

What is your full name?
Why did your parents select this name for you?
Did you have a nickname?
When and where were you born?
How did your family come to live there?
Were there other family members in the area? Who?
Where did you attend grade school? High school? College?
What school activities and sports did you participate in?
What was your religion growing up? What church, if any, did you attend?
Were you ever mentioned in a newspaper?
Where were you growing up?

Questions about the family:

What world events had the most impact on you when you were a child? Did any of them personally affect your family?
Who was the oldest relative you remember as a child? What do you remember about them?
What do you know about your family surname?
Is there a naming tradition in your family, such as always giving the firstborn son the name of his paternal grandfather?
What stories have come down to you about your parents? Grandparents? More distant ancestors?
Are there any stories about famous or infamous relatives in your family?
Are there any physical characteristics that run in your family?
Are there any special heirlooms, photos, bibles, or other memorabilia that have been passed down in your family?

Questions about their adult life:

What was the full name of your spouse? Siblings? Parents?
When and how did you meet your spouse? What did you do on dates?
Where and when did you get married?
Why did you choose your children’s names?
What was your profession and how did you choose it?

If you have initial information about your ancestors but are missing additional information, click on the link of our partner MyHeritage with more than 19.9 billion historical records where discover more about your family’s past.

When searching for lost inheritance in our WIOLP database, use all the names of your ancestors that you’ve found.

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Trends in migration to the U.S.

roccagroup — Sun, 16 Jul 2023 18:32:54 +0000

Immigration is widely considered to be in the national interest since it permits individuals to better themselves as it strengthens the United States.

For its first 100 years, the United States facilitated immigration, welcoming foreigners to settle a vast country. Beginning in the 1880s, an era of qualitative immigration restrictions began as certain types of immigrants were barred: prostitutes, workers with contracts that tied them to a particular employer for several years, and Chinese. In the 1920s, quantitative restrictions or quotas set a ceiling on the number of immigrants accepted each year.

During the 1970s, the origins of most immigrants changed from Europe to Latin America and Asia: Between 2000 and 2009 over three-fourths of the 10 million immigrants admitted were from Latin America and Asia.

U.S. immigration has occurred in waves, with peaks followed by troughs (see figure). The first wave of immigrants, mostly English speakers from the British Isles, arrived before records were kept beginning in 1820. The second wave, dominated by Irish and German Catholics in the 1840s and 1850s, challenged the dominance of the Protestant church and led to a backlash against Catholics, defused only when the Civil War practically stopped immigration in the 1860s.

The third wave, between 1880 and 1914, brought over 20 million European immigrants to the United States, an average of 650,000 a year at a time when the United States had 75 million residents. Most southern and eastern European immigrants arriving via New York’s Ellis Island found factory jobs in Northeastern and Midwestern cities. Third-wave European immigration was slowed first by World War I and then by numerical quotas in the 1920s.

Between the 1920s and 1960s, immigration paused. Immigration was low during the Depression of the 1930s, and in some years more people left the United States than arrived. Immigration rose after World War II ended, as veterans returned with European spouses and Europeans migrated. The fourth wave began after 1965, and has been marked by rising numbers of immigrants from Latin America and Asia. The United States admitted an average 250,000 immigrants a year in the 1950s, 330,000 in the 1960s, 450,000 in the 1970s, 735,000 in the 1980s, and over 1 million a year since the 1990s.

The House approved an enforcement-first bill in 2005 and has opted for a piecemeal approach to immigration reform in 2013, with bills that increase border and interior enforcement and expand guest worker programs for farm and information technology (IT) workers.

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Australia’s immigration history

roccagroup — Sun, 16 Jul 2023 12:52:00 +0000

Since the First Fleet dropped anchor in 1788, close to 10 million settlers have moved from across the world to start a new life in Australia.

They have arrived in waves, encouraged by developments like the 1850s gold rushes, or to escape adverse conditions at home such as the Industrial Revolution’s social upheavals in 19th-century Britain, the two world wars, and the aftermath of the Vietnam War in the 1970s. Collectively these migrants have helped shape a unique British-based and now multicultural society on the perimeter of Asia.

Convict transportation

From 1788 to 1868 Britain transported more than 160,000 convicts from its overcrowded prisons to the Australian colonies, forming the basis of the first migration from Europe to Australia. When these first Europeans arrived they did not find an empty land as expected. They were outnumbered by more than 500,000 indigenous Aboriginal people whose ancestors had lived in Australia for at least 50,000 years.

Free immigrants

Between 1793 and 1850 nearly 200,000 free settlers and assisted immigrants chose to migrate to Australia to start a new life. The majority were English agricultural workers or domestic servants who outnumbered the Irish and Scottish migrants.

Labourers

Did you know the Chinese were the third largest migrant group in Australia after the British and Germans by 1901?

Thousands of Chinese people came to Australia during the 1850s gold rushes. When the gold was exhausted many took up market gardening or established businesses such as restaurants or laundries. In the second half of the 19th century, South Sea Islanders were recruited to work on Queensland sugar plantations, Afghan cameleers played a vital role in the exploration and opening up of the Australian outback, and Japanese divers contributed to the development of the pearling industry.

White Australia

Did you know migrants had to pass a dictation test in any European language in order to enter Australia between 1901 and 1958?

Following Federation in 1901 Australia’s newly-formed Federal Parliament passed the Immigration Restriction Act, which placed certain restrictions on immigration and aimed to stop Chinese and South Sea Islanders from coming to Australia. These laws, known as the White Australia policy, were administered by a dictation test and informed Australian attitudes to immigration for the next 50 years.

Populate or perish

In the years after World War 2, Australia stepped up its immigration with the catchphrase “Populate or perish” It negotiated agreements to accept more than two million migrants and displaced people from Europe, offered assisted £10 passages to one million British migrants, nicknamed “Ten Pound Poms”, and finally, in the 1970s, repealed the restrictive White Australia policy framed in 1901.

Boat people

In the late 1970s, just as the last migrants to travel by ocean liner arrived in Australia, a new wave of seaborne refugees docked in Darwin, firstly from East Timor and then from Indochina. The Vietnamese “boat people” in particular arrived at a time of dramatic social upheaval in Australia, with spirited public debate about our involvement in the Vietnam War, the new concept of multiculturalism, the breaking of many of Australia’s traditional ties with Britain, and the forging of new links with Asia. Despite some opposition from the wider community, the relaxation of immigration restrictions meant that most of the refugees were allowed to settle in Australia. They were followed by a second wave of boat people from Cambodia, Vietnam, and southern China in the late 1980s and 1990s.

Asylum seekers

Since the late 1990s increasing numbers of asylum seekers fleeing conflict in the Middle East and Sri Lanka have arrived in Australia by boat. They are distinct from the previous two waves of boat people in that they usually involve larger numbers of arrivals and their passage is often organised by people smugglers. Today the question of how to deal with asylum seekers arriving on unauthorized voyages remains one of the most polarising debates in contemporary Australia.

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Two centuries of Australia immigration

roccagroup — Thu, 21 May 2020 15:04:30 +0000

For more than two centuries, extensive immigration has underpinned economic and social development in Australia. The immigrant share of Australia’s population is high, at 28 percent, and the foreign-born population has grown more diverse over time as the country amended immigration policies that once favored newcomers from European countries. In addition, Australia ranks third among refugee resettlement countries, after the United States and Canada, having resettled more than 840,000 people since 1947.

Since European settlement began in the late 18th century, overwhelming the indigenous population, immigration has played a major role in Australia’s population growth—in many periods comprising more than half of the annual increase. Between the end of World War II and 2016, the Australian population more than tripled, from 7.4 million to 24.2 million.

In the second half of the 19th century, concerns grew about competition on the goldfields and other potential threats to the domestic workforce posed by low-wage migrant labor from Asia and the Pacific Islands.

Figure 1: Top Origin Countries of Permanent Resident Arrivals in Australia

Changes in the major source countries reflect this shift to nondiscriminatory selection, as well as the impact of economic, social, and political circumstances in individual countries. In 1972-73, around the formal end of the White Australia Policy, 43 percent of all permanent arrivals were from the United Kingdom and Ireland, while India ranked eighth with 2 percent (see Figure 1). By 2016-17, Indians had taken the lead, constituting 17 percent of the 226,000 permanent arrivals, followed by Chinese 13 percent and British 8 percent. Other non-European countries also grew in prominence, including the Philippines, Syria, and Vietnam.

In 2016, among all foreign born, those from the United Kingdom and New Zealand were the two largest groups, accounting for roughly 21 percent of Australia’s nearly 7.7 million immigrants. The next four top countries of origin – China, India, the Philippines, and Vietnam – were all in Asia.

Australia follows the Canadian practice of using a points system to weigh and adjudicate applications for admission as an economic immigrant, with criteria reflecting changing emphases on age, family ties, language, education, work experience, and occupation. Since the introduction of the Numerical Multifactor Assessment Scheme (NUMAS) in 1979, the system has favored younger, skilled migrants with knowledge of English – the type of workers required as Australia restructured its economy to better cope with the challenges of globalization, by moving toward knowledge-based industries and away from manual labor. Since the 1980s, special entry schemes have admitted investors and businesspeople, most recently emphasizing innovation and investment.

While Australian immigration policy favored European immigrants until the latter part of the 20th century, the shift in more recent decades toward diversified admissions has helped Australia become the multicultural and economically competitive nation it is today.

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Where do New Yorkers come from?

roccagroup — Thu, 21 May 2020 15:03:23 +0000

Throughout it’s nearly 400-year history, New York City’s demography has been characterized by an ever-changing series of immigration waves, coming from all corners of the globe.

The graphic shows how these waves of immigration have varied over time. The circles represent each group’s share of New York City’s foreign-born population in the given year.

What About the Native Americans?

The Dutch purchase Manhattan Island
A 1626 letter to the Dutch government describing the purchase (translation)
Native Americans are not included in the chart because their population went to zero as soon as the Dutch bought Manhattan Island in 1626. At that time, and until the five boroughs were consolidated in 1898, New York City included Manhattan only.

However, they did continue to inhabit the lands around Manhattan, and had a quite significant impact on the City’s history.

In 1641, an attempt by the Dutch to solicit taxes from the natives led to a violent conflict known as Kieft’s War, which nearly wiped the Dutch out.

The Dutch ultimately beat the natives, but they were left in a weakened position, one which the British took advantage of in 1664 when they captured New Amsterdam and renamed it New York.

The number of the Inhabitants in this Province are about 3000 families* where of almost one halfe are naturally Dutch a great part English and the rest French.

*The total population of the province as it existed in 1698, was 18 067. In 1703 they numbered 20 749 and in 1723 was 40 564.

Prior to 1776, all New York City residents are treated as foreign born.

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