What Is Genealogy?

Exploring the Roots of an Interdisciplinary Science

If you're new to the world of family history, chances are you've heard the term "genealogy" tossed around —but what does it really mean? Is it just building a family tree? Is it using DNA to track down relatives? Is it diving through dusty records in archives or interviewing your great-aunt about the family legend involving a Civil War soldier?

In truth, genealogy is all of those things—and more.

More Than a Hobby: Genealogy as a Field of Study

Genealogy is often seen as a hobby, and for many of us (myself included), that’s where the journey begins. But underneath the surface lies a robust field of study with deep ties to many academic disciplines. Over the years, genealogy has informed, and been informed by, areas as diverse as:

• History – grounding stories in time and place

• Anthropology and Archaeology – examining culture and human development

• Sociology and Psychology – exploring family dynamics and memory

• Biology and Genetics – tracing inherited traits and DNA connections

• Law and Forensics – resolving heirship, identity, and criminal cases

• Public Health and Medicine – identifying hereditary conditions

• Cultural Studies – preserving traditions, languages, and identities

  
  

This interdisciplinary nature makes genealogy surprisingly versatile. It can serve as a doorway to your personal past or as a legitimate tool in academic, legal, and scientific inquiry. In recent years, genealogy has even played a growing role in law enforcement and public health—but despite this, it still lacks a strong foothold in higher education curricula. In other words: it’s doing the work of a science, but often without the academic title.

Genealogy vs. Family History: What’s the Difference?

There’s a saying I picked up from my studies with the University of Strathclyde, and remains one of my favorite ways to explain how these disciplines overlap:

“Genealogy is the Who, When, and Where; family history is the What. Sociology and psychology are concerned with the Why.”

Genealogy identifies people and timelines—it charts the facts. Family history seeks to understand the stories, traditions, and circumstances that shaped those people. When we begin to ask why our ancestors made certain choices—migrated, changed names, married who they did—we start entering the realm of sociology, psychology, and cultural theory.

For example, knowing that your great-grandparents immigrated from Ireland in 1901 is genealogy. Understanding the historical famine conditions, religious discrimination, or economic hardship that led them to board that ship—that’s family history. Exploring how those experiences still echo in your family today? Now you’re thinking like a sociologist.

Why Does This Matter?

Understanding what genealogy is helps us better understand what it can do. It's not just about building a tree to frame on your wall—although that’s a lovely bonus. It's about:

• Validating family stories

• Reuniting biological families through DNA research

• Creating legal documentation for inheritance or citizenship

• Discovering health information through genetic genealogy

• Uncovering the lived experiences of our ancestors

It also fosters empathy, curiosity, and connection. When we research our pasts, we don't just learn about where we came from—we begin to understand how history shaped our families and, ultimately, ourselves.

Let’s Explore the Roots Together

At Living Roots Genealogy, I aim to bridge the gap between the professional field and the curious beginner. Whether you're interested in learning more about your ancestors, reconnecting with biological relatives, or exploring the complex intersections of identity and inheritance, I’m here to help.

Have questions about getting started? Wondering how genealogy might help with an adoption search or DNA match? Stay tuned for upcoming blog posts that will walk you through it all.

Until then, I’ll leave you with this thought: Genealogy is not just about finding names—it’s about understanding lives.

Want to dig into your own roots? Feel free to leave a comment below or contact me for a consultation. And don’t forget to subscribe to the blog so you don’t miss future posts from Living Roots Genealogy!