Why Everyone Should Know Their Family History
You will be amazed at what you discover when you dig a little deeper.
No matter where you are, in nearly every known culture of the world, family is one of the most important aspects of one’s life. They are your first consistency; your primary source of social development; the unshakeable rock that you turn to in the darkest times and the uplifting force that will celebrate your greatest achievements.
While most agree that family is important to an individual, many of us know very little about our family history. Not just the names of people and when they were alive, but the legacy of our ancestors; whose every choice led to this moment, right now, with you reading this post. There’s plenty of reasons why everyone should know their family history, so let’s get into it.
A Sense of Self-Identity
Just like playing a sport, learning an instrument, or practising religion will feed into how someone sees and portrays themselves, knowing about your family’s legacy and where they’ve come from can have a significant impact on your self-identity.
For example, most of my mother’s family comes from Germany, while my father’s family comes from Jamaica. Being born in Germany and having this uncommon mixture of heritages has played a massive role in my identity because I know that it makes me unique to those around me.
Hearing stories from opposite sides of the world, indulging in cultures that couldn’t be more different, while learning about the struggles, challenges, and successes that both sides went through has afforded me an understanding of the world — and myself — that I would have received nowhere else.
Bridge The Generation Gap
Often a source of family feuds, the differences between the existing generations can actually be a great starting point for a wider conversation and a way to bring everyone together.
Often, the conversation goes: ‘back in my day… [insert comment about getting through life’s struggles here]’ vs ‘you don’t understand what it’s like to be a young person in… [insert comment about the failing economy/the internet/housing crisis here].
The older generation not understanding the younger generation is nothing new; in fact, their vocalised disdain has been pretty well documented for over 2,000 years. Funnily enough, it doesn’t have to be like this.
By engaging in conversation, showing interest in our older relatives’ past, not only do we open up the possibilities of learning more about ourselves and our families; we allow room for a deeper understanding and an appreciation of the differences between the generations. Finding common ground can really help bridge the generation gap and make those Christmas dinners a little less confrontational.
Identifying Health Risks
A reasonably serious point but one that cannot go overlooked: knowing your family medical history. Like any physical, visible trait that is passed down through generations, illness; likelihood of addiction, and susceptibility to disease have been known to be passed through genes.
It is for this reason that it’s imperative you have some idea of your family’s medical history. Unfortunately, so many of us only find out when it is too late that we are at risk of some ailment or another.
With the right conversations and a bit of digging, you can know what sort of things to watch out for; taking precautionary and preventive measures to ensure you stay as healthy as possible.
You Could Be Related To A Historical Figure
You may laugh, though this is more likely than you may think. Sure, you may not be a direct descendant of Cleopatra or be next in line to the Throne of England, but there may be legitimate connections.
In fact, apparently, 16 million men alive today (0.4% of the entire male population) can directly trace their genealogy back to Genghis Khan; the Great Khan of the Mongol Empire. Granted, this is wholly due to the Mongol empire dominating near 9 million square miles, with Khan taking countless ‘wives’ and concubines — many against their will. Though the context cannot be celebrated, the fact itself is quite incredible.
I have one friend who, on their mother’s side, can trace their lineage back to Cathal mac Finguine; an Irish King of Munster from the 8th Century. Another is a distant relative of Captain John Bull, a folk hero who defended the coasts of Cornwall, England from French Brigands in the early 19th Century and was awarded (the now Grade II listed) Marlborough House, located in Falmouth, Cornwall.
Imagine: you’ve been speaking to your grandparents; finding old documents and records; sifting through ancestry.com and all of the sudden… BANG. You discover your great-great-great-great-great grandfather was actually a member of a prominent banking family and you have a legitimate claim to what’s left of their fortune… (one can only dream).
You’re Guaranteed To Learn Something Interesting
All hopes and wishes aside, you’re almost guaranteed to learn something interesting by digging into your family history. Maybe you’re related to a great revolutionary? Or perhaps a member of your family invented the first synthesizer? You might even have an ancestral sword somewhere in the world!
You could uncover some juicy family secrets and adapt them to that screenplay you’ve been thinking about writing. A friend of mine has a grandmother who is entirely convinced that they are the descendants of an illegitimate child of Henry VIII. Though my friend casts his doubts, what a tale that must be.
I should note that not all history can be proud of. It might be that you make some less than appealing discoveries when uncovering your family’s legacy. Use this as an opportunity to learn from the mistakes of the past and to appreciate just how far your family — and society — have come in the time since.
Don’t Leave It Until It’s Too Late
Whilst I know many stories and am lucky to feel in touch with my heritage, there is still so much I do not know and quite possibly never will. Despite the tools to search for this information being as accessible as ever, the best sources will always be the people: your parents; aunties and uncles; grandparents, and beyond.
Do not wait to learn about your family and its legacy. People pass on, and if you don’t take it upon yourself to document all the stories and information, that will likely pass too. There are sites and platforms, such as Iternal, that can help you immortalise your family’s history; utilise them, and ensure future generations are fortunate enough to be able to connect to their ancestors.
