A: U.S. RECORDS 1: Records   2: Location, Maps, Geo   3: Regions / States   4: Timelines & Histories  |   B: VITAL RECORDS   1: Vital Rec.   2: Birth   3: Adoption   4: Marriage   5: Death, Obits   6: Cemetery  |   C: CENSUS   1: Records   2: By Decades  |   D: IMMIGRATION   1: Records   2: Passenger / Nat.   3: Other   4: Migration  |   E: MILITARY   1: Records   2: By Conflict  |   F: OTHER RECORDS   1: Religious   2: Land, Probate, Tax   3: Court   4: News.   5: Arch. / Lib.   6: Help   7: Misc.           KB    Translation Tips    Music      Print Friendly and PDF











United States


Goal D1: Immigration Records

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Part D: U.S. Immigration




Goal D1: Explore various types of U.S. immigration records. Vault


Immigration and naturalization records can provide information clues for ancestors when they arrive in the U.S., as well as for their countries of origin.



(3:30)

Choices



A Learn about immigration and emigration records.


Class Outlines:    Basic   |   Intermediate


  1. Introduction: Get an introduction to U.S. immigration.

    FS: U.S. Immigration and Emigration
    QUIZ
    AC: Immigration Records

  2. Understand the basics of U.S. immigration and emigration in this article.

    AC—Finding Your Immigrant Ancestors - 2016

  3. Learn how to find the story of your immigrant ancestors in three steps.

    RT: Finding the Story of Your Immigrant Ancestors in Three Steps - 2019

  4. SSNs: Learn about how Social Security numbers were used for immigrants.

    LT: Social Security and Your Immigrant Ancestors

  5. Learn about immigrant neighborhoods in U.S. cities.

    APL—Where They Lived: Immigrant Neighborhoods in US Cities—57:05 - 2022



  6. 1900s: Learn about immigration in the 1900s.

    AC: 1900s U.S. Immigration

  7. 1800s: Learn about immigration in the 1800s.

    AC: 1800s U.S. Immigration


Records
  1. Learn more about U.S. Immigration records.

    FS—Immigration Records—18:25 - 2012
    FS—U.S. Immigration and Emigration Class Handout

  2. Learn how to find immigration records and passenger lists.

    AR: How To Find Immigration Records & Passenger Lists - 2010

  3. National Archives: Learn about immigration records at the National Archives.

    AG: National Archives—Immigration Records
    Immigration records at the National Archives—12:24 - 2011   



  4. Immigrant Servants: Learn how to trace immigrant servants overseas.

    PR—Overseas Origins of Immigrant Servants - 2005

  5. Explore listings on the Immigrant Servants Database of the PriceGen website.
  6. Find additional resources for tracing indentured servants on the PriceGen website.

Exercises

B Learn about tracing your immigrant ancestors.


Vault Summary
  1. Tips: Get tips on finding your immigrant ancestors.

    AC—Finding Your Immigrant Ancestors—35:07 - 2015   


    AA—Finding Your Ancestral Homestead—21:44 - 2024


  2. Here are some additional tips for tracking your immigrant ancestors.

    FS—5 Online Tips to Help You Find Your Immigrant Ancestors - 2016
    LT—Tips for Researching Ancestors Who Migrated Alone

  3. Strategies: Learn about proven ways to find immigrant ancestors.

    FS—Proven Ways to Find Your Immigrant Ancestors, Part 1—30:50 - 2016
    FS—Proven Ways to Find Your Immigrant Ancestors, Part 2—24:19 - 2016

  4. Here are some additional immigration research strategies.

    LG—7 Successful Strategies for Researching Immigrant Ancestors - 2023
    AC—Immigration over Time - 2012

  5. Timeline: Establish an immigration timeline.

    GC—Establish an Immigration Timeframe

  6. Motivations: Learn about the common motivations for immigration in these articles.

    RT—Discovering Immigration Stories from Both Sides of the Pond - 2019
    FL—Identifying Reasons for Emigration, Using the Research Like a Pro Process - 2020

Exercises

C Explore immigration resources.

Vault Summary
  1. Learn about ethnic immigration sources in the article.

    GC—Resources for Ethnic Genealogy

  2. Learn about sources for tracing immigrants.

    AC—American Sources for Documenting Immigrants

  3. Returnees: Learn about tracing immigrants who returned to their home countries.

    GC—Immigrants Who Returned Home
    FMP—Immigrant Ancestors Who Changed their Minds - 2016

  4. Sites: Use the Ancestry message boards to read or post questions about U.S. immigration.
  5. Explore immigration resources for each U.S. state on the Ancestor Hunt site.
  6. Books We Own: Explore the Books We Own site for books about U.S. immigration that can be checked out or researched for you by others.
Exercises

D Learn about surname maps for tracing immigrant ancestor names.


(7:50)

  1. Learn how to find surname distribution maps that can help you trace ancestor surnames in emigrant homelands.

    FS—Surname Distribution Maps

  2. Learn more about surname distribution maps.

    PR—Localize Your Surname with Distribution Maps

  3. Explore the Last name directory on the MyHeritage site.
  4. Explore surname mapping on the ISOGG (International Society of Genetic Genealogy) Wiki.
  5. Learn about the effects of immigration on surnames.

    FE—The Effect of Immigration on Surnames