Research for American Indian ancestors begins just like any other search for ancestry you begin with what you know, Yourself!
We have provided a useful tool to aid you in your research, Beginning Genealogy. You have to do the basics before you can do the part you really want to do. Working backwards does not work, believe me I have tried it!
Start with a Family Group Chart and fill in the information you know. Get your your birth certificate, look it over, it will provide all the information you need to get started and some information on your parents. Do this for every member of your immediate family. If you don’t have birth or death certificates for all your family, take a look at this page Vital Records it provides you with information and costs to order birth, death and marriage records.
Next a Research Calendar will help keep track of every record source you have searched, when you get further into your Indian Genealogy this will be your most helpful tool. Used in conjunction to the Research Extract Form, it will give you a place to record every Roll and Indian Census Census record you have checked. A Correspondence Record is also a useful form to have around, helps you keep track of the letters you write and emails you send.
There are Census forms from 1790 to 1940, You need to track the movements of your family as they moved around the country. Until 1900 the Federal Census Records will be of little value for Native American families. We have a specific page for Indian Census Records online, that should help guide you to the available census for your ancestors tribe.
Our Tribal listings provide you with information on tribes as they were about 100 years ago, we have also provided you with links to other web pages containing more current tribal information, to include the official Tribe government website.
North American Indian Tribes is a listing of 400+ tribes, that provide you with information on the original area of tribal home lands, it also shows you other states and locations the tribes were also known to live.
Indian Removal began in 1830, with their removal came a whole new set of records. They were either a census or as roll, generally on a specific tribe. Our Database of Rolls is a good place to start, it also provides you with additional information on each of the rolls and some tips on Indian Genealogy. Jackie Matte provided us with Southeastern Indian Research and Dusty provided How to Search, the Final Roll or The Dawes Roll.
Good luck in your search, may the rewards be worth the effort!!
What if I found my ancestor but they spelled the last name “wrong”. First & middle are correct & wife is but last name had a letter added to the end.
Spelling errors are common in pre 19th-century writings as many did not know how to spell their own names to tell whoever it was recording them, this is even more pronounced for Native Americans. However, having just the name of a husband and wife that match is not in any manner sufficient to determine Native American ancestry. It’s the most common form of misattributed claims.
Just want to know if i have native American roots.
I am told i have Native American on both sides of my family, fathers side was Cronan and Langley, mothers side was Garrett and Fortenberry. Great grandfather Whittaker Fortenberry was full Creek indians. Just wanting to trace my roots to my heritage to know where i come from.
Do you have any information regarding Mohawk indian tribes in Ontario at Shannonville?
my great great grandfather i bevlive fought in civil war from missouri he ended up in kentucky and belive he made roots with a full Cherokee women i dont rember dates
I was adopted 5 days after birth by two wonderful people that became my new mom and dad. This was 1961 and they didn’t release the birth mother’s information at that time. They did say she was half Chocktaw Indian. I’m guessing that I could possibly have a connection to the Chocktaw Nation. What would be the best course of action to pursue this? I have no information on my birth mother. Should I pursue this or just the DNA research? This is a piece of my heritage I’m missing that feels empty. Thank you for any direction you can offer.
Don W.
my name is cynthia sylvester i have been recently told that my dads father my grandpa was a white seminole indian i really have no clue on how to check as my birth certificate says white but my mother was never proud of her own heritage so i need to get help here please i have read alot on my grandfather and he looks native as well as many other family members please help me thank you