We are shaped not just by the people and events of our own era, but also by the character traits, lived experiences, skills, and visual appearance of our ancestors. There is simply no identity without heritage. That is the starting point of ancestry research: “Who were my ancestors? What did my ancestors look like? How did my ancestors live? What does it all have to do with me?” Exciting questions like these are the ones ancestor research seeks to answer. And the answers given by professional genealogy can root us, give us a sense of belonging, and strengthen our identity.
If you are interested in researching your ancestors and related questions, you have come to the right place. As one of the leading genealogy research providers in Germany, we know all the sources of information and productive research approaches. From our headquarters in Hamburg and with our contacts throughout the world, we use all available means to help you find out about your genealogy.
Historical events and increasing globalization have brought continual changes to society. The many work-related moves, separations, and even deaths within a family are all twists and turns that can make it hard to reconstruct family history. But these challenges can be overcome with professional research methods and a deep knowledge of the relevant historical sources.
And to be honest, exactly these cases awaken our professional zeal — and if our clients are to be believed, these challenges are where we truly shine. Aside from our enthusiasm and tenacity, we simply have a wealth of experience researching family history — for example using the following:
Original state, church, and military archival sources, such as
On request we procure copies or other reproductions of archival records and transcribe and translate documents in historical scripts (Sütterlin, Fraktur, Kurrent) or foreign languages. But for all our expertise, it is our enthusiasm that is as boundless as the sources we consult. To find out more about how we work, feel free to contact us.
Ahnentafel, family tree, coat of arms, DNA testing? We are happy to advise you on the different approaches in genealogy research, since each can yield very different results. You decide — and we’ll follow your desired approach as far as it leads.
Ahnentafel: If you want to find out who your ancestors were, we are happy to create an ahnentafel. What is an ahnentafel? In genealogy, an ahnentafel is a record of your family’s past in the form of numbered entries. Use it to look back into your family’s past: Who was born before you, and who was connected to whom by what links? We can find out.
Family tree: You are interested in a depiction of the descendants of a particular person or a particular couple, such as your great-great-grandparents? We are happy to create a corresponding family tree. You choose the person or couple that forms the “root” of the tree — and we use that as the starting point for researching their future.
Family biography: You want to preserve your family history for your relatives and later generations? We can assist you in combining your life’s memories with professional research results. To do so, we provide not only data, facts, and documentation, but also economic, family, and historical background information for your chronicle.
Coat of arms: Your family has a coat of arms you want to investigate? Or you’ve discovered a historical crest and are wondering: Can my family use a coat of arms? Or are you interested in creating a coat of arms for your own family? We know what rules govern legitimate use of crests and coats of arms and what the requirements are. We are happy to advise and support you in any steps you wish to take.
DNA testing: In addition to archival research, DNA test results can tell us a great deal about your genetic heritage or help find present-day relatives. While we do not conduct tests ourselves, we are happy to connect you with a credentialed provider. We can then use your DNA test as a starting point for additional research — because a test alone can tell you only so much.
You have questions about family trees, an ahnentafel, family chronicles, crests or genealogical DNA testing? We have answers.
Beyond History
Stresemannallee 90
22529 Hamburg / Germany
Telefon: +49-40-46 77 77 35
Telefax: +49-40-46 77 77 34
E-Mail: info(at)beyond-history.com
