Tracing Chinese Genealogy

Genealogical Resources and Language Support for Chinese Ancestry

Feb 20, 2009

Language barriers and cultural differences can make it hard for a Westerner to trace Chinese ancestry. Here are some genealogical resources and methods.

The first two goals of a Chinese ancestry search, according to heritage website House of Chinn, are to find the proper Chinese name of an ancestor and then locate that ancestor’s village. Chinese naming practices, Western misunderstanding of Chinese names and the difficulty Westerners have with Chinese language and script are three barriers a genealogist will have to deal with.

Three choices for conducting genealogical research through a language barrier are finding a translator, learning genealogical terms in the language or learning the entire language. Chinese-English translation is difficult due to the difference between writing systems.

When it comes to Chinese characters, which number into the tens of thousands, a Chinese translator would be the best choice for a genealogical researcher unfamiliar with the language. Chinese translators may be fluent relatives or friends, or professional translators.

Sometimes, even with a translator, family history researchers may want to learn the Chinese language of their ancestors, to either communicate with extended family or to gain a deeper appreciation of their heritage. It is difficult for English speakers to learn Chinese – the use of different tones to signify meanings as well as the lack of an alphabet are radically different from Western languages. The following language courses offer Mandarin and Cantonese language instruction:

Chinese Genealogical Resources: The Chinese Culture Center of San Francisco

The Chinese Culture Center of San Francisco provides genealogical support to contributing members whose ancestry comes from the Pearl River Delta area in Guangdong province. This research support includes education on Chinese genealogy and constructing family trees, as well as locating ancestral villages in Guangdong and logistical planning for travel there.

The CCC also offers a year-long intensive genealogical program for young Chinese-Americans. “In Search of Roots” helps students research their Chinese ancestry in the United States and China. Students also visit ancestral villages in the Pearl River Delta region of Guangdong province and then present their findings at a Chinese New Year exhibition at the Chinese Culture Center.

The Vancouver Public Library: Resources for Chinese-Canadians and Chinese-Americans

The Vancouver Public Library has created a wiki project called “Chinese Canadians: Profiles From a Community”. Designed to gather information on the early Chinese-Canadian community, it is based on the Chinese Immigration List, with 461 individuals listed. Researchers with Chinese ancestors can add their own findings or search what others have posted.

Due to the frequent migrations of Chinese between Canada and the United States, the VPL also provides a section of resources for Chinese-American genealogy. It is valuable for researchers to remember that their Chinese ancestors probably travelled back and forth between the two countries. The VPL also has a section on the Chinese Diaspora.

The copyright of the article Tracing Chinese Genealogy in Genealogical Research Methods is owned by Rita Marshall. Permission to republish Tracing Chinese Genealogy in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.